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kestrellVia the Benton Institute on Broadband and Society
https://www.benton.org/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters
Government Technology magazine year in review
https://www.govtech.com/computing/2020-in-Review-The-Gov-Tech-World-Turned-Upside-Down.html
including
brief articles on
civic tech volunteerism
https://www.govtech.com/civic/COVID-19-Pushes-Digital-Services-from-Luxury-to-Necessity.html
and
States Prioritize Broadband as Covid-19 Took Hold
https://www.govtech.com/network/States-Prioritized-Broadband-as-COVID-19-Took-Hold.html?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email
block quote start
The private sector will play a significant role in the ongoing broadband movement. In March, hundreds of Internet service providers signed the Federal Communications Commission’s “Keep Americans Connected” pledge, promising to waive disconnections and fees during the height of the pandemic. But given that the spread of COVID-19 persists at the end of 2020, governments must find new ways to work with companies to make sure that no citizen is left behind.
Over the summer, a federal appeals court voted in favor of an FCC ruling that says local governments may not excessively fine companies or otherwise “discriminatorily” delay 5G deployments on utility poles. Viewed as a blow to local government’s authority over decision-making about its own infrastructure, the ruling clears the way for broader deployment of these small cells throughout the country. And AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have been aggressively expanding their 5G footprints into dozens of cities across the country, work that will roll over into the new year.
And although ubiquitous 5G has the potential to help close the digital divide, some experts fear that the cellular technology could exacerbate existing inequality, as 5G requires people to use compatible devices that cost more money. Indeed, what good is wider broadband availability if one still can’t afford it?
block quote end
and finally
this article from the Free Press on how FCC subsidies to provide broadband to the unserved rural poor is being channeled toward rich suburban and resort areas
https://www.benton.org/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletters
Government Technology magazine year in review
https://www.govtech.com/computing/2020-in-Review-The-Gov-Tech-World-Turned-Upside-Down.html
including
brief articles on
civic tech volunteerism
https://www.govtech.com/civic/COVID-19-Pushes-Digital-Services-from-Luxury-to-Necessity.html
and
States Prioritize Broadband as Covid-19 Took Hold
https://www.govtech.com/network/States-Prioritized-Broadband-as-COVID-19-Took-Hold.html?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email
block quote start
The private sector will play a significant role in the ongoing broadband movement. In March, hundreds of Internet service providers signed the Federal Communications Commission’s “Keep Americans Connected” pledge, promising to waive disconnections and fees during the height of the pandemic. But given that the spread of COVID-19 persists at the end of 2020, governments must find new ways to work with companies to make sure that no citizen is left behind.
Over the summer, a federal appeals court voted in favor of an FCC ruling that says local governments may not excessively fine companies or otherwise “discriminatorily” delay 5G deployments on utility poles. Viewed as a blow to local government’s authority over decision-making about its own infrastructure, the ruling clears the way for broader deployment of these small cells throughout the country. And AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have been aggressively expanding their 5G footprints into dozens of cities across the country, work that will roll over into the new year.
And although ubiquitous 5G has the potential to help close the digital divide, some experts fear that the cellular technology could exacerbate existing inequality, as 5G requires people to use compatible devices that cost more money. Indeed, what good is wider broadband availability if one still can’t afford it?
block quote end
and finally
this article from the Free Press on how FCC subsidies to provide broadband to the unserved rural poor is being channeled toward rich suburban and resort areas
