Lexington, Ky. and Nashville, Tenn. (June 8, 2022) – The pandemic raised awareness about the millions of Americans still without adequate access to broadband (high-speed internet). As a result, federal lawmakers approved an unprecedented amount of funding to expand the nation’s current internet infrastructure particularly in rural areas. Brent Legg, who serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs for …

The time is NOW to prepare for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding Washington, D.C. (March 22, 2022) – States, get ready! The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) gives you the best opportunity ever to close the Digital Divide, but it will present many challenges. What state leaders do today and in the months ahead could impact the …

Washington, DC (March 1, 2022) – Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO, Connected Nation, issued the following statement in response to President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union Address: “Tonight, President Biden outlined his administration’s ambitious goal to make broadband access available and affordable to every home in America.  For more than two decades, our organization has been singularly focused on …

Connected Nation makes recommendations to NTIA to maximize unprecedented federal investment in broadband expansion Washington, DC (February 9, 2022) – With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—also known as the “Infrastructure Bill”—last  November, Congress charged the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) with playing the leading role in closing America’s “Digital Divide” through partnerships with the …

The following press release was issued by the NTIA on Thursday, December 23 News Media Contact: NTIA, Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-7002, press@ntia.gov WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently released the first ACCESS BROADBAND Report, which highlights the accomplishments of NTIA’s recently established Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) over the past year. …

Includes up to $350 million for grants in Tribal and socially vulnerable communities The following was issued by the USDA on November 24, 2021 WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Department has begun accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to help people in rural areas get …

Washington, 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 …

By Eric Frederick, Vice President, Community AffairsConnected Nation I recently looked up “how much is a billion?” It’s a difficult number to comprehend. The most common answer is that it’s a thousand million. Another answer is that a billion seconds is equivalent to 31 and a half years. It’s quite the sum. Now, try to imagine a billion times 365 …