Broadband Stories | Community Development Digest

NTIA to Host Monthly Webinars on Closing the Digital Divide

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), as part of its BroadbandUSA program, plans to host a series of webinars on a monthly basis to engage the public and stakeholders with information to accelerate broadband access, improve digital inclusion, strengthen broadband policies, and support local community priorities.

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HUD Proposed Rule Broadens Broadband Access

In an effort to extend affordable Internet access to children and families living in federally assisted housing, the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has proposed a rule to require the installation of broadband infrastructure in most HUD-financed multifamily housing developments during their construction or substantial rehabilitation.

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FCC Commissioner Discusses Health, Broadband Ties

During a speech at the California Telehealth Network Summit, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said the agency was going to tweak the application package for its Healthcare Connect Fund.

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NTIA Seeks Comment on Promotion of ‘Internet of Things’

As part of the Commerce Department’s Digital Economy Agenda, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has issued a Request for Comment (RFC) on questions posed by the growth of the Internet of Things (IOT). This RFC is an important step in Commerce’s continued effort to promote the IOT, e.g., the broad category of devices, appliances, and objects that can be connected via the Internet.

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White House Seeks to Expand Broadband Support

The White House has produced a number of recommendations on how to change the existing Lifeline and other programs run by the Federal Communications Commission to improve access to broadband services.

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AT&T/Louisville Dust-up Seen Aimed at Stopping Google

The telecom wars are on again – not that they actually ever ended. This time it’s AT&T suing the city of Louisville, KY, claiming the city doesn’t have the right to dictate how its utility poles can be used. AT&T filed the lawsuit in an effort to foil plans by Google Fiber to bring its service to the city.

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FCC to Congress: Bad Need for Broadband Persists

The Federal Communications Commission is sending to Congress its latest report detailing the progress -- or, in this case, the lack thereof -- on efforts to deploy badly needed broadband services to all Americans. Increasingly, access to broadband services -- including high-speed Internet and wireless technologies -- is becoming a critical “must have” item on the agendas of city planners and developers nationwide. So it is that the FCC’s “2016 Broadband Progress Report” comes as disappointing news to stakeholders in the U.S. community development arena.

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New White Paper Details City-wide Wi-Fi Deployment

The white paper reveals that activity in Wi-Fi is at an unprecedented level as cities seek expert assistance to deploy the technology; with more than 75% of respondents saying they have plans in place to significantly increase investment in Wi-Fi. The white paper includes interviews with leading city representatives and an industry survey conducted throughout the Connected City ecosystem spanning 44 cities over six continents.

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House Technology Committee Chair Previews Upcoming Hearings

House Communications & Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) offers a preview of topics to be examined by the subcommittee in the coming weeks.

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Experts Offer Alternative to FCC’s Proposed Wi-Fi Rules

The group’s filing takes issue with the Commission’s proposal, and instead offers a new approach aimed at improving the security of such devices and ensuring a faster, better, and more secure Internet. The issue is important to city planners and developers because of the growing demand for high-speed Internet access and an expectation that newly developed residential communities and business campuses include Internet service.

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