Increased transparency, quality of service, and availability would make low-income residents more likely to adopt broadband Internet service, says a report recently commissioned by the Federal Communications Commission. Read More »
On Tuesday the FCC released its National Broadband Plan Consumer Survey which found that affordability and lack of computer literacy are the main reasons why 93 million Americans are not connected to high-speed Internet in their homes. The survey results bolstered existing statistics that 80 million adults currently lack high-speed Internet. Most cited affordability, digital literacy, and relevance as the main barriers to adoption. Read More »
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke recently announced the latest round of economic stimulus awards totaling $357 million for expanded high-speed Internet access. Nine states received record funding for broadband expansion. Nine states - California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin - received funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Read More »
The Communications Workers of America used the FCC's last request for public comment before the release of the national broadband plan to issue a public notice laying out what they consider to be top priorities for the plan. CWA's proposals include bringing U.S. networks to world-class standards by setting ambitious, but achievable goals, with an immediate goal of 10 megabits per second downstream and 1 megabit per second up; and 50 megabits down and 20 up to 80 percent of the population by 2015. Read More »
France announced public investments to promote the deployment and adoption of fiber networks. As in the United States, major French cities such as Paris are quickly becoming connected to high-speed networks. The challenge is extending that coverage to the more rural provinces that make up the majority of the country. Read More »
On January 15, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced the availability of $4.8 billion of funding for grants and loans to expand broadband access and adoption in America. This is the second round of funding that was allotted as part of the 2009 economic stimulus bill. Read More »
60 percent of American adults subscribe to broadband at home, says a new survey from the Pew Research Centers Internet and American Life Project. This figure is down from 63 percent in the April 2009 survey. Read More »
A new piece of legislation has the potential to shut down a $600 million corporate tax windfall in the Verizon-Frontier deal, and protect consumers, workers, and communities. Read More »
Bretwood Higman and Erin McKittrick live in a yurt – a portable dwelling traditionally used by nomads – in the remote town of Seldovia, Alaska, where a trip for supplies store could mean a plane ride. The couple goes without many of the trappings of modern life: they chop their own firewood, cook with a stove, and draw water from a well. However, when it comes to broadband, their attitude is a bit different. Read More »
The first round of broadband stimulus grant money was awarded to individual grants earlier this month. Stumping for the Recovery Act in Georgia, Vice President Joe Biden announced $183 million in individual grants to broadband projects. Read More »
