Vol 4 | Issue 9 | October 2019

To sign up for BroadbandUSA’s newsletter, email broadbandusa@ntia.gov.

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NTIA Releases National Broadband Availability Map for Eight Pilot States

NTIA released the first phase of its National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM) on September 30, 2019. The map is accessible to the eight participating pilot states including California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. The first release includes data from the participating states as well as U.S. Census Bureau, USDA, DOI, and FCC. The states will test the map’s functionality in the coming months. Feedback from the states will inform the next phase of the map’s development. Information and updates about the map are available on the BroadbandUSA website.

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A Successful Nevada Broadband Workshop

The BroadbandUSA team went on the road to Reno, Nevada this month to hold the Nevada Broadband Workshop. BroadbandUSA was joined by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Nevada state officials, and both U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen. The workshop engaged the public and stakeholders with information helpful in accelerating the rate of broadband connectivity, improving digital inclusion, and supporting local priorities. The broadband workshop provided information on topics including local broadband planning, funding, and engagement with service providers. Speakers voiced support for the expansion of broadband capacity, access, and utilization.

See coverage of the event in Government Technology, The Dos and Don'ts of Community Broadband Network Planning.

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Broadband News and Updates

Federal News

• NTIA Releases New Broadband Availability Map Pilot for Policymakers

• NTIA Spectrum Policy Symposium: Looking to America’s Spectrum Future

• Testimony of Acting Assistant Secretary Rinaldo on the Role of the U.S. Government in Securing the Nation’s Internet Architecture

• Statement of Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Kinkoph on the FCC's Approval of Initial Commercial Deployments in the 3.5 GHz Band

• FCC Proposes $950 Million for U.S. Virgin Island, Puerto Rico Broadband Fund

• Federal Register: U.S. Forest Service: Streamlining Procedures for Evaluating Applications to Locate or Modify Communications Facilities on National Forest System (NFS) Lands

• Connect America Fund Phase II Auction Support Authorized for 1,031 Winning Bids

• FCC Approves $950 Million to Harden, Improve, and Expand Broadband Networks in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

State News

• Colorado: ”The Cruel Irony of the Digital Divide” in Colorado: Urban Poor are Left Behind Even as Access, Technology Improves

• Georgia: Broadband, Education Top Issues on 2nd Day of Rural Development Council Meeting

• Kansas: Improving Broadband Access In Kansas

• Kentucky: Kentuckywired Broadband Project Completed in Eastern Kentucky

• Maryland: Momentum Builds For Maryland’s Rural Broadband Initiative

• Maine: Broadband Advocates Hope For Another Chance At State Bonding

• New York: Verizon Targets New York State’s Rural Communities With FTTH

• North Carolina: North Carolina Looks To Challenge FCC Over Broadband Coverage

• Ohio: Ohio Gets $17.8 Million To Test Autonomous Vehicles On Rural Roads and Ohio Gets $17.8 Million To Test Autonomous Vehicles On Rural Roads

• Oregon: FCC Rural Broadband Funding Makes Its Way To Oregon

• South Dakota: Climbing The Divide: FCC's Carr Visits SD With Rural Broadband Focus and South Dakota Gov. Noem Names HR Director As New Technology Secretary

• Virginia: Wittman Pushes For Better Broadband Maps To Expand Access

• Wisconsin/NC: For State CIOs, Broadband An Essential and Pressing Challenge

Public Safety/FirstNet

• Texas City ISD Experiences FirstNet Benefits First-Hand

• Harnessing FirstNet to enhance EMS response and improve patient care

• Integrating FirstNet into 911 Operations

• Nationwide coding challenge appeals to innovators and public safety

• Board Advances Investments to Expand Coverage, Upgrade Core for 5G

• AT&T and American Tower Sign New Agreement

• Mexican Network Impacts Critical Border Communications

Broadband Funding

• USDA: Community Facilities Direct Loan Program: Guidance Book for Applicants (PDF)

• U.S. Department of Commerce Invests to Advance Broadband-Focused Disaster Resiliency Efforts In Jasper, Texas

• FCC Authorizes Nearly $112.2 Million in Funding for Rural Broadband

Broadband Mapping

• All Over the Broadband Map

• NTIA Releases New Broadband Availability Map Pilot for Policymakers

Digital Equity

• Libraries Ensure That Our Future Is Connected and Informed. Let’s Help Them Keep It That Way.

• Are Slow Internet Connections Holding Back American Schools?

