The 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 …
Panelists announced for national conversation on the Digital Divide, free event to broadcast live from 3 US cities
20 years | 3 US cities | 1-of-a-kind event Bowling Green, Ky. (October 7, 2021) – Connected Nation (CN) is marking 20 years of service in 2021 by hosting “A national conversation on the Digital Divide.” This one-of-a-kind, live event will take placeWednesday, November 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (eastern). Registration is free at cn20.org. Panelists will …
The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund: What’s up with the wait for Phase II?
Lansing, Michigan (September 24, 2021) – The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) provides a unique opportunity to expand access to fixed broadband and voice service to millions of unserved homes and small businesses in rural America. There’s one problem—a hold up when it comes to Phase II of the $20.4 billion program. “This comes up a lot when we’re talking …
20 years of connecting the nation: a national conversation on the Digital Divide
Bowling Green, Ky. (September 21, 2021) – Connected Nation (CN) is marking 20 years of service in 2021 by hosting a one-of-a-kind, live event that will air nationally from three US cities on Wednesday, November 17 from 11am to 3pm (eastern). Registration for the live event is free at cn20.org. “We have been focused on closing the Digital Divide for …
Study of Rural Broadband Access Begins
The following was published in the Star Beacon on February 25, 2020 by Jon Wysochanski Efforts are underway to map availability of broadband across the state with the ultimate goal of expanding access to rural and underserved areas. Connected Nation, a rural internet advocacy firm, received a contract for just under $1 million to gather data and map the outlook …
VIDEO: Navigating and Applying for Funding Earmarked for Rural Broadband Expansion
Athens, OH (February 25, 2020) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking applications for the second round of funding for rural broadband expansion through its $550 million ReConnect Program. Ohio University and Connected Nation Ohio hosted a webinar yesterday to help you understand how this program can help connect more residents, businesses, and communities in your area. It features a …
From Phone to Fiber: How One Company is Connecting Parts of Rural Ohio
“I think we’re providing big-city access to rural people.” by Jessica Denson, Director of Communications Connected Nation Bascom, OH. (August 28, 2019) – When Pauline O’Connor wrote to Connected Nation earlier this year, she made it clear just how disconnected she felt. “Having lived in the ‘Bermuda triangle of communications’ running from south of McCutchenville, east to Sycamore and north on …
From Georgia to Minnesota: State Lawmakers are Taking Bipartisan Action for Rural Broadband
Bowling Green, KY (May 2, 2019) – Federal legislators have taken action in recent months to begin expansion of rural broadband across the U.S. But, many state lawmakers are not waiting for federal funding to come through before taking steps of their own. The number of states passing or introducing bills to support the expansion of rural broadband access, adoption, …
Rural Broadband Funding: New Deadlines, Planning for Investment
Bowling Green, KY (April 25, 2019) – The USDA has extended the deadline for grant applications to its ReConnect Program. The program is focused on efforts that will expand broadband in rural America. The first round of applications are now due on May 31. In this first round of funding, USDA is making available at least $600 million in rural broadband projects, …