Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Carl Weinschenk

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Tue, 04/09/2024

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Daily Digest 4/8/2024

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Mon, 04/08/2024

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Wireless Telecommunications

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Wireless Internet

Maryland Broadband Dashboard: 20 Providers Granted $239 Million Since 2019

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 16:25:14 +0000

The state of Maryland has created a useful online dashboard showing how much broadband funding it awarded between 2019 and 2023. Interested parties can check information by provider and by year. A total of 20 entities received grants during the five years covered by the dashboard, which was posted by the Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband. The 10 companies that were awarded the most money were

Talkie ($40.2 million, 32 projects);
Comcast (also $40.2 million, 28 projects);
Choptank Electric ($36.6 million, 9 projects);
CenturyLink, which sells service under the Spectrum brand ($27.4 million, 11 projects);
Shentel ($19.4 million, 4 projects);
Harford County/Think Big Networks LLC ($12.3 million, 4 projects);
Verizon ($11.1 million, 7 projects);
Easton Utilities ($10.5 million, 3 projects);
Charter Communications ($9.7 million, 2 projects); and
ThinkBig ($7.8 million, 35 projects).

A total of $239 million was granted on 178 projects during the five years covered by the dashboard.

Benton Content:

https://www.telecompetitor.com/maryland-broadband-dashboard-20-providers-granted…

https://maryland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/54a3193e933b4795b97d7cd80aadeae…

Teaser:

Maryland has created a useful online dashboard showing how much broadband funding it awarded between 2019 and 2023

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https://www.telecompetitor.com/report-42-of-rural-small-town-homes-passed-by-fib…

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Fri, 03/29/2024

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Daily Digest 3/28/2024

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Thu, 03/28/2024

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Report: 42 Percent of Rural/Small Town Homes Passed by Fiber

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 22:15:04 +0000

Among residents in cities and suburbs, about 55 percent have been passed by at least one fiber provider, while among those in small towns and rural areas, only about 42 percent have been passed, according to a study by RVA LLC. This leaves a small town/rural opportunity for an initial passing of about 22 million homes. The “2024-2028 North American Fiber Broadband Report: FTTH and 5G Review And Forecast,” said that $150 billion will be spent on fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks during the next five years. That spending, which the research firm claimed is more than has been spent on fiber to date, will come from network operator capex reinvestment, private equity investment, government subsidies and other sources. The report noted that growth of route miles of fiber will increase at almost double the rate of home passings during the forecast period. RVA stated that the great increases in fiber deployment will be made by many types of service providers, including telecom companies, cable MSOs, private competitive providers, municipalities and rural electric cooperatives.

Benton Content:

Teaser:

Among residents in cities and suburbs, about 55 percent have been passed by at least one fiber provider, while among those in small towns and rural areas, only about 42 percent have been passed

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Fri, 03/22/2024

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Daily Digest 3/21/2024

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Thu, 03/21/2024

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Individuals who primarily Reside in a Rural Area

Comcast Boosts Speeds, Provides Info on Post-ACP Options

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 19:35:37 +0000

Comcast increased the speeds of four of its service tiers at no charge and made two announcements aimed at households enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which is slated to begin winding down in April 2024. Comcast has doubled its Connect tier from 75 Mbps to 150 Mbps. Connect More has moved from 200 Mbps to 300 Mbps; and the Fast tier moves from 400 Mbps to 500 Mbps. Xfinity Prepaid has been increased by a factor of four, from 50 Mbps to 200 Mbps. The speed increases are available to both new and existing customers. ACP. Service providers face some choices in how to wind down their participation. For its part, Comcast may be sending a message of support in combining the announcement of the speed increases with insight into how it will try to help ACP participants deal with the close of the program. The service provider advised that new and existing Xfinity customers who use the ACP should contact the company to learn what offers may be available in their areas. The company said its goal is to help them find connectivity that fits their needs and budgets without the benefit the program provides. The company noted that Xfinity customers enrolled in ACP are automatically eligible to enroll in Internet Essentials, which provides speeds up to 50 Mbps, for $9.95 per month.

Benton Content:

https://www.telecompetitor.com/comcast-boosts-speeds-provides-info-on-post-acp-o…

Teaser:

Comcast is sharing information on post-ACP options

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Fri, 03/08/2024

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Daily Digest 3/7/2024

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Thu, 03/07/2024

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Federal Communications Commission

Agenda

Upcoming policy issue

Federal Agency

Federal Broadband Programs

Affordable Connectivity Program (was Emergency Broadband Benefit Program)

Internet/Broadband

Affordability/Cost/Price

Universal Broadband

Legislation

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Level of Government

Federal

https://www.telecompetitor.com/vc-backed-fastwyre-investing-65m-in-louisiana/

Low-income

VC-Backed Fastwyre Investing $65 million in Louisiana

zwalker@benton.org — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 17:42:48 +0000

Regional provider Fastwyre Broadband is investing more than $65 million in new and existing markets in southwest and south central Louisiana. A Fastwyre spokesperson said that “the vast majority of the $65 million investment is self-funded with small federal and state grant funding in more remote areas.” Fastwyre is a portfolio company of Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC and Catania ABC Partners. The company says that it will build or expand fiber broadband networks to support symmetrical services that eventually will reach 10 Gbps. Initially the company will offer symmetrical speeds of 2 Gbps. Monthly pricing is $44.99 per month for speeds to 100 Mbps to $69.99 for speeds as fast as 1 Gbps. Services that can be supported include e-commerce, virtual learning, agricultural technology, telehealth and entertainment, Fastwyre noted.

