Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Analysis

Author:

Grace Tepper

Send date:

Tue, 09/12/2023

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 9/11/2023

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Tue, 09/12/2023

Coverage Type:

https://www.benton.org/blog/affordable-connectivity-program-and-rural-america

The Affordable Connectivity Program and Rural America

benton — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 17:38:37 +0000

Households in rural America are overcoming significant headwinds as they sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefit at a higher rate than urban counterparts. Through April 2023, ACP enrollment data shows that: 15% of all rural households have enrolled in ACP and 14% of households in metro or urban areas have enrolled in the benefit. Even this modest difference is striking given the tensions that buffet rural residents as they consider enrolling in ACP. On the one hand, rural areas have characteristics that improve ACP enrollment according to the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s Affordable Connectivity Program Enrollment Performance Tool . Nearly half (49%) of rural households qualify for ACP compared with 40% of non-rural ones. This gap is largely because there are more lower income households in rural parts of the country. Some 36% of rural households have annual incomes at or below 200% of the Federal poverty level (FPL) in contrast to the 28% figure for households in non-rural areas. There is a positive correlation between areas with a large share of eligible households and ACP enrollment.

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

Some 230,000 more rural households have signed up for ACP than predicted

Source:

Author:

John Horrigan

Send date:

Wed, 06/28/2023

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 6/27/2023

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Tue, 06/27/2023

Coverage Type:

https://www.benton.org/blog/understanding-and-driving-enrollment-affordable-conn…

Understanding and Driving Enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program

dclay@benton.org — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 16:59:03 +0000

Fitting the monthly cost of a broadband subscription into a low-income household budget is difficult, to say the least, because of the costs of competing necessities like lodging, food, and healthcare. These financial pressures—and unexpected expenses—keep too many people in the U.S. from subscribing to home broadband service—or cause them to drop service at times to make ends meet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress recognized these obstacles for low-income people and created a program—first called the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program—to reduce the monthly costs of connectivity. With passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November 2021, Congress turned the temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit Program into a longer-term subsidy. Launched in January 2022 with $14.2 billion in funding, the Federal Communications Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a critical component of the ongoing federal investment in broadband adoption. Eligible households receive $30/month (and up to $75/month on Tribal lands) to defray the cost of internet service, as well as up to $100 towards the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. On January 18, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society hosted a panel discussion on ACP enrollment. Drew Garner, the State Broadband Policy Advisor at Common Sense Media, moderated the panel. He began the discussion by noting the three steps low-income households must complete before they begin enjoying ACP benefits: first, they must confirm that their household is eligible to participate in the program; then they must complete an application to be enrolled in ACP; and, finally, they must choose an internet service provider and pick a plan to subscribe to.

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

Despite its success, ACP observers estimate that the program will run out of current funding by mid-2024, thus digital equity advocates must convince Congress to fund the program for low-income households.

Source:

Author:

Send date:

Fri, 01/20/2023

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 1/19/2023

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Thu, 01/19/2023

Coverage Type:

https://www.benton.org/blog/future-universal-service-still-future

The Future of Universal Service is Still in the Future

benton — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 11:20:32 +0000

When it comes to broadband, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is about more than money. For example, Congress also directed the Federal Communications Commission to consider the impact of the law's $65 billion broadband investment on the FCC's existing broadband support programs under the umbrella of the Universal Service Fund (known to wonks as the USF). Congress asked for a report on the future of the USF including the FCC's options for improving its effectiveness in achieving the universal service goals for broadband in light of this COVID-era legislation including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Congress explicitly said that the FCC could make recommendations on further actions the Commission and Congress could take to improve the ability of the FCC to achieve the universal service goals for broadband, but the FCC could not make recommendations that in any way reduce the congressional mandate to achieve the universal service goals for broadband. Recommendations could expand the universal service goals for broadband, if the FCC believes such an expansion is in the public interest. The FCC sent that report to Congress this week and below we look at what the FCC is recommending about its universal goals for broadband, the four main USF programs, and how the USF is paid for.

