The following release was issued by Gov. Abbott’s office on October 1, 2020. Governor Greg Abbott today issued a statement of support for Senator John Cornyn’s ‘Eliminate the Digital Divide Act.’ This legislation would expand broadband access across the country by sending federal dollars to the states for the purpose of developing programs that fund broadband projects in underserved areas. …
POLICY BRIEF: Aligning the FCC’s Digital Opportunity Data Collection with the Broadband DATA Act
In July, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) voted to adopt a Second Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that sets in motion the rollout of Form 477 modernization and paves the way for better broadband mapping and data from the Commission. As reported in a previous Connected Nation Policy Brief, in 2019 the Commission approved a …
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 …
More Rural Broadband Goal of New Virginia Legislation
The following was published by Fauquier Now on March 19, 2019 by Daniel Berti RICHMOND — If you want internet service in the rural hamlet of Honaker, in far Southwest Virginia, Cable Plus is the only game in town. With internet speeds of 3 megabits per second, customers can go online to check their email, surf social media and watch low-quality …
Broadband Bill Kicked Off Season
Published by Valdosta Daily Times on March 13, 2019 A broadband bill kicked off the legislative session. • HB 23 allows EMCs to provide broadband services, while prohibiting the cross-subsidization of the EMCs broadband services and its natural gas or electricity services. • It also prohibits EMCs disconnecting a user’s gas or electric service for their failure to pay for …