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Today, the Benton Institute released the latest version of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Enrollment Performance Tool, which updates data through February 2024 and includes a valuable new feature: the ACP Risk Score for each zip code. This score indicates the degree to which households in a given zip code are at risk of losing or reducing internet connectivity from the ACP benefit lapse. Providers can use this information to understand the impact of ACP termination on their market areas. CBAN would encourage broadband providers and communities to use the tool to help understand the impact that the ACP has had in your community/service area and what it might mean when ACP sunsets at the end of April. As an example, below is a screenshot of the performance for CBAN member Mount Ayr, Iowa, which is one of the communities where CBAN provides digital navigator services.  The data shows that Mount Ayr has nearly twice as many ACP enrollees that the predicted average among all communities. 113 households in that zip code will lose their $30 monthly ACP benefit at the end of April.
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Last week, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel called on the commission to vote on revised rules to distribute the funds after the program was paused during redrawing of FCC maps. If approved, the plan is to distribute the $9 billion to rural areas that otherwise wouldn’t receive unsubsidized 5G connectivity. Telecommunication companies will be able to bid through multi-round reverse auctions. Of that, $900 million will be used to incentivize the winning bidders to deploy Open RAN technology on the resulting networks. CLICK HERE to read more about the proposal at MSN.com.
CBAN is excited to announce a new partnership with Broadband Communities designed to benefit all CBAN members! Broadband Communities, owned by Total Telecom, has joined CBAN as an Advocate Member, and in exchange CBAN will become an Association Partner and extend a member-only discount on registration to the Broadband Communities Summit in May!  Broadband Communities is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities in the USA. Broadband Communities offers in-depth news, expert insights, and practical know-how on the technical, business, financial, and legal aspects of outfitting properties and communities with broadband solutions. Value for CBAN members As part of our new relationship with Broadband Communities, CBAN members will receive a 20% discount on registration to the Broadband Communities Summit on May 6-8, 2024 at The Woodlands near Houston, Texas. That's a savings of nearly $200 off full admission! Later this week we will send an email to each of our CBAN members with additional details about the Broadband Communities Summit and how to take advantage of discounted registration. Be watching your inbox! If you are subscribed to Broadband Bytes but are not yet a CBAN member, now is the perfect time to join! CLICK HERE to learn more about our membership benefits and categories and to fill out a brief application form. Remember, CBAN membership is FREE for broadband providers, communities, and advocates!
In less than two weeks we will gather at Stoney Creek Hotel in Johnston, Iowa for the 2024 CBAN Spring Summit. Over 50 people have registered to attend either in person or online. Here's a reminder to get registered now so you don't miss out an amazing afternoon of learning, sharing stories, and networking! Spring Summit Schedule 2:00pm Welcome and Opening Remarks 2:15pm Keynote: Gigi Sohn, "Defending the Municipal Broadband Model" Gigi Sohn is the Executive Director of the American Association for Public Broadband, a Distinguished Fellow at the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, and a Benton Institute Senior Fellow and Public Advocate. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Gigi is one of the nation’s leading public advocates for open, affordable and democratic communications networks. For thirty years, she has worked across the country to defend and preserve the fundamental competition and innovation policies that have made broadband Internet access more ubiquitous, competitive, affordable, open and protective of user privacy. 3:15pm "Show Me The Money! - Funding for Broadband Projects" BEAD and RDOF dollars won’t solve the broadband world’s problems. Ken Demlow with HR Green Fiber + Broadband explains alternative funding opportunities for new fiber broadband networks. 4:15pm "Digital Equity Starts at Home" For every person to realize the full benefits of broadband connectivity, digital equity practices cannot fall by the wayside, despite its under-funding and the still-widespread lack of understanding of what it means and how it can transform communities. CBAN’s Jon Willow and Brianna Dillavou share steps communities can take with new or existing resources to help their residents become effective users of broadband to improve their lives and create meaningful new opportunities for local prosperity. 5:00pm IAMU 2024 Broadband Conference Opening Ceremonies CBAN Spring Summit attendees are also welcome for this networking reception, which includes beverages and light appetizers. It's a great way to get to know provider practitioners, representatives of Iowa’s 29 municipal broadband utilities! Spring Summit Sponsors and Exhibitors Break Sponsors (also exhibitors)
Exhibitors
We're in the final three weeks before the 2024 CBAN Spring Summit in Johnston, Iowa and it's shaping up to be a great day! Registrations to attend the event either in person or online continue to roll in, and we'd encourage everyone who hasn't register to join us! CLICK HERE to register online. We are also very appreciative of the following vendors who have stepped forward to be sponsors or exhibitors at the Spring Summit! Break Sponsors (also exhibitors)
Exhibitors
We have a limited number of exhibit spaces left, so if you are a company wanting to support our CBAN members and the Summit, CLICK HERE to sign up for a space!
 It's official. Broadband is now defined as internet service offering at least 100 megabits per second download speeds and 20 megabits per second upload speeds. The Federal Communications Commission formally adopted the new definitions on March 14, 2024. It was last revised in 2015. The FCC report also includes a long-term goal for all Americans to have access to download speeds of 1,000 Mbps (1 Gig) and upload speeds of 500 Mbps, although the order does not set any clear timeline for this long-term goal to be achieved.
 Amazon says its satellite internet service will begin widescale testing of its satellite internet service that it claims can offer speeds of up to 1 Gbps. As explained in this article at Cord Cutter News, Amazon has received approval from the FCC to test up to 1,000 of its prototype dishes across the US. Although monthly subscription prices have not been announced, Amazon has stated publicly that its service will be less expensive than Elon Musk's Starlink service. Amazon will offer three different dishes to deliver three different speed levels. “I think we can charge a low price and still make good margins where it’s a good business for us. I actually am very bullish about that business.” - Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Amazon will start limited testing late this year and a slow rollout of retail service beginning in 2025.
In a move that is sure to anger broadband providers both large and small, FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is proposing a ban on bulk billing arrangements for internet and cable TV service at MDU's. Too often, tenants living in these households are forced to pay high prices with limited choices for internet or other services. - FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking being pitched by Rosenworcel would propose banning bulk billing arrangements by which tenants are required to pay for broadband, cable, and satellite service provided by a specific communications provider, even if they do not wish to take the service or would prefer to use another provider. It proposes allowing tenants to opt out of bulk billing arrangements. Rosenworcel says the proposal would also increase competition for communications service in these buildings by making it more profitable for competitive providers to deploy service in buildings where it is currently too expensive to serve consumers because tenants are required to take a certain provider’s service. CLICK HERE to read the news release about the proposal.
The Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, in conjunction with the American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB), have released a new report designed to guide communities on the process of establishing a community-owned broadband network. "Own Your Internet: How To Build a Public Broadband Network" offers a comprehensive look at the steps needed to move forward with a community project.
Kudos to AAPB and the Benton Institute for tackling the project! |
Broadband Bytes NewsPresented by the Community Broadband Action Network and curated by Curtis Dean. Archives
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