Lee County Administrator Jeremy England is seeking a share of $1 billion from the Broadband Breakthrough Project to bring broadband internet countywide. The project is a joint effort between the Benton Institute, the Soybean Association, and others. England needs to assemble a team by Friday to participate in a 16-week effort [2e1b2b1a].
This initiative in Lee County aligns with the global efforts to enhance connectivity in underserved communities and bridge the digital divide. Governments, organizations, and communities around the world are recognizing the importance of improving digital access in rural and underserved areas. In Baltimore, Mayor Brandon Scott has announced the Digital Inclusion Strategy, a comprehensive five-year plan to provide reliable high-speed internet, modern computing devices, digital skills training, and technical support to underserved communities [d3c3bd36].
In the UK, Mobile UK is leading an initiative to assess the current level of digital connectivity in rural areas. A survey has been launched to raise awareness of the poor mobile coverage and broadband provision in these areas, with the hope of prioritizing rural areas in the government's digital rollout [df88c424].
Similarly, in Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a report addressing the issue of mobile coverage expansion in regional areas. The report highlights the impact of tower access on regional mobile coverage and states that the current regulatory regime is no longer fit for purpose. The report also raises awareness of the upcoming 3G shutdown in 2024 [9f0c92e1].
In Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has taken action to address the decline in competition in the internet services market. The CRTC has mandated that large telcos provide competitors with access to their fiber-to-the-home networks in Ontario and Quebec, aiming to increase competition and provide consumers with more options for internet service providers [16fa9c66].
Efforts to bridge the digital divide are not limited to developed countries. In Wales, a company is urging residents of several communities to apply for funding through the UK Government's Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme to bring ultrafast, ultra-reliable full fibre broadband to their homes and businesses [35252d76].
The Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission has been awarded $3.9 million in funding from the Biden-Harris Administration's rural infrastructure projects. The funding will be used to construct 29,500 linear feet of waterline, a new 1,000,000-gallon elevated water tank, site work, and connections to the existing water system. This project will improve pressure, reliability, and resiliency for the area of the system north of Interstate 385, benefiting 16,000 users. The Laurens County project is one of four projects in South Carolina funded by the USDA as part of the $18.5 million investment in rural infrastructure projects. The USDA is also investing $51.7 million to expand access to high-speed internet in rural areas across the country. The funding is made possible by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $65 billion for expanding reliable, affordable, high-speed internet. The Laurens County project is part of the USDA's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program, which has provided $3.7 billion in funding for 338 ReConnect projects since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, bringing high-speed internet access to over 485,000 people in rural America [f61985c4].
Lt. Gov. Gilchrist II celebrates the Biden Administration's approval of Michigan's proposed State Challenge Process, which will identify locations eligible for high-speed internet infrastructure expansion. The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program will provide resources to connect unserved and underserved homes, businesses, and institutions in Michigan. The BEAD program received a historic $1.559 billion funding allocation for Michigan. The State Challenge Process invites stakeholders to verify the accuracy of current internet service maps and submit challenges where they are incorrect. The State Challenge Portal will accept challenges from March 25 to April 23. Lt. Gov. Gilchrist encourages Michiganders to participate in the State Challenge Process to ensure their location is accounted for in Michigan's BEAD program. [858acde2].
The Biden-Harris Administration announced the approval of $10 million for multi-purpose facilities in tribal communities in New Mexico. The funding will support the construction of a new childcare center and the improvement and expansion of six libraries and family resource centers within tribal communities. The projects aim to provide broadband internet and computers to enable work, education, and health monitoring within the communities. The facilities are expected to serve thousands of tribal community members annually across seven Pueblos, Tribes, and Indian Nations in the state. The funding is part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Capital Projects Fund, which provides funding for critical capital projects that expand economic opportunities and provide internet connectivity in communities with unmet needs. This announcement is in addition to the $117 million in CPF funding for broadband infrastructure in New Mexico announced in 2022. The Biden-Harris Administration has prioritized strengthening the self-determination and economic vitality of Tribal Nations and Native people, including through the implementation of the American Rescue Plan. [e23a6fc7].
