broadband

Rural broadband has been a discussion topic at the local, state, and federal levels for some time.   “Well, we've made progress," noted Jeff Johnston, lead economist for digital infrastructure at CoBank.  "If you look back to where we were before COVID and how COVID exposed how vulnerable those who are living in rural America who do not have access to the internet, you know how vulnerabl

A new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange says the competitive landscape for rural broadband operators is rapidly evolving as improved technologies have made wireless broadband more viable and scalable, even in hard-to-serve public areas.  Com...

The Rural Broadband Association applaud the introduction of the Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act.  The bipartisan legislation directs the Federal Communications Commission to require broadband service providers to contribute to the Universal Service Fund.   ...

The U.S. Government Accountability Office released a study last week that raises questions about the accuracy of broadband availability data in the FCC’s National Broadband Map.   According to that study, the Commission “has not documented or assessed the sufficiency of its processes” for ensuring the accuracy of the map, which in turn could “jeopardize agencies’ ability to make the most efficient

NTCA, the Rural Broadband Association, said it is pleased that the Supreme Court announced it would review a decision from the Fifth Circuit Appeals Court regarding the federal Universal Service Fund.  Specifically, the nation’s highest court will look into the constitutionality of the mechanism for contributions to the Universal Service Fund.     “The...

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin as well as Iowa's Joni Ernst recently announced their “Access to Capital Creates Economic Strength and Supports Rural America Act” unanimously passed in the Senate.  The ACCESS Act expands rural broadband access by easing the burden of regulatory costs for smaller broadband providers that rural communities rely on.  Baldwin said access...

Money is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act to expand broadband access in Oregon.  Nick Batz, Director of the Oregon Broadband Office, said there are more proposals than the money will cover.   "We received 63 applications totaling $440 million.  So, highly c...

Earlier this week, southwest Washington representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez announced that $4,881,150 has been secured in USDA Community Connect Program funds to expand rural broadband in west Lewis County.  With the funding, Lewis County PUD will deploy 47.3 miles o...

October was National Cooperative Month, giving many across the nation an opportunity to see the intricate part the cooperative model plays in the nation’s economy, particularly in rural America.   “Whether you belong to a credit union, you get electricity in a rural area, or even if you drink milk or eat candy that has sugar from sugarbeets, you’re probably benefiting from a cooperative.”   Under

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says his agency is providing $759 million to improve internet access for people living and working in 24 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Palau.  The investments include funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that provides $65 billion to help expand reliable, affordable, high-speed internet access to communities across the United States.   “...