Nashville, Tennessee (May, 16, 2023) – For the past decade, many families, businesses, and community organizations have silently struggled to afford the broadband (high-speed internet) connection they need to complete simple, day-to-day tasks. Internet connection is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for our society to grow and improve. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has worked to create benefit …
BEAD Pitfall: Overpaying and leaving money on the table
Published on: February 9, 2023Bowling Green, Kentucky (February 9, 2023) – In my last post, I introduced a model BEAD grant scenario — a general way to envision what will happen when states begin making Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants to internet service providers (ISPs) starting in 2024. That version had states doing a pretty good job of getting the work done without …
Optimal BEAD grant theory
Published on: February 1, 2023Bowling Green, Kentucky (February 1, 2023) – On November 15, 2021, U.S. Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which created, among other things, the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. With $42.45 billion appropriated, the goal of this program is to deliver fast 100/20 Mbps internet access to every broadband serviceable location — every home or …
What state leaders must do to access billions of dollars in broadband funding for rural communities
Published on: June 8, 2022Lexington, Ky. and Nashville, Tenn. (June 8, 2022) – The pandemic raised awareness about the millions of Americans still without adequate access to broadband (high-speed internet). As a result, federal lawmakers approved an unprecedented amount of funding to expand the nation’s current internet infrastructure particularly in rural areas. Brent Legg, who serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs for …
Statement from Connected Nation Chairman and CEO Thomas W. Ferree on the Biden Administration’s Efforts to Reduce Broadband Costs
Published on: May 11, 2022Washington, DC. (May 9, 2022) – Thomas W. Ferree, Chairman & CEO of Connected Nation, released the following statement regarding the Biden Administration’s announcement today regarding their efforts to make broadband more affordable for millions of Americans: “Today, President Biden and Vice President Harris announced commitments from the nation’s 20 leading service providers to make high-speed, high-quality internet plans available for …
States will have to lead when it comes to BEAD: here’s how to make the most of billions in new federal funding
Published on: March 22, 2022The time is NOW to prepare for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding Washington, D.C. (March 22, 2022) – States, get ready! The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) gives you the best opportunity ever to close the Digital Divide, but it will present many challenges. What state leaders do today and in the months ahead could impact the …
Connected Nation CEO Tom Ferree responds to President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union Address
Published on: March 2, 2022Washington, DC (March 1, 2022) – Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO, Connected Nation, issued the following statement in response to President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union Address: “Tonight, President Biden outlined his administration’s ambitious goal to make broadband access available and affordable to every home in America. For more than two decades, our organization has been singularly focused on …
How NTIA can best leverage its infrastructure bill programs to close the Digital Divide
Published on: February 9, 2022Connected Nation makes recommendations to NTIA to maximize unprecedented federal investment in broadband expansion Washington, DC (February 9, 2022) – With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—also known as the “Infrastructure Bill”—last November, Congress charged the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) with playing the leading role in closing America’s “Digital Divide” through partnerships with the …
Department of Commerce’s NTIA Publishes First ACCESS BROADBAND Report
Published on: December 27, 2021The following press release was issued by the NTIA on Thursday, December 23 News Media Contact: NTIA, Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-7002, press@ntia.gov WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently released the first ACCESS BROADBAND Report, which highlights the accomplishments of NTIA’s recently established Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) over the past year. …
FCC Commits Nearly $603M in Additional Emergency Connectivity Funding
Published on: December 21, 2021The following press release was published by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Monday, December 20, 2021. Latest Wave Provides Support to Applications From Both Funding Windows WASHINGTON, December 20, 2021 — The Federal Communications Commission today announced that it is committing $602,985,895.13 in its latest wave of Emergency Connectivity Fund program support, which will connect over 1.4 million students …