06/21/17
TECH WEEK:Why Better Mapping is Critical to Getting Broadband Access to More People
Connected Nation Testifies on Capitol Hill
For nearly two decades, Connected Nation has worked to bring internet access to families and businesses in both rural and urban settings, and, as a result, was recently asked to testify before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. That’s because the focus of the hearing was on “Defining and Mapping Broadband Coverage in America.”
10/27/16
FCC Using Form 477 Data to Close the Mobile Broadband Gap in Rural America
Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced improved analysis of coverage data that will help the FCC realize its ambitious goal of universal broadband and advanced mobile coverage across the United States.
08/04/16
FCC Releases Broadband and Health Interactive Mapping Tool
The Federal Communications Commission’s Connect2Health Task Force has launched a broadband and health interactive map. The new tool, titled Mapping Broadband Health in America, allows users to analyze broadband and health data visually, and at a national, state, and county level. The map is intended for use by both public and private sectors, and local communities, as a tool to drive discussion, to identify opportunities and gaps in connectivity and health care, and to assist broadband health policies and digital health solutions.
08/04/16
FCC CAF Offer to Ohio Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers
In a public notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the final version of the Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) was released. The FCC has offered 19 small, rural Ohio local telephone companies, including Horizon and TDS, $55 million in subsidies over 10 years to upgrade their broadband networks. This next phase of the Connect America Fund targets over 7,000 home and business locations in areas served by these rural companies that do not have 10 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload broadband service available today.
07/22/16
NTIA Releases FirstNet Opt Out Guidelines For States
This week, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a version of guidelines for a state to use if it chooses to opt out of FirstNet’s nationwide LTE broadband public safety communications network. While FirstNet is leading the efforts to create the national network for public safety officials, individual states have the option to decline and to construct, operate, and maintain a state-owned radio communication network that works with FirstNet’s system once deployed.
07/22/16
NTIA Releases FirstNet Opt Out Guidelines For States
This week, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a version of guidelines for a state to use if it chooses to opt out of FirstNet’s nationwide LTE broadband public safety communications network. While FirstNet is leading the efforts to create the national network for public safety officials, individual states have the option to decline and to construct, operate, and maintain a state-owned radio communication network that works with FirstNet’s system once deployed.
04/19/16
FCC Approves Broadband Consumer Labels
Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released voluntary labels for broadband providers to use to disclose speeds, data caps, prices, and more for consumer broadband service. These labels were proposed by the Commission’s Consumer Advisory Committee as a safe harbor for broadband providers to comply with the 2015 Open Internet Order, otherwise known as the Net Neutrality Order.
04/29/15
FCC Offers $10 billion for Broadband Network Upgrades
Today, the FCC formally offered the nation’s largest telephone companies, including AT&T, Verizon, Frontier, CenturyLink, FairPoint, and Windstream, $10 billion in subsidies to offer broadband service to over 4 million homes and businesses that are currently unserved. Today’s offer is a critical step in “Phase II” of the Connect America Fund, which will subsidize the construction of 10 Mbps down/1 Mbps up broadband networks in these areas over the next six years.
02/12/15
FCC Change May Affect You
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently changed its definition of broadband to 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, and that means a lot of Iowa now does not have broadband service that meets the new broadband benchmark. However, based on Connect Iowa’s mapping and research, broadband availability at these speeds is generally limited to metropolitan areas.
Checkout this Who Radio article about the FCC’s recent announcement.
12/12/14
FCC Increases Broadband Speed Target
Yesterday, the FCC voted to increase the national broadband availability target from 4 Mbps down/1 Mbps up to 10 Mbps down/1 Mbps up fixed. It could mean that faster Internet speeds will be coming sooner to communities across the nation.
Our efforts in Connected Nation states has brought quality broadband to more homes, schools, and businesses -- but as the graph below shows, there is still work to be done to meet these new goals.
