Bipartisan Collaboration on American Broadband Buildout Act of 2019

The following was published in the Opelika Observer on July 10, 2019  Last week, U.S. Sens. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the American Broadband Buildout Act of 2019 (ABBA), a bipartisan bill to ensure that rural Americans have access to broadband services at speeds they need to fully participate in modern society and economy by directing the …

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 …

Rural Connectivity Necessary for Agriculture

The following published in DairyBusiness on July 8, 2019 Connectivity is needed in rural areas to make the best of use technology in agriculture The Forbes AgTech Summit in Salinas in June on “The Future of Food” showcased technology, innovation and ideas that will make agriculture more efficient, productive, profitable and safe. To make these advancements accessible to all Americans, broadband connectivity …

Getting Up-to-speed on Broadband Legislation

This quarter has seen a flurry of broadband legislation and programs aimed at increasing high-speed internet access and adoption across the country. Connected Nation’s (CN) policy team tracks these developments closely as the nonprofit works to get broadband deployed in even the most unserved of communities. Tom Ferree, CN’s Chairman & CEO, recently talked with RFD-TV about the work lawmakers …

VIDEO: Nebraska Rancher on Why Broadband Matters to Rural America

Honest Beef is a family-owned beef business located in the Sandhills of Nebraska. RFD-TV recently talked with owner Hannah Raudsepp about broadband’s (high-speed internet) impact on farmers and ranchers across the country. The station is focused on issues that impact the “rural and Western lifestyle” with a mission of connecting “city with country.” “Having [internet] access is so important for …

$20 Million in Grants Available to Expand Internet Access in Unserved Areas of Michigan

The following release was issued by the Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer on July 2, 2019 Lansing, Mich. – Recognizing the impact access to high-speed internet has on educational and economic opportunities, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the opening of applications for the Connecting Michigan Communities (CMIC) grant program to increase broadband in underserved areas of Michigan. While much of Michigan has …

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 …

From One Parent to Another: The Challenge of Protecting Kids While Online

Bowling Green, KY. (June 19, 2019) – It is often said that parenting is the toughest job. Every child has different tendencies, interests, temperaments, and personality characteristics. So, there is no set parenting playbook that will ensure kids make good decisions when we are watching—much less when we aren’t. Challenges evolve over time as there are changes in trends and …

Don’t Fall Victim to Fake News

Lexington, Ky. (June 18, 2019) –  The internet is a tremendous and powerful platform for researching, communicating, learning, and staying informed about news from near and afar. Whether we are checking for local stories or news from around the world, the internet has revolutionized the way we consume and share news with colleagues, friends, and family. Gone are the days …