Grants Limited Waiver for Certain Applicants to Complete Auction Documentation As Other Bidders Announce Plans to Default The following is a press release issued by the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday, December 16 WASHINGTON, December 16, 2021—The FCC today announced that it is ready to authorize $1,041,074,000 over 10 years in its fifth round of funding for new broadband …
USDA Invests $5.2 Billion to Build and Improve Critical Rural Infrastructure in 46 States and Puerto Rico
Published on: December 16, 2021The 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 …
Connected Nation Celebrates GIS Day 2021
Published on: November 17, 2021Louisville, KY (November 17, 2021) – Today is GIS Day, an international recognition of the impact that geographic information systems (GIS) and location intelligence have on our world. Since 1999, GIS Day has occurred in the middle of Geography Awareness Week, demonstrating that a keen understanding of the environmental and cultural geography variables around us help us not only understand …
Statement from Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO of Connected Nation, Applauding the Passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Published on: November 8, 2021Washington, DC (November 8, 2021)—Connected Nation Chairman & CEO Tom Ferree issued the following statement applauding the passage of HR 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, late Friday: “This month, as we celebrate 20 years as an organization working in the trenches to close the digital divide across America, it is tremendously exciting to see the passage of the …
New data shows the top factor for choosing a home broadband provider is NOT cost
Published on: November 1, 2021Rural Texas (November 1, 2021) – If you were to guess why people chose a particular Internet Service Provider (ISP) over another, you’d likely land on price. But recent Connected Nation Texas (CN Texas) research says otherwise. “We took data gathered from 4,410 households across multiple rural Texas communities in 2020 that reported having at least two choices for home …
USDA to Make Up to $1.15 Billion Available to Help People Living in Rural Communities Access High-Speed Internet
Published on: October 25, 2021The following press release was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on October 22, 2021. Department Also Invests $50 Million to Improve Access to Telemedicine, Distance Learning for 7.6 Million People in Rural Areas GENESEO, Ill., Oct. 22, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a significant expansion of access to high-speed internet, health …
It’s time for a full-color approach to solving the nation’s broadband problem
Published on: August 11, 2021As the pandemic recedes, we’ve learned that universal access to the online world, through broadband service, is essential for participation in modern American life. The urgency to create full broadband coverage echoes past programs to develop nationwide networks for electricity, telephone, and interstate highways. Each of those ushered in major changes and improvements in communities across the country. Broadband is …
Connected Nation Texas releases new county-by-county data on internet speeds, coverage areas for entire state
Published on: August 10, 2021286,908 households across Texas still lack access to federally recognized broadband speeds Austin, TX (August 10, 2021) – Connected Nation Texas (CN Texas) just published updated broadband coverage maps for all 254 counties in the state. This fourth update provides a clearer picture and new insights about access to high-speed internet in Texas. “This updated data comes at a critical …
Nacogdoches County set to develop Technology Action Plan for expanding internet access, improving speeds
Published on: July 1, 2021Nacogdoches County, Texas (July 1, 2021) – The Nacogdoches County Broadband Committee invites local stakeholders and media to attend a special kickoff event on Monday, July 19, for a countywide broadband expansion effort. This work is being done in partnership with Connected Nation Texas (CN Texas) and with funding from seven public and private community organizations throughout Nacogdoches County. The …
Bills signed by Gov. Abbott provide new approach to closing the Digital Divide across Texas
Published on: June 22, 2021An estimated 877,000 Texans do not have access to broadband at home Austin, Texas (June 22, 2021) – Gov. Greg Abbott last week signed HB 5 and SB 507, along with several other broadband-related bills. Each measure establishes new approaches to expanding broadband (high-speed internet) access, adoption, and use across Texas. “Each piece of legislation tackles the need for better …