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Tag: digital divide

  • The FCC Finally Has Accurate Broadband Maps

    The FCC Finally Has Accurate Broadband Maps

    The Federal Communications Commission has achieved its first milestone toward collecting accurate data regarding broadband in the US.

    The US Government has been working to close the “digital divide,” or the difference in internet access available in urban and rural communities. In order to tackle the problem, the FCC has been working to develop an accurate map of existing internet coverage in the US.

    According to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, the first milestone toward that goal has finally been reached.

    “On June 30, the Federal Communications Commission opened the first ever window to collect information from broadband providers in every state and territory about precisely where they provide broadband services,” Rosenworcel writes. “I announced the opening of the window with a Note to put this milestone in context and to explain in detail the Commission’s work over the previous 18 months to update and improve our broadband maps. Today marks the close of this first data collection window—the next important step forward in our efforts to build more accurate broadband maps, which are much-needed, long overdue, and mandated by Congress.”

    The first draft of the map will be released around November 2022, after which the agency will continue to improve the accuracy of the maps.

    “Looking ahead, there’s one more important thing to note about the new maps,” Rosenworcel adds. “When the first draft is released, it will provide a far more accurate picture of broadband availability in the United States than our old maps ever did. That’s worth celebrating. But our work will in no way be done. That’s because these maps are iterative. They are designed to updated, refined, and improved over time.”

  • Verizon and Amazon Partner to Deliver Satellite Internet to Rural Areas

    Verizon and Amazon Partner to Deliver Satellite Internet to Rural Areas

    Verizon and Amazon have announced a partnership to use the latter’s Project Kuiper satellites to deliver internet access to underserved communities.

    Many companies and organizations are working to address the US “digital divide,” the difference in available internet access for rural vs urban areas. Verizon has been rolling out its Home Internet solution, which uses the company’s wireless service to provide internet access.

    In its latest move, Verizon is turning to Amazon’s Project Kuiper to help extend its existing network and serve as the backend for its efforts. Project Kuiper will deliver broadband internet via a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The company received FCC clearance in July 2020 to launch as many as 3,236 satellites. The approval was conditioned on the company launching at least half that number by July 2026. To date, however, not a single satellite has been launched.

    Despite that, it appears Verizon has confidence in Project Kuiper.

    “Project Kuiper offers flexibility and unique capabilities for a LEO satellite system, and we’re excited about the prospect of adding a complementary connectivity layer to our existing partnership with Amazon,” Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg said. “We know the future will be built on our leading 5G network, designed for mobility, fixed wireless access and real-time cloud compute. More importantly, we believe that the power of this technology must be accessible for all. Today’s announcement will help us explore ways to bridge that divide and accelerate the benefits and innovation of wireless connectivity, helping benefit our customers on both a global and local scale.”

    “There are billions of people without reliable broadband access, and no single company will close the digital divide on its own,” Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said. “Verizon is a leader in wireless technology and infrastructure, and we’re proud to be working together to explore bringing fast, reliable broadband to the customers and communities who need it most. We look forward to partnering with companies and organizations around the world who share this commitment.”

    Verizon is already struggling to play catchup to T-Mobile’s 5G network. It remains to be seen if hitching its rural endeavors to a company that has yet to deliver will pay off.

  • Biden Promotes High-Speed Internet Provision of Infrastructure Bill

    Biden Promotes High-Speed Internet Provision of Infrastructure Bill

    President Joe Biden is talking up the high-speed internet provision of his signature infrastructure bill.

    Rejuvenating America’s infrastructure was a major point of Biden’s campaign, and he has been working to pass comprehensive infrastructure legislation. His plans received a big boost when a bipartisan group of senators announced a deal to push the bill forward.

    An important part of the infrastructure bill is a provision aimed at improving broadband for American households. The US has long suffered from a “digital divide” — the disparity between the quality of internet in cities, versus what is available in rural communities. The infrastructure bill includes funds designed to help close that divide and provide high-speed access to more households than ever before.

    “This bipartisan deal is the most important investment in public transit in American history and the most important investment in rail since the creation of Amtrak 50 years ago,” Biden said in a statement. “It will deliver high speed internet to every American.” (italics ours)

    That statement is good news for individuals and households that have dealt with subpar internet speeds for far too long.

  • FCC Releases Its Own Internet Speed Test App

    FCC Releases Its Own Internet Speed Test App

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released its own internet speed test app in an effort improve its data on the state of US broadband.

    The FCC has made eliminating the digital divide a major priority. For decades, there has been a huge disparity between the speed and quality of internet options available in urban vs rural areas. With the pandemic leading to record numbers of people working and learning from home, the real-world impact of the digital divide is more apparent than ever.

    A major step in close the gap is understanding where the gap is, identifying communities and regions with subpar broadband service. The FCC’s new app will help the agency gain a clearer picture of the issues, and what is needed to address them.

    “To close the gap between digital haves and have nots, we are working to build a comprehensive, user-friendly dataset on broadband availability. Expanding the base of consumers who use the FCC Speed Test app will enable us to provide improved coverage information to the public and add to the measurement tools we’re developing to show where broadband is truly available throughout the United States,” said Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel.

    More information is available on the FCC website, and the app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

  • Biden Administration Plans to Deliver Broadband to All Within Eight Years

    Biden Administration Plans to Deliver Broadband to All Within Eight Years

    The Biden administration has unveiled an ambitious plan to provide broadband access to all Americans, including those currently underserved.

