West Texas (March 28, 2023) — When you think of the services and buildings that function as the heart of your community, what comes to mind? Connected Nation staff (Alek Argueta and I) recently traveled to four cities in West Texas, by invitation from the Rio Grande Council of Governments, where the public libraries undoubtedly function as a vital organ …
Reliable broadband access unreachable for many Michigan businesses
Berrien Springs, Michigan (March 24, 2023) — Last week, Connected Nation’s Director of Research Development, Chris McGovern, highlighted the gaps in high-speed internet service available to Michigan businesses. The study, shared for the first time on March 17 at the 2023 conference of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters, shows that businesses (just like households) in rural parts …
Assessing Local ARPA Broadband Expenditures in the Great Lakes Region
Berrien Springs, Michigan (March 20, 2023) – On March 17, I presented a poster titled, “Assessing Local ARPA Broadband Expenditures in the Great Lakes Region,” to the 2023 Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters (MASAL) Conference at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. My poster focused on funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocated toward broadband investments …
Addressing the need for a greater female representation in tech
Nashville, Tennessee (March 16, 2023) – As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it is important to not only celebrate the positive impacts we, as women, have on society, but also to acknowledge the discrimination, underrepresentation, and inequity we continue to endure in many aspects of our lives. We need to make our voices heard, especially in traditionally male-dominated workplaces. Over …
High-cost areas, match waivers, and the problem of commercial sustainability
Bowling Green, Kentucky, (March 14, 2023) – In the last post, I gave an example of a BEAD grant award that was too big. The state should have required more private matching capital. But sometimes, a nearly 100% subsidy is necessary in order to make any broadband deployment project happen at all. In this post, I’ll show why. It’s one …
Broadband helps small businesses be heard
Bowling Green, Kentucky (March 7, 2023) – March 7 is National Be Heard Day, a time for small businesses to shout out to the world and make their voices be heard! Broadband is one of the most powerful tools that small, local businesses have to ensure their messages are not drowned out by the big advertising bucks being spent every …
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. …
Understanding speed test data and other broadband performance metrics
Bowling Green, Kentucky (February 28, 2023) – When I’m watching TV these days, I’m inundated with commercials from internet service providers (ISPs) advertising the “fastest speeds” in the nation. For many Americans, this message likely strikes a chord. We’ve come to rely on the internet for so much – communication, entertainment, work, gathering information, home security – the list goes …
African American history maker in Technology – Lisa Gelobter
Nashville, Tennessee (February 21, 2023) – Making an impact in today’s technology world can be hard, but it can be even harder if you are a minority. That did not stop Lisa Gelobter. As a Black female technology innovator who started her career in the early days of the internet, she has broken down barriers for many others like her. …
Digital Works receives $35,000 grant from Truist Foundation to provide free digital skills training and remote job placement
Bowling Green, Kentucky (Feb. 20, 2023) – Digital Works, a program of the national nonprofit Connected Nation, today announced it has received a $35,000 grant from Truist Foundation to expand digital skills training and remote job placement program. This one-of-a-kind program offers training in customer service, sales, basic technical skills, and career readiness, which includes interviewing, résumé/cover letter creation, networking, …