POLICY BRIEF: FCC Proposes Cap to Universal Service Fund, Extends Comment Deadline 

Washington, D.C. (July 10, 2019) –  In May, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to seek comment on establishing a cap on the Universal Service Fund (USF) and, most recently, extended the deadline for comments on the proposal. This NPRM could impact the E-Rate and Rural Health Care funds and has raised some questions. There is some disagreement among …

American Broadband Buildout Act Would Dedicate $5 Billion to Rural Broadband

The following was published in the telecompetitor on July 1, 2019 by Joan Engebretson The American Broadband Buildout Act, introduced by Senators Susan M. Collins and Doug Jones, would make $5 billion available to help bring broadband to rural areas where the service is not currently available and to support digital literacy and public awareness campaigns. The funding would come …

CAPITO, KLOBUCHAR LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY PASSES SENATE

The following press release was issued on Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s website on June 6, 2019  Update: As of June 10, 2019, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  Click here to the follow the latest on this bill. Bipartisan bill would call for a study of the effects of broadband deployment, adoption on the U.S. …

The UN wants to connect every adult in the world by 2030

The following was published in c|net on June 10, 2019  by Dhara Singh  Half the world still doesn’t have access to the internet, says UN Secretary-General António Guterres. At a time when countries are feuding over tariffs and trade agreements, Melinda Gates and Alibaba CEO Jack Ma feel optimistic that international cooperation will bridge the digital divide. The hope is that global collaboration …

FCC authorizes $22 million for broadband in rural Missouri counties

Published by Howel County News on May 24, 2019 By Caitlyn Rosen  Missourians living in rural areas have dealt with a lack of broadband access at disproportionate levels. Funding authorized Tuesday from the Federal Communications Commission could peck away at the problem. The FCC authorized $22.4 million over the next decade to expand broadband access to 13 counties and 7,400 …

New Bill Would Improve Broadband Maps

The following was published by the American Farm Bureau Federation on May 22, 2019. Farm Bureau President, Zippy Duvall, recently joined Connected Nation’s board of directors partly because of our mission to bring broadband to all people in both rural and urban areas.  A recently introduced bill would enhance the accuracy of broadband coverage maps, a key step toward boosting …

Rural Missouri Celebrates Successful Legislative Session

Bowling Green, KY. (May 20, 2019) – Last week the Missouri legislation had a successful session that was very important to the states agriculture. Many bills were passed that supported big changes in rural communities. Governor Mike Parson and other state leaders biggest victory for family farmers was the passage of SB 391. This new law (SB 391) prevents counties from implementing …

Connected Nation Chairman Named to FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee

Bowling Green, Ky. (May  20, 2019) – Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO, Connected Nation, was named to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) re-chartered Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC). The committee’s mission will be to make recommendations on how to accelerate the deployment of high-speed internet access. “I’m honored to be named among the distinguished professionals who are taking part in …