Benton Content:

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The $65 million investment is self-funded with small federal and state grant funding in more remote areas

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Thu, 03/07/2024

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Daily Digest 3/6/2024

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Wed, 03/06/2024

Coverage Type:

Internet/Broadband

Infrastructure

Individuals who primarily Reside in a Rural Area

Another Fixed Wireless Acquisition for EarthLink

zwalker@benton.org — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 15:19:29 +0000

EarthLink has acquired QX.net, a fixed wireless access provider specializing in business customers in Kentucky. QX.net has operated in the state since 1997. According to EarthLink, it built the state’s largest dedicated wireless internet network. The provider offers internet, voice, data center and SD-WAN services to businesses in different industries. Earthlink plans to expand in other markets in Kentucky. QX.net employees will be retained, EarthLink said.

Benton Content:

https://www.telecompetitor.com/another-fixed-wireless-acquisition-for-earthlink/

Teaser:

EarthLink has acquired fixed wireless access provider QX.net

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Send date:

Thu, 02/22/2024

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Daily Digest 2/21/2024

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Wed, 02/21/2024

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Wireless Telecommunications

Wireless Internet

Alaska Communications to Invest $40 Million in Broadband

zwalker@benton.org — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 18:42:43 +0000

Alaska Communications said it plans to follow a 2023 investment of $65 million with $40 million in 2024 in an effort to bring broadband to residents and businesses in the state. While some other broadband providers use fiber broadband for any new deployments, Alaska Communications uses a mixture of fiber-fed copper, fixed wireless and fiber broadband—an approach driven by the state’s unique terrain and population density. During the past two years, the company has deployed fiber to about 10,000 homes in Fairbanks and Anchorage and to a multi-dwelling unit in downtown Juneau. The company is also planning a fixed wireless pilot in Juneau that would deliver speeds up to 300 Megabits per second.

Benton Content:

https://www.telecompetitor.com/alaska-communications-to-invest-40m-in-broadband-…

Teaser:

Alaska Communications will invest another $40 million to bring broadband to the state

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https://www.telecompetitor.com/illinois-program-aims-to-help-rural-counties-win-…

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Thu, 02/01/2024

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Daily Digest 1/31/2024

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Wed, 01/31/2024

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Illinois Program Aims to Help Rural Counties Win Broadband Funding

zwalker@benton.org — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 18:37:07 +0000

Several organizations, led by the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, are working on Broadband Breakthrough, a pilot program that aims to help bring federally funded high-speed connectivity to five rural Illinois counties. The idea behind the program, which is funded by United Soybean Board, is to increase the percentage of farmers with broadband by preparing a wide variety of stakeholders to apply for grant money from the federal government. The financial benefits of broadband on farms will be at the heart of the applications. The idea is for the farmers, their ecosystems and county residents to have an effective voice in making the case for financial assistance. “This is the first time we are integrating farmers, farm bureau and other agricultural businesses into the conversation, which I think is really important,” said Adrianne Furniss, the Executive Director of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.

Benton Content:

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The Broadband Breakthrough pilot will focus on illustrating how better connectivity will increase productivity and generate economic benefits

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Send date:

Thu, 01/25/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 1/24/2024

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Publish Date:

Wed, 01/24/2024

Coverage Type:

Internet/Broadband

Universal Broadband

Individuals who primarily Reside in a Rural Area

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Benton Foundation

Florida Provider Wire 3: Megabit Broadband Speeds Are “Obsolete”

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 16:03:17 +0000

Announcements about multi-gigabit fiber broadband offerings are not as exciting today as they were a year or two ago, now that more and more providers are offering those speeds. But one provider has devised a way to stand out. Florida-based provider Wire 3 has opted to no longer offer any speeds below a gigabit, and to draw attention to this move, the company issued an announcement declaring that megabit speeds are obsolete. “Fiber optic internet affords consumers freedom from lagging, buffering, and throttled upload speeds, but other companies are still offering 300 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and even 25 Mbps plans. It’s time to stop accepting megabits in a gigabit world, and to lower the barrier of entry for people to embrace the coming technologies,” said Wire 3 CEO Jai Ramachandran.

Benton Content:

https://www.telecompetitor.com/florida-provider-megabit-broadband-speeds-are-obs…

Teaser:

"It’s time to stop accepting megabits in a gigabit world"

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https://www.telecompetitor.com/fiber-focused-windstream-wholesale-adds-new-dark-…

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Fri, 01/05/2024

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Daily Digest 1/4/2024

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Thu, 01/04/2024

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Fiber Focused: Windstream Wholesale Adds New Dark Fiber Route

zwalker@benton.org — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 18:42:53 +0000

Windstream Wholesale said that its 145-mile dark fiber route between Little Rock (AK) and Memphis (TN) is operational. The route extends the 310-mile “T-Rock Express,” which connects Little Rock and Tulsa (OK). That network went into operation in August 2022. This means that Windstream Wholesale now connects Tulsa to Memphis. The entire 455 fiber-mile route between Tulsa and Memphis offers 432-count high capacity fiber. Windstream Wholesale defines its Intelligent Converged Optical Network (ICON) as an open and disaggregated networking infrastructure. The company said that it has deployed an integrated optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) system across most of the network. The system provides real-time route monitoring. This speeds alerts and reduces restoration time in the case of any fiber cuts.

Benton Content:

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Windstream Wholesale extended it's 310 mile "T-Rock Express"

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