by Jessica Denson, Communications DirectorConnected Nation Louisville, Ky (December 13, 2022) – It’s been a year of “living on the edge” for millions of Americans trying to bridge the Digital Divide. If you saw the emails I receive weekly, sometimes daily, as the Communications Director for Connected Nation, from moms and dads, teachers, ranchers, rural residents, and others, you’d understand …
Billions in broadband funding: Who decides where it goes and why some states are preparing to challenge those decisions
Nashville, Tenn. (August 15, 2022) – Billions of dollars in funding for expanding access to broadband (high-speed internet) is now available to states. RFD-TV, a broadcast group that focuses on rural affairs issues across the country, asked Connected Nation (CN) to explain what state and community leaders need to know and do about accessing those funds to help unserved or …
What state leaders must do to access billions of dollars in broadband funding for rural communities
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 …
How NTIA can best leverage its infrastructure bill programs to close the Digital Divide
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 …
From billions of dollars in new funding to mandatory minimum speeds, why NOW is an unprecedented time for broadband expansion in America
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 …
POLICY BRIEF: The FCC Releases Report and Order for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
Washington, DC (March 4, 2021) – Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously voted to adopt a Report and Order that establishes and implements a $3.2 billion federal digital inclusion program that provides qualifying households discounts on their internet service bills and an opportunity to receive a discount on a computer or tablet. The temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) …
FCC Authorizes Second Wave of Funding for Rural Broadband From Connect America Fund Auction
The following press release was issued on the Federal Communications Commission’s website on June 10, 2019 Media Contact: Chelsea Fallon, (202) 418-7991 chelsea.fallon@fcc.gov For Immediate Release FCC AUTHORIZES SECOND WAVE OF FUNDING FOR RURAL BROADBAND FROM CONNECT AMERICA FUND AUCTION Another Round of Funding Starts This Month for Broadband Buildout in Rural Communities in 22 States — WASHINGTON, June 10, …
Nancy Hoffman: Rural Minnesota needs full broadband funding
Published by Winona Daily News on May 1st, 2019 When it comes to broadband funding, Minnesota elected leaders deserve credit for recognizing that access to opportunity is not universal — even if talent in our state is. Since 2014, the state has appropriated $85 million to local internet providers through the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program, to speed the pace toward …
