Many States Receive Broadband Planning Grants, Charter Appeals, Blockchain for Healthcare – Broadband Breakfast

December 5, 2022 – The Iowa Department of Education sent a letter Monday to the Federal Communication Commission expressing concern that the commission’s proposal for an E-Rate bidding portal would conflict with state laws.

The E-Rate program provides broadband grants to schools and libraries and is part of the Universal Service Fund. Late last year, the commission proposed having a central document repository, called a bid portal, where ISPs would submit bids to the program administrator, Universal Service Company, instead of directly to applicants at the state and local levels. Currently, libraries and schools announce that they are seeking services, and service providers apply directly to these institutions.

The rationale for the proposal is to streamline the program and reduce fraud, waste and abuse, the FCC said, following a government watchdog report that said the E-Rate program is at risk of fraud.

But on Monday, the Iowa Department of Education said that if the proposal passes, the institution either faces violating FCC rules or state rules. That’s because Iowa is required to notify targeted small businesses 48 hours before a public offering, but that would conflict with FCC requirements that say bidders can’t have prior knowledge of project information, the agency said.

Iowa noted that similar complaints have been made by institutions in California, Kentucky, South Dakota, Illinois and Utah. The Consortium for School Networks, the National School Boards Association and the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors had also raised concerns about conflicts with state laws in their filings with the commission.

Another concern raised by the Iowa Department of Education is that the bid portal could discourage competitive bidding by applicants and providers because it would make the process more burdensome. There has been a complaint about the program for others as well, with submitters to the FCC complaining about additional complexity with the process.

Connect Humanity requires sustainable funding, renewal of the indigenous spectrum

Non-profit Connect Humanity announced on Monday calls to the governments of Canada and the United States for action as part of its 2022 Indigenous Connectivity Summit Calls to Action, including ensuring that government funding goes to the ongoing operation of networks and not just upfront costs for construction. .

“Recognizing the high costs of operating networks in rural and remote areas, we encourage governments, the private sector and philanthropic organizations to provide sustainable funding for the ongoing operation of networks, not just upfront capital costs,” a Connect Humanity website said.

The federal government has delivered billions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act and will soon plow billions more from the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act to states to support broadband infrastructure. But some have said the money — $42.5 billion in the latter case — isn’t enough for rural and remote communities to see long-term sustainability.

The Connect Humanity call also touched on indigenous people’s rights to spectrum, including asking the government to stop selling spectrum licenses and renewing permits on indigenous territories.

“Furthermore, these departments should immediately and unconditionally release unused spectrum licenses on and over traditional indigenous territories for the use and benefit of indigenous peoples,” the calls to action state, adding that if indigenous leadership chooses not to manage spectrum in their territories, then it The federal government should do it on their behalf and transfer the revenue to the community.

The calls also ask the government to put in place a “dedicated workforce development initiative”, which would be “conducive to well-paid employment opportunities for members of the indigenous population, including youth.” It will include governments, the private sector and the philanthropic community coming together to provide long-term funding for these training initiatives.

The calls to action build on previous recommendations made on an annual basis.

New York City Discontinues Internet Master Plan

New York City has canceled its 2020 “Internet Master Plan” without public notice, according to Gothamist reporting on Monday, which would have provided $157 million in funding for the development of municipal broadband infrastructure in poor communities.

The project would have connected 1.2 million residents to free or low-cost high-speed internet. After mayor Eric Adams took office, the project was put on hold before being canceled without public notice, the publication reports. It previously selected about a dozen businesses to lead this effort, many led by women and people of color.

The plan, signed under the former mayor Bill de Blasio, said it would extend broadband Internet service to all New Yorkers regardless of income or zip code. In the plan, Blasio said, “We will work with the private sector to ensure it is accessible across the five boroughs, close the digital divide, and ensure all New Yorkers have equal access to the economic, social and civic power of the Internet.”

The plan aimed to close the digital divide in New York City and provide internet access to those who do not have access or are underserved at an affordable cost.