Broadband

Officials will advance digital equity work in coming months, and initiatives to improve residents’ experience — in person, using artificial intelligence for translation services, and online with a website refresh.

Evan Feinman, director of the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, has stepped down. He offered advice to stakeholders to mitigate any impacts on states from its pause.

Plus, Vermont has started work on its Digital Empowerment Plan; a new bill aims to prevent FCC from censoring broadcasters; Sonoma County, Calif., has approved offering some residents free Internet; and more.

The state’s Broadband Development Office is advising entities that are considering applying to await clarification on the program’s future.

North Carolina’s Office of Digital Opportunity director has been elevated to deputy secretary for NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity. There, she will oversee state and federal broadband investment.

The Willmar City Council voted 4-3 this week to move ahead with a $24.5 million broadband project that would see the construction of an open-access, city-owned fiber-optic network.

A conservative-leaning FCC, coupled with legal and congressional challenges, have created uncertainty around the E-rate program that funds school broadband. Experts say districts will need local funding and community partnerships to fill the gap.

For years, residents of remote Beaver Island more than 30 miles offshore from the mainland in northern Lake Michigan have said they want better Internet access.

A massive federal program meant to expand broadband access to underserved areas across the country is falling behind schedule, state broadband officials and experts say.

Advancing broadband deployment and equity means expanding the technology to institutions like correctional facilities, panelists said at the recent Expanding Digital Opportunity: Charting a Path Toward Full Inclusion conference.

An interactive online map shows progress made by a handful of Internet service providers laying fiber optic cable to reach homes and businesses in southeast Michigan with high-speed Internet.

Plus, the FCC is investigating Comcast for its diversity commitment, the Houston Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy held its second digital symposium, Mississippi has awarded funding for 12 broadband projects, and more.

Final agreements between Frontier Communications and the Greene County Economic Development Group have been reached and, after roughly four years in process, construction is close to getting underway.

Plus, Elon Musk has made a cryptic statement about the future of GSA’s 18F team and the Direct File program, Maryland has established a statewide digital infrastructure group, and more.

Local officials and Internet service providers say the $42.45 billion federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program has ancillary benefits. It helps link residents to other vital services.

Plus, Massachusetts and Texas have announced digital equity funding, the General Services Administration has made staff appointments, the FCC chairman rejects rulemaking proposal, and more.

A panel at the Future of Education Technology Conference in Orlando last week offered tips on planning for the future of broadband, while cautioning attendees that aspects of the E-rate program are in political jeopardy.

Plus, a new executive order from President Donald Trump calls for a pause on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, NDIA has announced Digital Inclusion Trailblazers, Maine supports digital education and more.