U.S. Governors taking steps to connect their residents

Bowling Green, Kentucky (February 2, 2023) –This past year was a landmark for closing the Digital Divide across the United States. On December 31, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). According to FCC.gov, this program will serve as a “$14.2 billion successor program to the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which helped almost 9 million afford …

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 …

Why the FCC’s new National Broadband Map is important to your community

Louisville, Ky. and Nashville, Tenn. (November 30, 2022) – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released the updated National Broadband Map on Friday, November 18. This map is critical for determining how much each state receives of federal funding for expanding broadband access to unserved and underserved communities. Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO, Connected Nation, recently spoke with RFD-TV, a national …

Connected Nation applauds launch of National Broadband Map as a first step toward pinpointing where broadband is lacking

Washington, DC  (November 18, 2022) – Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO of Connected Nation (CN), issued the following statement regarding today’s launch of the new National Broadband Map by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC): “Today’s launch of the new National Broadband Map marks a significant leap forward in our nation’s efforts to close the Digital Divide once and for all. …

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 …

FCC ANNOUNCES $77 MILLION IN EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES TO HELP CLOSE THE HOMEWORK GAP

The following press release was issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on July 27, 2022 Nearly 13 Million Students Benefitting from Program Providing Digital Services for Students in Communities Across the Country WASHINGTON, July 27, 2022—The Federal Communications Commission today announced it is committing over $77 million in two new funding rounds through the Emergency Connectivity Program, helping to …

Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support authorized for 1,345 winning bids

The below public notice was issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on April 15, 2022. Click here to see the full list of winning bids (Attachment A) announced by the FCC. PUBLIC NOTICE FOLLOWS AU Docket No. 20-34 WC Docket No. 19-126 WC Docket No. 10-90 By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), in conjunction with the …

FCC Announces $313 Million For Broadand Through The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund As Work Continues To Strengthen The Program

The following press release was issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday, March 25 Funding to Support Broadband Deployments to Over 130,000 Locations in 19 States WASHINGTON, March 25, 2022—The Federal Communications Commission today announced that it is ready to authorize more than $313 million through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to fund new broadband deployments in 19 …

FCC ADOPTS RULES TO GIVE TENANTS IN APARTMENTS AND OFFICE BUILDINGS MORE TRANSPARENCY, COMPETITION AND CHOICE FOR BROADBAND SERVICE

The following is a press release issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on February 15, 2022 Order Bans Certain Revenue Sharing Agreements and Requires Providers to Clearly Disclose Marketing Practices for Broadband Service WASHINGTON, February 15, 2022—The Federal Communications Commission announced today that it has adopted rules to unlock broadband competition for those living and working in apartments, public …

This is what’s changing – and what isn’t – about the Emergency Broadband Benefit as it becomes the Affordable Connectivity Program

Discounts on internet service will decrease for most, but the hope is more low-income households will enroll Bowling Green, Kentucky (February 9, 2022) – The new, federal broadband discount program might prove that “less really is more” as it lowers individual household internet discounts but seeks to register even more people in need. The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program was …