When decision makers consider who should receive some of the $600 million allocated to the USDA ReConnect rural broadband pilot program, the agency will use a scoring system that awards points based on a range of factors, including the number…
RUS
Broadband News: 10 Questions We Hope to See Answered in 2019
2018 was a big year in broadband news and 2019 is shaping up to be a big one as well. The past year saw the government take some major actions toward ensuring that all Americans have broadband available to them…
Adtran Targets CAF II Program with FTTN Platform
As companies that won funding for rural broadband deployments in the Connect America Fund CAF II auction get set to undertake their deployments, equipment vendors are beginning to tout their products’ ability to support CAF II buildouts. The latest example…
Telecom Associations Applaud Broadband Moves in Newly-Passed Farm Bill
The 2018 Farm Bill, which passed Congress this week, has gotten good reviews from trade groups involved in bringing broadband to rural areas. Farm Bill broadband provisions include increasing funding to bring broadband to rural areas currently lacking service. With…
Compromise Farm Bill Would Raise USDA Broadband Loan and Grant Budget
The House of Representatives and the Senate have reached a compromise on the 2018 Farm Bill that would raise the annual budget for USDA broadband loans, loan guarantees and grants to $350 million from 2019 to 2023 and allows funding…
Microsoft Joins Critics of FCC Broadband Availability Data, Wants Fixed Wireless Funding, Raises Airband Goals
Microsoft has joined a growing chorus of critics of FCC broadband availability data. The company’s concerns came to light as part of an update about the company’s Airband rural broadband initiative provided by Microsoft President Brad Smith, who also said…
USDA Accepting RUS Broadband Loan Applications for Fiscal Year 2019
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has begun accepting applications for the RUS broadband loan program for fiscal year 2019 and will continue to do so through September 30, 2019. The total amount available for the…
$91 Million in USDA Rural Broadband Funding Awarded in 12 States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $91 million in e-Connectivity initiatives in 12 states. The USDA rural broadband funding will go toward networks in Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and…
Perdue Hopes to Have “Solid Plan” by Year-End for $600M USDA Rural Broadband Pilot
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue didn’t have many new details to share about the upcoming $600 million USDA rural broadband pilot when he addressed stakeholders at a USTelecom event today. But his comments suggested that could change soon. “I’ve challenged my…
USDA Awards $43.7 Million in Smart Grid Funding, Could Help Drive More Rural Broadband
The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded $43.7 million in funding for rural smart grid projects. The USDA smart grid funding was part of a broader announcement of a total of $398.5 million to improve rural electric service in 13 states….
O’Rielly Suggests Reverse Auction for $600 Million USDA E-Connectivity Pilot
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should consider using a reverse auction to award funding for the $600 million USDA E-connectivity pilot, said FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly in a letter to Christopher McLean, acting administrator of the USDA Rural Utilities…
Electric Cooperative Gigabit Gains Traction
Electric cooperative gigabit is becoming more commonplace, as news today about four electric cooperative gigabit deployments illustrates. The four cooperatives include two Tennessee companies (Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative), along with two Alabama cooperatives (North Alabama…