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

The FCC releases the Report on the Future of the Universal Service Fund

Source:

Author:

Send date:

Fri, 08/19/2022

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 8/18/2022

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Fri, 08/19/2022

Coverage Type:

Community Anchor Institutions

Libraries

Healthcare Facilities

Affordability/Cost/Price

Adoption

Universal Broadband

Universal Service Fund

Rural Health Care

Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

E-rate/Schools and Libraries Program

5G Fund for Rural America

An Update on Affordable Connectivity Program Enrollment

Grace Tepper — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 17:27:35 +0000

On August 2, the White House released fact sheets highlighting how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is impacting all 50 states, territories, the District of Columbia, and Tribal communities. The law invests $65 billion to provide affordable, high-speed internet to every American—including $14.2 billion in the Affordable Connectivity Program which cuts internet bills by up to $30 per month, or $75 for households on Tribal lands, and provides a one-time $100 discount for a connected device. Generally, households are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if their annual income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The White House fact sheets offer a snapshot of the challenges each area in the US faces in achieving universal broadband.

[Kevin Taglang is executive editor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.]

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

https://www.benton.org/blog/update-affordable-connectivity-program-enrollment

Teaser:

The White House's newly released fact sheets offer a snapshot of the challenges each area in the US faces in achieving universal broadband.

Source:

Author:

Send date:

Mon, 08/08/2022

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 8/5/2022

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Fri, 08/05/2022

Coverage Type:

https://www.benton.org/blog/border-border-broadband-minnesota

Digital Divide

Internet/Broadband

Affordability/Cost/Price

Adoption

Border-to-Border Broadband for Minnesota

benton — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 11:30:11 +0000

By statute, Minnesota's goal is that, no later than 2022, all Minnesota homes and businesses have access to high-speed broadband that provides minimum download speeds of at least 25 Mbps and minimum upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps. And, no later than 2026, all Minnesota homes and businesses will have access to at least one provider of broadband with download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 20 Mbps. Moreover, Minnesota has set state goals for how it will compare to other regions. By 2022, the state plans to be in:

The top five states in the nation for broadband speed universally accessible to residents and businesses
The top five states for broadband access
The top 15 when compared to countries globally for broadband penetration

On July 14, Minnesota received a $68.4 million boost from the U.S. Treasury towards achieving these goals.

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

How Minnesota will employ Capital Projects Fund to close the digital divide

Source:

Author:

https://www.benton.org/blog/treasury-support-helps-connect-maine

Send date:

Wed, 07/20/2022

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 7/19/2022

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Wed, 07/20/2022

Coverage Type:

Treasury Support Helps Connect Maine

benton — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 11:22:32 +0000

Since 2005, Maine has recognized the importance of adequate internet service to everyday life and commerce, in both urban and rural areas of the state. On July 14, the US Department of Treasury approved the state's plan to connect 22,500 homes and businesses through Maine Infrastructure Ready. Maine has two similar, but separate broadband authorities: the ConnectMaine Authority (ConnectME) and Maine Connectivity Authority. The Maine Connectivity Authority will oversee Maine Infrastructure Ready, a competitive broadband infrastructure grant program. The program will invest in qualified locations that can be served by line extensions of existing networks—or new networks—focusing on serving locations that currently lack access to reliable wireline service at speeds of 100/20 Mbps, including remote locations in Maine’s most rural counties.

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

How Maine is using the Capital Projects Fund to extend the reach of broadband

Source:

Author:

https://www.benton.org/blog/treasurys-capital-projects-fund-boosts-marylands-net…

Send date:

Mon, 07/18/2022

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 7/15/2022

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Mon, 07/18/2022

Coverage Type:

Treasury's Capital Projects Fund Boosts Maryland's Network Infrastructure Grant Program

Grace Tepper — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 15:41:09 +0000

Maryland wants broadband networks to reach everyone in the state. Its efforts got a boost this week when the US Department of the Treasury approved the state's plan to apply 55 percent of its allocation from the Capital Projects Fund towards broadband deployment. The Federal Communications Commission estimates that just 2.6 percent of Marylanders lack access to broadband networks that can deliver speeds of 25 Mbps downloads and 3 Mbps uploads. The number is higher for Maryland's rural areas where 7.1 percent of residents do not have broadband access. On July 14, 2022, the US Treasury approved Maryland's plan for $95 million in Capital Projects Fund support. Maryland estimates it will connect 16,667 homes and businesses through its competitive broadband grant program. The program aims to close the racial and socioeconomic digital divide across the state. As reported by Maryland, estimates show that investments made using the Capital Projects Fund will serve approximately 30 percent of locations still lacking high-speed internet access in the state. The operators of Maryland networks that receive Capital Projects Fund support will still be responsible to contribute matching funds, provide internet service with speeds of 100/100 Mbps symmetrical to households and businesses upon project completion, and participate in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program, a $30 per month subsidy for low-income families.