General News

• Corning Launching Community Broadband Effort

• How Wi-Fi Almost Didn’t Happen

• Tribal Technology Assessment: The State of Internet Service on Tribal Lands

• SpaceX Says It Will Deploy Satellite Broadband Across US Faster Than Expected

• TribalNet Fall 2019: Publication for Technology-Minded Professionals in Tribal Government

• Verizon Plans 5G Home Internet In Every City Where It Deploys Mobile 5G

• 5G Promises To Bring 21st-Century Infrastructure — and Fun With Robots

• Most Isolated Tribe In Continental U.S. Gets Broadband

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Events

NTIA Events

Oct.16, 2019
BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series: Broadband’s Role in Revitalizing Main Street.
Time: 2:00 PM Eastern
Broadband connectivity helps to ensure that local communities are vibrant and successful. In parts of the country that are not fully connected, some communities are creating partnerships with local businesses, health organizations, schools and art groups to solve these challenges. These innovative partnerships leverage existing assets to build new opportunities. Join NTIA’s BroadbandUSA to hear case studies of models that are working to successfully connect Main Street in underserved areas.
Speakers:

• Michael W. Burns, Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator, EPA Region 4/CUPP Program Manager

• Mona El Khafif, Associate Professor UVA School of Architecture, RCN Co-Director MainStreet21

• Fletcher Kittredge, CEO, GWI

Click here to register

Oct. 22, 2019
State Broadband Leaders Network Monthly Meeting, Virtual. BroadbandUSA Facilitator: Katherine Bates

Events of Interest

Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2019
Smart Cities Week Washington DC, Washington, D.C. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Jean Rice

Oct. 2, 2019
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Conference, Harrisburg, Va. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Hanson

Oct. 2, 2019
Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Rural Broadband Summit, Atlanta, Ga.

Oct. 8, 2019
Utah Digital Summit, Salt Lake City, Utah. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Justin Fazzari

Oct. 8 - 10, 2019
15th Annual Minnesota Broadband Conference, Nisswa, Minn. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Andy Spurgeon

Oct. 8 - 10, 2019
Smart Cities Connect Fall Conference and Expo, National Harbor, Md.

Oct. 10, 2019
Wyoming Rural Broadband Summit, Casper, Wyo. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Oct. 16 - 18, 2019
2019 AnchorNets Conference, Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, Crystal City, Va

Oct. 20 - 23, 2019
International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Nashville, Tenn. BroadbandUSA Speakers: Katherine Bates, Karen Hanson

Oct. 21, 2019
Mississippi Rural Broadband Workshop, Raymond, Miss. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Oct. 22, 2019
Mississippi Rural Broadband Workshop, Verona, Miss. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Oct. 24 - 25, 2019
Oregon Connections Telecommunication Conference, Ashland, Ore. BroadbandUSA Speakers: Jean Rice, Karen Archer Perry

Oct. 30, 2019
Bridging the Digital Divide: Broadband Communities’ 2019 High-Speed Broadband: Driving America’s Growth Conference and Expo, Alexandria, Va. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Tim Moyer

Nov. 13, 2019
Southern New Mexico Rural Broadband Workshop (Sponsored by the USDA, NTIA, State of New Mexico), Las Cruces, NM. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Nov. 14, 2019
Northern New Mexico Rural Broadband Workshop (Sponsored by the USDA, NTIA, State of New Mexico), Albuquerque, NM. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Nov. 15, 2019
Tribal New Mexico Rural Broadband Workshop (Sponsored by the USDA, NTIA, State of New Mexico), Albuquerque, NM. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Nov. 20 – 23, 2019
National League of Cities (NLC) 2019 City Summit, San Antonio, TX.

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Policy Corner

Data Privacy Conference USA 2019 in Washington, D.C., on September 18, 2019
Highlights of remarks of Diane Rinaldo, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

Internet privacy and security are sometimes treated as separate concerns, but the simple fact is even the strongest privacy laws won’t do much to protect consumers if our networks aren’t secure. We know that consumers care about both of these issues. Data from NTIA’s most recent Internet use survey show that nearly three quarters of households that use the Internet expressed concern about privacy and security risks, such as identity theft or loss of control over personal information. NTIA is working to address both concerns. There is broad consensus that we cannot have a patchwork regulatory landscape within the U.S., especially surrounding privacy. As new technologies like 5G, the Internet of Things and AI become more integrated into our daily lives, we must strive to have the right policies in place so that the United States can continue to harness the economic benefits of our technological leadership. See complete remarks here.