Mountain States Policy Center’s Post

There’s no place for holes in our nation’s broadband coverage 🧀 Have you ever heard of broadband’s “swiss cheese” problem? Across the country there are holes in coverage, left unfilled by ISPs and previous subsidy programs. Worse still, because these holes are typically scattered, remote, and sparsely populated, it’s hard to group them together into projects that an internet service provider will take on — even with subsidies. What makes these holes so tricky is that providers have usually already covered the profitable locations in the area, leaving only the highest-cost, lowest-return locations. The incentives required to move ISPs to connect these pockets can be substantial — and in some cases BEAD and other public funds will not get it done. The result? Many of the most remote, rural communities could remain without broadband after “Internet For All” dollars are spent. This sharp digital divide ferments existing disparities in education, health, and wealth. 🇺🇸 This International Cheese Day, let's aim for a "Cheddar" America, with robust, gap-free broadband. This requires coordinated action from governments, private sector players, and communities. That’s why, as part of our Appalachia Digital Accelerator, we’re working with communities to build partnerships between ISPs, capital providers, and local governments to find solutions to fill the holes. 👍 Like & share this post to show support for a future where broadband is as solid as cheddar. Happy #InternationalCheeseDay #CheddarAmerica #LetsBrieTheBestWeCanBrie

If you work in Telecommunications, you’ve probably heard of #BEAD funding, a $42.45B US federal grant program aimed at expanding high-speed internet access in rural areas across all 50 states. But what exactly does this mean, and how do you prepare your application? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gzFiYYKA #BEADfunding #DigitalAccess #RuralCommunities

#EveryLastMile captures the grit and determination it takes to build high-speed internet in rural America and pays tribute to the broadband crews making tremendous progress in bridging the #digitaldivide. See what it takes: https://bit.ly/3WpxbAF

Good recent Telecompetitor interview with Bree Maki, the executive director of Minnesota's Office of Broadband Development, that’s worth the read. Maki highlights, “we’ve been told that states know best and we are eager to get going [allocating BEAD funding], but some of the NTIA guidelines and requirements can make it challenging.”   Too many regulatory requirements will threaten the success of our #InternetForAll goals.   Read the full op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/eNm4W-Bj   #BEAD #Connectivity #CableIndustry #10G #InternetForAll #DigitalDivide 

FCC Approves $9B for 5G - Broadband Communities Mag. According to the FCC’s most recent data, over 14 million households and businesses in the US lack 5G access. “We are ready to use every tool available to make sure that those who live, work, and travel in rural America have access to advanced, 5G mobile wireless broadband services,” she continued. The new rules also broaden the criteria for areas eligible for support, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands." FreeCast coming to island life? #freecast #nextgenstreaming #nomoreappdiving https://lnkd.in/eMJHTVyr

"The urban bias on connectivity leaves many rural businesses paying for infrastructure that urban businesses get for free," CLA President Victoria Vyvyan. 📶 As ministers review the next stage of #ProjectGigabit, a £5bn programme to rollout full-fibre broadband, the CLA argues that funds must be spent in the countryside to support the most hard-to-reach rural areas: https://lnkd.in/eXzFfZ5b #connectivity #broadband

It’s deeply concerning that Massachusetts is not one of the states prioritizing open-access networks in BEAD applications, especially when at least 15 other States have already mandated this approach. Open-access networks promote competition, lower costs, and long-term infrastructure resilience by allowing multiple providers to share the same network. The failure of Massachusetts to adopt this model, particularly when federal funding provided $147M in BEAD funding and $145M in GAP funding specifically for broadband infrastructure to the Commonwealth, represents a significant missed opportunity to deliver real value, choice and competition to taxpayers. As Utopia Fiber CEO Roger Timmerman said at the Digital Infrastructure Investment Summit yesterday, the current practice of awarding funds to incumbents is essentially "providing a subsidy or a gift" to ISP monopolies, reinforcing their control over the market. This approach not only limits competition but also perpetuates high prices and mediocre service. The fact that Comcast has authorized a $15 billion stock buyback initiative while receiving public funds is especially outrageous. Similarly, Verizon recently was awarded $37,068,263 by MBI to connect 1,211 homes in Massachusetts—amounting to an astronomical $30,358.94 per household, compared to the national average of $2,500 to connect a home to fiber. This is a clear example of public funds being misused to prop up corporate monopolies rather than being invested in critical open-access infrastructure that would benefit the broader community. The NTIA and Mass Broadband have a responsibility to ensure these funds are used effectively, but their failure to prioritize open-access networks suggests a lack of understanding and focus on long-term solutions and true competition. #opencape #openaccess #digitaldivide #massbroadband #mbi #broadband #utopiafiber #capecod #bostonglobe #cctimes

While reading an economic development report today at work, I was stunned by a statistic that I had to share. Approximately 17% of Americans in rural areas and 21% of those in Tribal lands lack access to fixed broadband with download speeds of 25 Mbps and upload speeds of 3 Mbps. In contrast, only 1% of Americans in urban areas face this challenge. This digital divide continues to hold back communities from essential opportunities. (See page 19 for details.) #DigitalDivide #RuralDevelopment #TribalNations #BroadbandAccess #EconomicDevelopment #TechEquity #DigitalInclusion #Infrastructure #Connectivity #RuralInnovation https://lnkd.in/gYEKrqKm

#TelecomNews | "Internet for All" Initiative in Illinois More than $1 million in funding is approved to address disparities in digital access, skills and affordability in Illinois. The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted Illinois’ Digital Equity plan as part of the "Internet for All" initiative. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's $65 billion investment aims to expand affordable, reliable high-speed Internet across the U.S., addressing digital equity and inclusion. We’re excited to see initiatives like this that bridge the digital divide, building a more connected future for all. #RLMUnderground #InternetForAll #DigitalEquity #HighSpeedInternet #TelecomTrends #BuildingTheFuture

💥 Vermont's Game-Changer in Broadband! 💥 Who needs the big incumbents when local communities are taking charge? 💪 Vermont's Communications Union Districts (CUDs) are rewriting the rules of broadband expansion—bringing high-speed internet to underserved rural areas on their own terms. 🌐🚀 With innovative partnerships, community-led strategies, and smart funding, they’re cutting out the middleman and getting it done. Vermont’s rural regions are finally getting the connectivity they deserve—without waiting on the big players. 🙌 This is grassroots broadband done right. 🔥 Is this the future of rural connectivity? Let’s talk! 👇 #BroadbandRevolution #RuralConnectivity #Vermont #Innovation #TechForGood #BroadbandExpansion