[Kevin Taglang is executive editor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.]

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

The US Department of the Treasury approves Maryland's plan to apply 55 percent of its allocation from the Capital Projects Fund towards broadband deployment.

Source:

Author:

Send date:

Mon, 07/18/2022

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 7/15/2022

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Fri, 07/15/2022

Coverage Type:

https://www.benton.org/blog/helping-communities-prepare-broadband-opportunity

Digital Divide

Internet/Broadband

Affordability/Cost/Price

Infrastructure

Universal Broadband

Helping communities prepare for broadband opportunity

benton — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 11:27:36 +0000

The Roman philosopher Seneca said that good luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. In what the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society has called “our broadband moments,” preparation requires bold community leadership that moves a community to gather data and build trusted relationships allowing them to be ready to act when opportunity arises. President Biden has pledged to make sure that every American has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet. Full participation in our twenty-first century economy requires no less. Through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Congress is giving states the support needed to achieve that goal. The federal government is beginning to distribute billions of dollars to states to deploy high-speed broadband networks everywhere in the country. States, in turn, can only succeed by committing to close and ongoing coordination with the communities that stand to benefit from these unprecedented investments. To ensure their communities are not left behind, local leaders must be prepared to propose and implement projects The Accelerate community broadband planning program educates and supports community leadership teams as they create their community’s broadband vision and goals and pursue the best possible broadband solutions for their area. By delivering the Accelerate process to multiple communities or counties simultaneously through a cohort approach, state broadband officials can provide high-quality education and guidance that empowers communities to effectively spur broadband deployment through a variety of deployment models, including public-private partnerships.

[Bill Coleman assists communities develop and implement broadband infrastructure and market development programs. As an accomplished community planner and technology consultant, Bill ensures that communities make sound technology decisions using innovative, collaborative strategies. His facilitation techniques lead to quick victories and sustained effort.]

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

Communities must be prepared for this broadband moment

Source:

https://www.benton.org/blog/affordable-connectivity-plan-enrollment-and-digital-…

Author:

Bill Coleman

Send date:

Fri, 06/17/2022

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 6/16/2022

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Fri, 06/17/2022

Coverage Type:

Affordable Connectivity Plan Enrollment and Digital Equity Planning

benton — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 11:30:42 +0000

If the federal government’s investments in broadband connectivity are to be effective, different programmatic pieces must work together. Broadband infrastructure funds are necessary to ensuring universal access, but not sufficient to achieve full digital equity. Equitable broadband adoption depends on people having the financial means to maintain service, which the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) facilitates, as well as access to wrap-around digital inclusion services (such as tech support and skills training). Effective coordination between infrastructure and digital equity investments can ensure that people subscribe to new networks that the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funds. ACP enrollment data offers clues as to how well a community is positioned to take advantage of funds to promote digital equity. Abysmal ACP enrollment levels may indicate a capacity deficit; a community may have a dearth of institutions that can make people aware of ACP benefits and aid in enrollment. Strong ACP enrollment invites exploring why. Are particular places doing outreach that might explain high enrollment levels? If so, state policymakers would be wise to consult with digital inclusion advocates in these areas (as BEAD planning requires) and explore whether initiatives in high-enrollment areas might be replicated elsewhere. Understanding the geography of ACP adoption can therefore help states more effectively prioritize resources for digital equity. If, for instance, Digital Equity Act (DEA) funds will provide grants to entities providing digital inclusion services in cities and communities, wouldn’t it help to know which places have the greatest need? Patterns of ACP enrollment help answer that question.

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

Examining Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment can help target resources to places with the most need

Source: