Vol 5 | Issue 7 | July 2020
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Policy Corner: NTIA and Federal Partners Release American Broadband Initiative One-Year Progress Report
By Doug Kinkoph, Associate Administrator performing the delegated duties of the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information

Last week NTIA, along with our partners throughout the federal government, released the one-year progress report to the American Broadband Initiative (ABI) Milestones Report. The ABI was launched over a year ago as the Trump administration’s all-of-government initiative to stimulate broadband expansion through removing regulatory barriers and streamlining government processes. The progress report details accomplishments made by NTIA, USDA, and others. For example, NTIA completed 100% of its commitments in the ABI Milestones Report. This includes the establishment and expansion of our National Broadband Availability Map and the creation of a one-stop database for state and federal broadband resources. The progress report highlights many reasons to be excited, but there is still work to do. NTIA will continue to work with communities across the country to encourage the expansion and adoption of broadband Internet.

Broadband News and Updates

Federal News

• NTIA: NTIA Adds 5 States to National Broadband Availability Map

  • NTIA Data Reveal Shifts in Technology Use, Persistent Digital Divide

• FCC: CAF II Auction Support for 480 Winning Bids Ready to be Authorized

  • FCC Adopts Procedures for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction

  • Office of Management and Budget Approves a Three Year Period of Information Collection with the Rules for the FCC's Telecommunications Program and the Healthcare Connect Fund Program

  • FCC Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture to Meet on July 22, 2020

• USDA: Trump Administration Invests $1.6 Billion in Rural Electric Infrastructure in 21 States

• ED: GEER Fund Applications are publicly posted on Department of Education website

• NIST: Global City Teams Challenge Smart Agriculture and Rural SuperCluster Workshop Report 2020

State News

• Arkansas: State committee endorses broadband proposals

• District of Columbia: Budget Cuts Ahead, D.C. to Merge Connectivity, 'Smart City' Programs

• Florida: Broadband expansion needed sooner than later, Suncoast toll-road task force members say

• Georgia: Lawmakers Target Charges to String Lines in Broadband Push

  • Comcast Announces Broadband expansion in West Georgia

• Louisiana: Louisiana Senate Panel OKs Broadband Expansion to Rural Areas

• Minnesota: State Efforts to Close Internet Gap Hampering Distance Learning Aren’t Being Expedited — At Least for Now

• Mississippi: Mississippi’s ‘Broadband Revolution’ Picks Up Speed

• New Hampshire: First-of-Its-Kind Push Wants NH Electric Cooperative to Become a Broadband Cooperative, Too

• Pennsylvania: Students Explore Solution to Create a Reliable Broadband in Rural Communities

• Puerto Rico/US Virgin Islands: FCC Awards $238 Million for Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands Wireless, Portions Target 5G

• South Carolina: Editorial: Our Approach to Broadband Needs a Shakeup

• Vermont: Vermont Emergency Broadband Action Plan Proposes Universal Access Road Map

  • House Passes $95 Million Broadband, Connectivity, Housing Coronavirus Recovery Package

• Virginia: Broadband Pilot Program Will Provide Rural Communities with High-Speed Internet

Digital Inclusion

• Efforts to Close Digital Divide Top States' Plans for Emergency Relief Funds

• Report: Rural Co-ops Can Close the Digital Divide

• Highlighting Rural Broadband Access Gap, WSU-Supported Broadband Action Team Draws Interest from FCC Chairman

• Seattle Distributes $345,000 to Digital Literacy Organizations

• Federal government allows use of TANF, SNAP E&T, WIOA funds to support digital inclusion

Local

• The Power of Partnerships: Scott County, Minnesota

• Local Gov Delivers Equitable Broadband During Pandemic

• Dark Fiber Brings the Light: A Public-Private Partnership in Colorado

• How San Rafael, Calif., Built a Wi-Fi Network During a Pandemic

Public Safety/FirstNet

• FirstNet Board Gives Thumbs Up to 5G, Deployables Investment

• PSAC Profile: National Volunteer Fire Council

• FCC Pursuing New Spectrum Policy for Public-Safety Communications, Official Says

General News

• Future of Broadband is Bright in Tennessee and Colorado, Say State Rural Development Reps

• 'Dig Once' Bill Makes Second Appearance

• NARUC and FCC Partner to Increase Awareness of Federal Lifeline Broadband and Phone Program

• FCC Delays Changes to E-Rate Application

• Who's Not Online in America Today?