    The United States has struggled for years with a “digital divide,” a huge disparity between the internet access available in urban vs rural areas. In fact, some 35% of Americans (over 30 million) don’t have access to “minimally acceptable speeds.”

    The Biden administration wants to change that, with plans to invest $100 billion to help close that gap, and ensure all Americans have access to broadband. In a fact sheet detailing the plan, the administration emphasizes the need to “future proof” broadband options, especially in underserved communities. It also emphasizes the importance of community and government-run broadband options.

    Build high-speed broadband infrastructure to reach 100 percent coverage. The President’s plan prioritizes building “future proof” broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas so that we finally reach 100 percent high-speed broadband coverage. It also prioritizes support for broadband networks owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, non-profits, and co-operatives—providers with less pressure to turn profits and with a commitment to serving entire communities. Moreover, it ensures funds are set aside for infrastructure on tribal lands and that tribal nations are consulted in program administration. Along the way, it will create good-paying jobs with labor protections and the right to organize and bargain collectively.

    Neither of these options are likely to be popular with many ISPs, although they have only their own business practices to blame. Companies have, for years, done the absolute minimum necessary to reap the maximize profits, rather than put their customers first. For example, AT&T announced late last year it would shutter its DSL service, even though it had halted further rollout of its fiber, leaving millions of customers without any good options.

    Should the administration’s plans come to fruition, it may finally close the digital divide and bring all Americans into the 21st century.

  • Comcast Commits $1 Billion to Help 50 Million Low-Income Families

    Comcast Commits $1 Billion to Help 50 Million Low-Income Families

    Comcast has announced it is committing $1 billion over the next 10 years, to help low-income families close the digital divide.

    The global pandemic has forever altered the modern workplace, and emphasized the importance of fast, reliable internet access. Unfortunately, for many families around the country, high-speed, broadband access is still a luxury.

    Comcast is working to address that issue, with a $1 billion investment over the next 10 years. The company’s announcement coincides with the 10-year progress report of what the company has done until now to address the issue.

    “Ten years is a remarkable milestone, signifying an extraordinary amount of work and collaboration with our incredible community partners across the country,” said Dave Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Comcast Cable. “Together, we have been able to connect millions of people to the power of the Internet at home, and to the endless opportunity, education, growth, and discovery it provides. Today, we are rededicating ourselves to this mission to ensure that the next generation of students in America has the tools, resources, and abilities they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.”

    “For more than a decade, Comcast has been a leader in working with communities to close the Digital Divide through its Internet Essentials program,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “From its beginning as a pilot program with the Wilmington Urban League to today, Comcast’s Internet Essentials program has transformed millions of lives by connecting low-income households to the power of broadband. While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic placed a spotlight on the digital divide, for the past decade Comcast, in partnership with organizations like the National Urban League, has been leading the effort to close the digital divide, address the homework gap, and ensure low-income communities have the necessary digital skills.”

    Over the next 10 years, the company will invest a number of areas, including: ongoing support of Lift Zone, establishing WiFi safe spaces in 1,000+ community centers; laptop and computer donations; continued support of the company’s Internet Essentials program; and grants to help nonprofit community organizations create new opportunities for low-income Americans.

  • FCC Asks For Consumer Input On Their Internet

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants feedback on people’s broadband internet as the agency works to close the digital divide.

    The US has had a digital divide for years, with there being a chasm between the quality of internet in cities vs rural areas. The FCC is now asking users to provide feedback on their broadband experience.

    “Far too many Americans are left behind in access to jobs, education, and healthcare if they do not have access to broadband,” said Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Collecting data from consumers who are directly affected by the lack of access to broadband will help inform the FCC’s mapping efforts and future decisions about where service is needed.”

    The agency has set up a new webpage, www.fcc.gov/BroadbandDatato provide consumers with information regarding the work of the FCC’s Broadband Data Task Force. Consumers can also submit their experience via the form.

    The global pandemic, and the unprecedented reliance on the internet for remote work and learning, has emphasized how large the digital divide really is. Hopefully the FCC’s efforts will help close it, and ensure all households have access to high-speed internet.

  • FCC Established 5G Fund for Rural America to Speed 5G Deployment

    FCC Established 5G Fund for Rural America to Speed 5G Deployment

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established the 5G Fund for Rural America in a bid to close the digital divide.

    Because of the sprawling nature of the US and its large geographic footprint, there is a long-recognized digital divide between urban areas and rural communities. While urban areas and cities often have access to multiple types of high-speed broadband, rural communities have few—or in some cases no—choices available.

    The FCC is working to close that divide with a $9 billion fund aimed at improving 5G access.

    The Federal Communications Commission today adopted rules creating the 5G Fund for Rural America, which will distribute up to $9 billion over the next decade to bring 5G wireless broadband connectivity to rural America. 5G represents the latest advance in mobile wireless technology, promising increased speeds, reduced latency, and better security than 4G LTE networks.

    Carriers, especially T-Mobile and Verizon, have been deploying 5G home broadband in an effort to help cover these areas. T-Mobile, in particular, rapidly expanded its home 5G internet in the wake of AT&T’s announcement it was phasing out its DSL service, a move likely to widen the digital divide even more.