Celebrating one year for the NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Program: What the awardees had to say

Nashville, Tennessee (March 2, 2023) – On Wednesday, March 1st, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hosted the “Internet for All Webinar Series – Broadband Infrastructure Program One Year Anniversary Celebration”. During this webinar, NTIA leadership and Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) staff celebrated the one year milestone by recognizing the work of the fourteen grantees and highlighting program milestones. …

Kentucky’s Governor announces 14-stop Better Internet Initiative Listening Tour

Community input will help guide investments to expand high-speed internet across the state The following release was issued by the Kentucky governor’s office on Feb. 2, 2023. FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 2, 2023) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the state will host a 14-stop listening tour beginning Tuesday, Feb. 14, in Hopkinsville as part of the ongoing Better Internet Initiative. “Access to …

A year of living on the edge: looking over the precipice of the Digital Divide and seeing great change ahead

by Jessica Denson, Communications DirectorConnected Nation Louisville, Ky (December 13, 2022) – It’s been a year of “living on the edge” for millions of Americans trying to bridge the Digital Divide. If you saw the emails I receive weekly, sometimes daily, as the Communications Director for Connected Nation, from moms and dads, teachers, ranchers, rural residents, and others, you’d understand …

Billions in broadband funding: Who decides where it goes and why some states are preparing to challenge those decisions

Nashville, Tenn. (August 15, 2022) – Billions of dollars in funding for expanding access to broadband (high-speed internet) is now available to states. RFD-TV, a broadcast group that focuses on rural affairs issues across the country, asked Connected Nation (CN) to explain what state and community leaders need to know and do about accessing those funds to help unserved or …

What state leaders must do to access billions of dollars in broadband funding for rural communities

Lexington, 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 …

How NTIA can best leverage its infrastructure bill programs to close the Digital Divide

Connected 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 …

USDA Invests $5.2 Billion to Build and Improve Critical Rural Infrastructure in 46 States and Puerto Rico

The following press release was published by the USDA: Funding Will Expand Access to High-Speed Internet, Clean Water and Dependable Electric Power in People’s Homes and Businesses in Rural America WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $5.2 billion to build and improve critical rural infrastructure in 46 states and …

From billions of dollars in new funding to mandatory minimum speeds, why NOW is an unprecedented time for broadband expansion in America

By Eric Frederick, Vice President, Community AffairsConnected Nation I recently looked up “how much is a billion?” It’s a difficult number to comprehend. The most common answer is that it’s a thousand million. Another answer is that a billion seconds is equivalent to 31 and a half years. It’s quite the sum. Now, try to imagine a billion times 365 …

POLICY BRIEF: The FCC Releases Report and Order for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program 

Washington, DC (March 4, 2021) – Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously voted to adopt a Report and Order that establishes and implements a $3.2 billion federal digital inclusion program that provides qualifying households discounts on their internet service bills and an opportunity to receive a discount on a computer or tablet. The temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) …

VIDEO: Navigating and Applying for Funding Earmarked for Rural Broadband Expansion 

Athens, OH (February 25, 2020) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking applications for the second round of funding for rural broadband expansion through its $550 million ReConnect Program. Ohio University and Connected Nation Ohio hosted a webinar yesterday to help you understand how this program can help connect more residents, businesses, and communities in your area. It features a …