• Small ISP Cancels Data Caps Permanently After Reviewing Pandemic Usage

• Here’s How Telecom Companies Are Rolling Out 5G During a Pandemic

• Rural Connection: Increasing Broadband Infrastructure to Meet 21st Century Needs

• Indigenous Communities Have Moved Powwows to the Internet

• Comcast Extends Free Internet Essentials Offer

New BroadbandUSA Team Members

Lindsey Hays, GIS Specialist

Lindsey comes to NTIA from the USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG). While at the OIG she was responsible for migrating their on-premises GIS environment to Azure. Prior to the OIG Lindsey worked for Esri Professional Services for 10 years as a GIS consultant assisting federal customers in deploying and managing geographic systems. She holds a master's degree in Environmental Remote Sensing and GIS from Boston University and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. When she is able, Lindsey enjoys traveling and kayaking.

Ryan Wiegand, Broadband Program Specialist

Ryan joins NTIA as a Broadband Program Specialist after recently finishing his master’s program in public policy and management at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College. During his program, Ryan completed a fellowship with the National Governors Association's Energy, Infrastructure, and Environment division and served as a Broadband Policy Intern with BroadbandUSA last summer. Prior to his studies at Heinz, he lived in Indianapolis (near his hometown of Carmel, Indiana), working in former Senator Joe Donnelly's constituent services and outreach office. He maintains allegiance to the Indiana Pacers, as well as to the Cubs, Fulham and any Notre Dame team. Ryan is very excited to be rejoining the BroadbandUSA team and to work alongside and continue learning from a fantastic group of professionals dedicated to broadband expansion and digital equity!

Nicole Dan, Pathways Intern

Nicole Dan is a second year student at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy. She is from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and graduated from the University of Florida in 2018 with degrees in political science and journalism. Prior to attending McCourt, she worked at a digital fundraising firm. Her policy interests are technology and politics.

NTIA Events

July 15, 2020
BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series
Topic: Cyberinfrastructure: Moving Beyond Broadband at HBCUs and TCUs

Time: 2:00 PM Eastern
Cyberinfrastructure differs from traditional web and broadband access in its focus and magnitude. The high-performance computing and networking resources of cyberinfrastructure enables educators, scientists and students opportunities to create and collaborate in entirely new ways. Many institutions of higher education are engaged in this new kind of scholarly inquiry and education, empowering their communities to innovate and to revolutionize what they do, how they do it, and who participates. Cyberinfrastructure is vital for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to be competitive in the 21st Century. Please join BroadbandUSA’s webinar on July 17, 2020 to hear from panelists who will highlight the cyberinfrastructure at HBCUs and TCUs, as well as the importance of partnerships with national organizations such as Internet2 and EDUCAUSE in achieving the common goals of diversity and inclusion.

Speakers:

• Jason Arviso, Director of IT, Navajo Technical University

• Curtis Bradlee, Interim Director of University Computing and Information Technology Systems (UCITS), South Carolina State University

• Deborah F. Dent, CIO, Division of Information Technology, Jackson State University

• Al Kuslikis, American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC)

Visit our Webinar Archives for past presentations, transcripts and audio recordings.

NTIA's BroadbandUSA program promotes innovation and economic growth by supporting efforts to expand broadband connectivity and digital inclusion across America. In this role, BroadbandUSA serves state and local government, industry and non-profits that want to expand broadband infrastructure and promote digital inclusion.

Contact Us. If you are interested in receiving technical assistance, please email broadbandusa@ntia.gov or call 202-482-2048. For more information, visit our website at broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov.