The Digital Divide Knows No Borders

Lexington, Ky. (April 17, 2019) – What do you picture when you think of New Zealand? Perhaps you see a lush and green countryside? Or, unspoiled coastlines? Or, maybe you imagine waterfalls in valleys? All are true, but among those picturesque images is something often unnoticed—rural communities left without access to the same opportunities and resources many of us take …

Still Buffering: Rural Libraries Fill the Void for Residents Without Broadband

The below article was published by Tyler Morning Telegraph on March 31, 2019 by Erin Mansfield  Editor’s Note This is part two of a five-part series about how a lack of connectivity affects East Texans. Part 1: East Texas lags the rest of the state in broadband Part 2: Rural libraries fill the broadband void Part 3: Some East Texans say …

FCC Chairman Sets $20B/10-Year Rural Broadband Funding Plan

The following was published by MeriTalk on April 15, 2019 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be facilitating $20.4 billion of investments into high-speed broadband networks across rural America over the next 10 years, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced during a briefing with President Trump on April 12. To distribute those funds, the FCC will create the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, which …

Coverage Questions Plague Rural Broadband Expansion

Editor’s Note: Connected Nation believes that one of the reasons many areas remain unserved or underserved when it comes to access to broadband is because there is not accurate data. The current data does not truly reflect who has access and who does not. The following piece, written by Anthony Izaguirre, was published by the Southeast Missourian on April 16, …

FCC to hold big 5G auction, spend $20B for rural internet

Published by AP News on April 12th, 2019 By Tali Arbel NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. government will hold a massive auction to bolster 5G service , the next generation of mobile networks, and plans to spend $20 billion to expand broadband access in rural areas. 5G will mean faster wireless speeds and has implications for technologies like self-driving …

Little FCC Reforms Can Have Big Benefits for Rural Broadband

Published by Wireless Internet Service Providers Association on April 10th, 2019 By Claude Aiken  In rural America, many grain legs (bucket elevators for moving grain) have small wireless radios attached to them, providing the grain leg’s owner with broadband service. But a loophole in the current Federal Communications Commission rules means that the same service provider seeking to use the …

Senate Seeks To Expand Rural Broadband Access

The following was published by The Katy News on April 8, 2019 Austin, TX – Rural Texans have been increasingly left behind in the expansion in broadband coverage, but a bill passed by the Senate Thursday could change that.  According to the Federal Communications Commission, at least 30 percent of rural Texans don’t have access to high-speed internet.  While the …

Tennessee Telecommunications Association members discuss rural broadband with legislators during ‘Day on the Hill’

Published by WGNS Radio on April 8th, 2019  Rural broadband leaders from the Tennessee Telecommunications Association (TTA) met with members of the Tennessee Assembly in Nashville Tuesday to discuss the progress being made in advancing broadband connectivity in rural Tennessee. The annual Day on the Hill started with a breakfast during which TTA members answered questions from state officials and …

USDA Harvests Input on Rural Broadband Spectrum Priorities

Published by Broadcasting Cable on April 2nd, 2019 By John Eggerton The U.S. Department of Agriculture is collecting comment on what is the best spectrum management policy to get broadband to more rural areas, which is an avowed priority of the Trump Administration. In its comments, the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) said it is all for a “rural …