A $4 million broadband expansion initiative called the Woodlands Route 33 Middle/Last Mile Fiber Deployment Project has been announced for Randolph and Tucker Counties in West Virginia. The project, partially funded by the Partnerships for Opportunity, Workforce, and Economic Revitalization (POWER) program, aims to connect communities in the underserved areas. U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito emphasized the importance of reliable broadband for tourism development, economic development, education, and healthcare. The project will provide reliable broadband to government offices, schools, healthcare facilities, first responders, businesses, and families in Elkins, Harmon, Thomas, and Davis. The initiative is part of a holistic approach to community development and aims to improve the quality of life and business opportunities in the region. Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco sees the broadband expansion as a catalyst for economic growth and advancement, along with other ongoing improvements in the area. [102488b4].
Roberto Gallardo, Purdue University's vice president for engagement, emphasizes the importance of broadband in bridging the digital divide. The U.S. government plans to invest $42.5 billion in the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to ensure more Americans have access to fast internet. Gallardo developed the Digital Divide Index in 2016, which measures the gap in digital access and use. The index has been requested over 150 times since 2020. Gallardo believes that the digital divide goes beyond infrastructure and affects economic and social ties in communities, particularly in rural areas. Purdue University is working on multiple economic development projects, including evaluating the impact of the state of Indiana's Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative and the Biden administration's Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Gallardo states that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the value and necessity of broadband, accelerating awareness of the digital divide. The Purdue Broadband Team is part of Purdue President Mung Chiang's plan to improve services in the state through initiatives such as Broadband for rural counties. [3e4d44ed].
Vice President Kamala Harris has announced the formation of a new partnership to help provide internet access to 80% of Africa by 2030, up from roughly 40% currently. This initiative is a follow-up to Harris' visit to the continent last year and is in conjunction with Kenyan President William Ruto's visit to Washington. The partnership, called the Partnership for Digital Access in Africa, aims to increase economic growth through public-private partnerships. Harris also announced the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy Alliance (MADE), which will pilot a program to give digital access to 3 million farmers in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria. Additionally, the Women in the Digital Economy efforts have generated over $1 billion in public and private commitments. Africa has struggled to obtain the capital needed for industrial and technological development, with foreign direct investment falling to $45 billion in 2022 from a record high of $80 billion in 2021. [0cd029e0].
Access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet is essential for economic growth. President Biden aims to connect every household in America by 2030 and has allocated over $80 billion in federal funding to expand access. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides qualifying households with up to $30 per month off their internet bill. Without further funding from Congress, the ACP will expire, affecting over 23 million households. High-speed internet is crucial for small business formation and economic growth, as it allows businesses to engage with customers, suppliers, and services online. Access to high-speed internet also benefits health and education outcomes. Expanding access to reliable, high-speed internet is important for reducing economic disparities. The Biden-Harris administration is making targeted investments to address the challenges of access and affordability. Continued funding for the ACP would benefit millions of households and support thriving small businesses and economic growth. [8f4b7b94]
Ben Lomand Connect recently received a $14.68 million American Rescue Plan Act Capital Project Funds Middle Mile Grant award to expand and strengthen its network and offer high-speed fiber-optic broadband services to underserved areas in Franklin and Moore counties. The Commerce Department issues its second estimate of how the U.S. economy performed in the first quarter of 2024. Trucks drive amongst shipping containers at a BNSF intermodal terminal on Dec. 29, 2023, in Edgerton, Kan. [ef1f3738].
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr criticized the Biden administration for failing to connect a single American with high-speed internet despite receiving $42.45 billion in funding in 2021. The administration has not started any construction projects and now says that they won't begin until 2025 at the earliest. Carr also accused the administration of prioritizing a partisan political agenda over connecting Americans, including climate change mandates, tech biases, DEI requirements, and favoring government-run networks. Carr specifically criticized the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and has had little success in its two years since being passed. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was also questioned about the lack of progress in building electric vehicle charging stations. Carr stated that the BEAD program fails to close the digital divide and that the Biden administration is putting partisan political goals above smart policy, leaving rural communities behind. [3918400b]
The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure bill launched a $42 billion investment in broadband deployment. However, bureaucratic waste, delays, and price-control mandates threaten the program's success. Rural America, where 28 percent of residents lack high-speed wired broadband, stands to suffer the most. The Biden administration's Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program aimed to address this by combining public grants with private investments. However, poor execution and special interest carveouts have delayed the program. Additionally, the ability of broadband providers to access utility poles quickly and at reasonable prices is a roadblock. Congress must end carveouts and exemptions that allow pole owners to ignore federal oversight and negotiation rules. The FCC should resolve pole attachment disputes quickly. Closing the rural digital divide requires real resources and focus on execution. [2a11334d]