This summer, PalniES joined CBAN as an associate member. We want to welcome them to our growing organization, now 200+ members strong in 29 states! PalniES provided the following summary of who they are and what they do so our members can get to know more about the solutions they provide.

PalniES, is the Engineering Services vertical of Palni Inc, and we are focused on delivering engineering/design and turnkey solutions specifically aligned with the FTTx deployments throughout North America.  Our Services Protfolio includes Feasability (High Level Design), Low Level Design to include Fielding, MRE, Joint Use, Permitting, Construction Prints, PLA With the core competency that we have developed and leveraging various technology and automation solutions, we deliver network engineering/design solutions supporting our customers growth in urban and rural markets for both the OSP and ISP Networks.  At PalniES, we understand that each project is unique and that every engagement has it’s unique goals. 

We work closely with our customers to create a “blueprint for delivery” with a focus on high quality deliverables, we are always working to solve problems and make a difference.   
We strive to partner with our customers and tightly align to their company goals providing a Cost-Effective model and Scale to ensure projects stay on time and on budget.  In addition to providing digital technology solutions to these CSP’s, we also offer network planning, maintenance, troubleshooting and design services across multiple network architectures. Our dedication and support to various Providers across the country has been recognized by the “Most Promising Technology Solutions Provider for Telecom Industry” award by CIO Review in 2022.

​We are driven to solve the problems that matter and drive efficiencies into all we do.  With our IT Services and Automation capabilities, along side our deep Fiber Network Engineering and Design depth and scale, we are excited to get involved here with CBAN and the fantastic group of members serving the communities that matter.

​Heartland Forward has launched a telehealth initiative aimed at expanding healthcare access in rural areas of Arkansas and Oklahoma by educating librarians on preparing residents for telehealth visits.

As part of its broader Connecting the Heartland initiative, which seeks to enhance internet availability, affordability, and adoption, Heartland Forward hosted a training event at the Fayetteville Public Library. This event introduced librarians to the Telehealth DigitalLearn module, a comprehensive online resource available in English and Spanish, which teaches users how to access and navigate telehealth services. The module includes lessons on telehealth basics, patient portals, technical requirements, and appointment preparation.

By empowering librarians to teach telehealth skills, the initiative aims to improve healthcare access in areas where physician shortages are common. Heartland Forward’s broader goal is to connect rural communities to high-speed internet, thus enhancing both healthcare and economic opportunities.

Check out this article at Telecompetitor for more details.

The American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) has launched a new mentorship program to support communities interested in building their own public broadband networks. The initiative connects cities and towns exploring broadband ownership with those that have successfully implemented public networks. According to AAPB Executive Director Gigi Sohn, the goal is to help communities ensure affordable and accessible broadband by learning from established public network operators.

AAPB invites any city or town to enroll in the program as mentors or mentees without requiring membership. The mentorship program, along with AAPB’s handbook *Own Your Internet: How to Build A Public Broadband Network*, offers practical guidance for communities considering network ownership.

With over 400 public networks serving 700 communities across 33 states, AAPB is committed to promoting public broadband as a solution to the growing need for reliable, affordable internet access. The mentorship program is a key part of AAPB’s strategy to empower local control of broadband infrastructure, supporting America's economic future through high-speed internet for all. Applications for mentors and mentees are available online, and AAPB encourages interested communities to explore the potential of public broadband.

The article "A Better Way to Fund USF" by John Horrigan and Blair Levin, posted on the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society website, discusses the challenges facing the funding of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF), which ensures affordable access to communications services. Currently, USF is funded by telecommunications service providers, but declining revenues have caused the contribution rate to increase, making the system unsustainable. Various alternatives have been proposed, such as using annual appropriations, taxing broadband, or assessing Big Tech, but these have limitations.

The authors suggest an alternative: taxing online gambling. They argue that online sports gambling is a growing problem in the U.S., especially among young men, and is projected to continue rising. By taxing this sector, the government could generate significant revenue without increasing the cost of broadband or complicating tax codes for Big Tech. The authors believe this proposal is politically viable and aligns with existing practices of taxing harmful behaviors like alcohol and cigarettes to fund beneficial programs. They advocate for this solution as a way to sustainably fund the USF while addressing a growing social issue.

The newest edition of Member Spotight is now live. Curtis Dean chats with Ryan Boone of Premiere Communications in Iowa, a CBAN provider member, about the company, its history, its culture, and how its helping close the digital divide in rural Iowa. 

A Wisconsin city is taking control of its broadband future, launching the construction of an open access fiber network this summer.

Connect Superior is projected to cost between $40 and $60 million to complete, with initial funding coming from the City's allocation of funds under the American Recovery Act Plan. Superior Mayor Jim Paine said the network represents the city’s first new public utility in more than a century. He said it hasn’t been easy to move forward with the project

Wisconsin is one of 16 states that have barriers to entry for municipal broadband networks, and as a result has far fewer publicly owned networks than many other states. 

