The Connect America Fund Accountability Act, introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Doug Collins (R-Georgia), aims to ensure that network operators who deploy broadband using Connect America Fund dollars are delivering the required broadband speeds and meeting other…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
What’s happening with broadband and why is it important? Find out by subscribing to Telecompetitor’s newsletter today.