Tag: Broadband
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Rural Internet Deployment Is Still Being Delayed Over Telephone Pole Attachments
Slow telephone pole attachment approvals are still limiting how quickly people can get high-speed internet access. Rural areas of Loudoun County, Virginia, were set to have 620 miles of fiber-optic cable constructed by July, but the project is far behind schedule and funding is set to expire in 2026, according to The Loudoun Times-Mirror. Internet…
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Old Utility Poles May Get in the Way of High-Speed Internet Rollout
Virginia’s rural broadband fiber rollout plans may hit a snag if old telephone poles aren’t replaced. The delay lies between internet service providers and pole owners disagreeing over how much replacement work will cost and who will foot the bill, according to Cardinal News. Viriginia officials are concerned that fiber internet access may not reach…
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Comcast And AT&T File to Block $14 Million in High-Speed Internet Funds
Comcast and AT&T filed an objection to block $14 million in state money set to improve Oakland’s high-speed internet. The companies claim that broadband infrastructure already exists. However, city data and user experience suggest otherwise. Alameda County received $24.5 billion in “last mile” broadband connectivity funding, $14 million for Oakland. Comcast and AT&T said these…
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The U.S. Is Getting Closer to 100% of Households Having Internet Service
The digital divide is starting to close, with the percentage of U.S. households with internet access growing. According to a new consumer data survey from Leichtman Research Group, 92% of U.S. households get internet service at home. This is an increase from 83% of households in 2018, and 76% of households in 2008. Broadband makes…
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Cable TV Companies Say the FCC’s Proposed Investigation Into Broadband Affordability Is ‘Inappropriate’
Cable TV companies are pushing back on the Federal Communications Commission proposal to look into the overall affordability of broadband. At its next congressionally required review of broadband deployment, the Commission wants to analyze internet service providers’ monthly prices, data overage charges, and other fees. The investigation could also create an affordability benchmark, which would…
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The Affordable Connectivity Program Runs Out of Money in April. The FCC is Urging Congress to Act Now
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is calling on Congress to renew funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, ACP. The program, which helps over 20 million Americans pay their internet bills, is set to run out of money by April 2024. “Across the country, I have met with people who have been able to get online…
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Two Big Reasons Cable TV Companies Are Struggling To Gain Broadband Subscribers As 5G Explodes
When it comes to gaining broadband subscribers, cable companies are lagging behind 5G home internet and fiber providers. New data from New School Research indicates that cable as a product is not the problem. Instead, pricing strategy and customer support are core hindrances for cable’s growth. Cord cutting 2.0, or users looking for different home…
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FCC Says Over One Million Homes Have Gained High-Speed Internet Access Since May
The digital divide is still significant, but it’s “narrowing,” according to Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The FCC on Friday released its third National Broadband Map, which shows where internet service is available across the U.S., and said just over 7.2 million homes lack access to high-speed internet, down from 8.3 million locations when…
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More Than Half of the U.S. Has Access to Fiber High-Speed Internet Service
Fiber optics, once an expensive and rarely offered service, has hit a major milestone in reach. In June, the average fiber access rate was 55.6% of households, an increase from 45.9% in December 2021, according to comparison and research website, Broadband Now. Since that time, about 5.6 million new households have subscribed to fiber internet. …
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AT&T, Verizon, and Other Broadband Providers Hit Back at FCC’s Proposed Digital Discrimination Rules
The Federal Communications Commission wants to strengthen the agency’s efforts to stop digital discrimination – withholding or charging more for internet access based on race, income, religion, or other categories – but multiple broadband providers aren’t on board. Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AT&T, Verizon, and other trade groups representing broadband companies met…