To read more about the Superior project, CLICK HERE to read an article on the Wisconsin Public Radio website.

Lumen has told the FCC that it plans to withdraw from RDOF funding support for all of the census block groups (CBG's) in three states had previously been awarded.

The previously awarded CBG's in South Dakota, New Mexico, and Wyoming will now be eligible for funding under the BEAD program. Other large defaulters under RDOF include LTD Broadband, Frontier, and Starlink/SpaceX. In some states where work has not begun in RDOF funded areas, local leaders are advocating for providers who've changed their minds to default before the final BEAD maps are released so other providers can apply.

There are a number of reasons for the RDOF defaults that have occurred (and others that likely will occur).

• Overly Ambitious Bids: Some companies underestimated the costs and complexity of building broadband infrastructure in rural areas. After winning RDOF bids, they realized that the project expenses were much higher than initially anticipated.
• Regulatory Scrutiny: Some companies faced challenges meeting the FCC's technical or financial requirements, which resulted in their awards being scrutinized or withdrawn.
• Technological Limitations: Providers promising satellite or fixed wireless solutions found it difficult to meet the speed and latency requirements set by the FCC.
• Funding and Resource Constraints: Smaller companies, in particular, struggled to secure the necessary financing or resources to fulfill their RDOF obligations.

In the Fourth Report and Order, the Commission codifies the requirement to resolve challenges received as part of the BDC not later than 90 days after the date on which a final response by a provider to a challenge of the accuracy of a map is received.
 
The Commission also provides a specific delegation of authority to the Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), in coordination with certain other bureaus and offices, to conduct audits of broadband data submitted by providers as required under the Broadband DATA Act.
 
The Commission directs the OEA to establish methodologies and procedures for selecting service providers (either fixed or mobile) and targeted locations or areas for random audits, as well as for determining “patterns of filing incorrect information” that may be sufficient to warrant audits.
 
In the Declaratory Ruling, the Commission clarifies that its rules do not preclude a service provider from subsequently submitting information in a later BDC filing to demonstrate that it can now make service available to a location or area that was previously removed through the challenge, verification or audit processes.  The Commission also delegates authority to the OEA, to develop and publish detailed data specifications setting forth the types of information a broadband provider must submit to restore a previously removed location or area as part of a subsequent BDC filing.  In addition, the Commission clarifies that broadband providers are obligated with their BDC to  submit data on service availability for Removed Locations or Areas.
 
In its Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission seeks comment on proposed changes to the availability data filing process, as well as possible amendments and clarifications to several of the current data-validation rules.
  
The Commission proposes rule amendments which would permit filers to indicate that the service offered at a location is a grandfathered service only. 
 
In addition, the Commission seeks comment on the following items:
 

• Rules changes requiring terrestrial fixed wireless providers to submit additional information allowing the Commission to better verify terrestrial fixed wireless service availability data submitted with BDC filings;
• Proposed changes to improve the Commission’s validation, audit, and Fabric challenge processes, as well as facilitate provider certification of BDC submissions;
• Additional rules establishing a set data-retention period for certain documentation supporting providers’ BDC submissions, intended to ensure the Commission has access to documentation that may be necessary for its audits, verifications, and other reviews; 
• A proposal that broadband service providers be required to retain the underlying data used to create their biannual submissions (including subscription data and supporting data) for at least three years from the applicable “as-of” date (e.g., data used to create a biannual submission for the June 30, 2024 reporting period would need to be retained until June 30, 2027); 
• A proposed change that would eliminate the requirement in the rules that providers’ BDC filings be supported by a certification by a licensed professional engineer (if no corporate engineering officer is able to certify);

 
In addition, the Commission proposes to modify the definition of “broadband connection” used in Form 477 so that it aligns with the definition of “broadband internet access service” used in the BDC.  Specifically, the Commission proposes to require facilities-based providers of broadband Internet access service to submit in Form 477 counts of “broadband internet access service connections” in service, with that term defined as connections that provide mass-market broadband internet access as defined and described in 47 CFR § 8.1(b).  This change would put Form 477 on the same definitional footing as the BDC, as well as Broadband Labeling.
 
Please contact Dan Davis at Consortia Consulting if you have any questions.

Broadband providers in Louisiana are ready to step up to the table and chow down some gumbo.

Actually, they are ready to apply for GUMBO 2.0. "Gumbo" is an acronym that stands for Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities, and it's the moniker Louisiana's broadband office – ConnectLA – has used for its grant program since 2021.

Applications opened on August 15th and the window for the first round will close on August 29th - a really tight timeline. The state has pre-qualified 33 operators to be eligble for GUMBO 2.0. Companies on the pre-qualified list incluide large companies such as AT&T, Brightspeed, Charter, and Comcast as well as Louisiana's trailblazing municipal fiber network in Lafayette, LUS Fiber.

CLICK HERE for an article at Light Reading with more about the program.