Vol 4 | Issue 2| March 2019

Download PDF version here.To sign up for BroadbandUSA’s newsletter, email broadbandusa@ntia.gov.

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American Broadband Initiative: The Administration’s Strategy for Promoting Broadband Connectivity

This report outlines actions that Executive agencies are taking to increase private-sector investment in broadband. The Initiative focuses on actions in three workstreams: streamlining federal permitting processes, leveraging federal assets to lower the cost of broadband buildouts, and maximizing the impact of federal funding. Learn more about this Initiative at this month’s webinar. See details on the right and register here.

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Broadband News and Updates

Federal News

• NTIA: NTIA Partners with 8 States on Improvements to Broadband Availability Map

• NTIA: Remarks of Assistant Secretary Redl at the Mobile World Congress Ministerial Programme

• NTIA: Remarks of Assistant Secretary Redl at the NG911 Institute 16th Annual 911 Honor Awards

• NTIA/USDA: Federal Agencies Recommend Deepening Data Set for Determining Broadband Access

• FCC: FCC Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) Provides Guidance on Rural Rates in RHC Telecommunications Program

• FCC: Senate Bill Would Create Rural Broadband Office at FCC

• Accelerating America’s Leadership in Artificial Intelligence

• Administration Announces the Members of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board

State News

• Arkansas: Broadband Bill Heads to Governor

• Georgia: Georgia House Wants Local Utilities to Provide Broadband

• Idaho: Idaho Internet Speed? Nearly Worst in U.S. Here’s How We Improve

• Indiana: Indiana Launches $100M Push for Broadband to Rural Areas

• Maryland: State Task Force Releases Rural Broadband

• Midwest: Midwest States Show Progress in Rural Connectivity

• Minnesota: Everyone Wins with Border-to-Border Broadband

• Mississippi: Governor Bryant Signs Broadband Enabling Act

• Nebraska: Lack of Broadband in Rural Nebraska Creating a 'Digital Divide'

• North Carolina: State of the State: Gov. Cooper Makes Soft Sell for Education, Medicaid, Broadband, Storm Aid

• Ohio: Third Frontier Grants $900 to Connect Ohio to Update State Broadband Map

• West Virginia: Manchin, Capito Applaud Decision to Include W.Va. in Broadband Mapping Project

Public Safety/FirstNet

• The FirstNet Lab and Future Experience Center

• Priority Makes the Difference – FirstNet in Action

Federal Funding

• FCC Allocates $67 Million to Boost Rural Broadband Adoption

• USDA Extends Deadlines for ReConnect Rural Broadband Program

• USDA Seeks Applications for the Community Connect Grant Program

• Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program

General News

• Former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler Says the Internet Needs Regulation

• How the U.S. Can Catch Up in the 5G Race

• New York City Tries to Even Out Access to Wireless Networks

• Better Maps, Better Connectivity: How Data Can Close the Broadband Gap

• 20Fathoms 1 of 9 in Rural Innovation Initiative

• The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Applauds Administration’s Broadband Initiative Report

• USTelecom’ Statement on ABI

• The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) Praises Administration’s American Broadband Initiative Report

• The Coming Digital Divide: What to Do, and Not Do, About It

Resources

• USDA e-Connectivity Toolkit Offers Rural Broadband Resources

• USDA Launches High-Speed Broadband e-Connectivity Resource Guide

• USDA ReConnect Broadband Program Technical Workshop 2/13/2019 (video)

• USDA e-Connectivity Resource Matrix For Planning, Construction, Research, and Other Projects and Activities (PDF)

• Draft FCC Broadband Report: Digital Divide Is Narrowing Substantially

• Pew Initiative to Study State Broadband Access Hurdles

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Events

NTIA Events

March 20, 2019
BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series: American Broadband Initiative: The Administration’s Strategy for Promoting Broadband Connectivity

Time: 2:00 PM Eastern

Join BroadbandUSA on March 20, 2019 to learn about the newly launched American Broadband Initiative and Milestones Report, which details the Administration’s strategy to expand broadband connectivity across the country. NTIA will provide an overview of the Initiative’s goals and will be joined by officials from key agencies who are contributing to its mission. Click here to register

Events of Interest

March 2-6, 2019
2019 NACo Legislative Conference, Washington, DC

March 5-6, 2019
National Collaborative for Digital Equity (NCDE) 2019 Summit, Washington, DC

March 6, 2019
Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council: 10^th Annual Broadband and Social Justice Summit, Washington, DC
Remarks: David J. Redl Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

March 7-13, 2019
2019 NRECA Annual Meeting and Exposition, Orlando, FL

March 10-12, 2019
NTCA, The Rural Broadband Association 2019 Telecom Executive Forum, Clearwater, FL

March 10-13, 2019
National League of Cities (NLC) 2019 Congressional City Conference, Washington, DC

March 12, 2019
USDA ReConnect Webinar: Engineering Requirements Necessary for Completing an Application, Webinar

March 13-15, 2019
The Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) 2019 Spring Conference, Des Moines, IA

March 14, 2019
USDA ReConnect Webinar: Financial Requirements Necessary for Completing an Application, Webinar

March 18-20, 2019
Minnesota Telecom Alliance (MTA) Annual Convention and Trade Show, Minneapolis, MN

March 17-20, 2019
National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) 2019 Washington Policy Conference, Arlington, VA

March 19-20, 2019
Healthcare Informatics Midwest Health IT Summit, Cleveland, OH

March 21, 2019
USDA ReConnect Webinar: Comprehensive Look at the Application Requirements Contained in the FOA, Webinar

March 22, 2019
Connecting New Mexico – The Future of Broadband in Our State, Albuquerque, NM

March 25-27, 2019
Iowa Communications Alliance (ICA) 6th Annual Meeting & Expo, Des Moines, IA

March 26, 2019
Do Not Pass Go Documentary Screening and Discussion hosted by Next Century Cities, the Coalition for Local Internet Choice, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the National Association of Regional Councils, and the National League of Cities; Washington, DC

April 1, 2019
Closing the Digital Divide 101 for Local and State Elected Officials, Charlotte, NC

April 1-3, 2019
Net Inclusion, Charlotte, NC

April 8-11, 2019
Broadband Communities Summit: Fiber: Putting Your Gigs to Work, Austin, TX

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Policy Corner

NG911 Institute 16th Annual 911 Honor Awards

Summary of Remarks of David J. Redl Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

These days, our phones do a little more than make calls. Consumers are using their mobile devices to text, post, and video chat. There’s a reasonable expectation, I think, that the same tools we use to talk to friends and family can be used in an emergency.

This is encouraging progress, but there’s a catch. Between the state-of-the-art technology in the hands of consumers, and the state-of-the-art technology in the hands of first responders, we have 911 call centers, the vast majority of which are stuck with analog, 1980s technology. NTIA is committed to modernizing our 911 call centers, and we welcome your partnership in this transition. Only with a shared vision of what our call center capabilities should be, and continued effort to make that vision a reality, will we fundamentally transform emergency response in America.

See the complete remarks here.