Elizabeth Parks

The factor most affecting the #BEAD timeline is that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) must sign off on each state's BEAD eligible locations. But there are still plenty of things state broadband offices can be working on to prepare for the application process. No surprise that the biggest factor that will determine BEAD winners is cost. State broadband offices will be favoring bids that require the least cost to the government. Carol Mattey Fierce Network https://lnkd.in/gcXHEc4C

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The push for rural broadband continues to gain momentum. With the BEAD program incentivizing infrastructure and private equity eyeing small companies, we’re on the brink of a connectivity revolution. Rural electric co-ops are stepping up, and partnerships are key. It’s an exciting time to be part of a movement that’s not just connecting, but empowering rural communities. https://lnkd.in/gTVV4iDh #RuralBroadband #DigitalDivide #Connectivity

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This is going to be a super informative webinar, come join us. Ever wondered about what it takes to have a highly connected ambulance? Police car? Or an entire fleet of trucks? What do you do when poor service can cost dollars or even lives? You watch this webinar to find out what Ericsson and and King County, Washington did to close the gap. Come join us!

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The U.S. government continues to fund nationwide broadband rollouts to ensure high-speed access reaches all communities. These grants are catalysts for growth in the communications industry and hence the recipients must meet stringent requirements to qualify. Broadband grants necessitate decade-long commitments to delivery and performance standards set by programs like the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD). In this report by Cyient, it lays out four key activities a partner is best positioned to provide, which must be performed continuously for the long term to sustain grant funding. Read here: https://lnkd.in/gmgUr2HK Still have questions? We will be happy to address them at Fiber Connect 2024 - Booth #184 at Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN. #BroadbandExpansion #DigitalInclusion #CommunicationsIndustry #GrantFunding #FiberConnect2024 #DesigningTomorrowTogether #Cyient

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More states have had their initial proposals approved for BEAD Program funding, accelerating the roll-out of high speed broadband access https://lnkd.in/dnE-Yn5n #internet #internetconnectivity #connectivity #beadprogram #beadfunding #internetperformance

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📢We are pleased to share the release of our guidebook, North America: Broadband Investment Outlook. This comprehensive resource is designed to help stakeholders assess investment opportunities in broadband infrastructure across North America. The guidebook offers valuable insights into: 📊 Key metrics to consider when evaluating broadband infrastructure investment 💡 Strategies to make broadband infrastructure investment more viable 💼 Potential financing and business models for broadband deployment Whether you're a policymaker, regulator, service provider, or investor, this guidebook provides essential information to navigate the evolving broadband landscape. 📥 Download the guidebook here to get more insights: https://lnkd.in/gGcX7AAz #wbba #worldbroadbandassociation #broadband #infrastructure #investment

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Heather Gold, VP of External Affairs at Mears Broadband, LLC, will moderate the “Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges” panel today at the Broadband Communities Summit. This session will answer the questions:  🔸 How have delays to BEAD funding impacted suppliers and manufacturers? 🔸 What role can partnerships play in mitigating supply chain challenges? 🔸 How are distributors and contractors collaborating to ensure customers don’t face delays? 🔸 How can we manage the supply chain to better serve customers?  #BuildingTheDigitalNow #MearsBroadband #BroadbandCommunities #BBCsummit

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The Affordable Connectivity Program has ended, but there are still ways to spend less on internet access, from programs for low-income households to haggling with your service provider. 🔌 Here's what to try: https://lnkd.in/gWeQxKVA

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Congress Lets Broadband Funding Run Out, Ending $30 Low-Income Discounts: An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: The Federal Communications Commission chair today made a final plea to Congress, asking for money to continue a broadband-affordability program that gave out its last round of $30 discounts to people with low incomes in April. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has lowered monthly Internet bills for people who qualify for benefits, but Congress allowed funding to run out. People may receive up to $14 in May if their ISP opted into offering a partial discount during the program's final month. After that there will be no financial help for the 23 million households enrolled in the program. "Additional funding from Congress is the only near-term solution for keeping the ACP going," FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wrote in a letter to members of Congress today. "If additional funding is not promptly appropriated, the one in six households nationwide that rely on this program will face rising bills and increasing disconnection. In fact, according to our survey of ACP beneficiaries, 77 percent of participating households report that losing this benefit would disrupt their service by making them change their plan or lead to them dropping Internet service entirely." The ACP started with $14.2 billion allocated by Congress in late 2021. The $30 monthly ACP benefit replaced the previous $50 monthly subsidy from the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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LPWAs and Short-Range Sensors Transforming Rural North America NextG Societal and Economic Needs Working Group is writing a white paper on how LPWAs and short-range sensors can drive economic growth and transform rural North America’s agriculture, healthcare, public safety, and education. The following blog is a precursor to the white paper that will be published in late December, early January. https://lnkd.in/gK8wXRin Gagandeep Singh Bhatti Tamela Hill Orlett W. Pearson Gregoire Phillips Joseph Schumacher Carroll Gray-Preston #6G #5G #5GACIA

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👀 Think you have a lot to learn about #BEAD Matching Funds for #RECs? Episode 8 of #WheresTheFunding, a series by Fiber Broadband Association and Broadband.money, with special guest Darren Farnan can be a great place to start! 📝 👇

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We always have new #research - this is the core and essence of Parks Associates #alwayslearning #strategy #forecast #businessmodel #innovation #streaming #smarthome #consumer #businessmanagement #business https://lnkd.in/g7hwDAbm

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Why should your town consider public broadband? At the end of the day, it comes down to the primary purpose of reflecting community-focused priorities over profit. Check our handbook to see if public broadband is right for your community. https://lnkd.in/gC-sAWr4

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The firm also reports 106.3 million US households had home internet service at the end of 2023, but the firm’s recently launched service Broadband Market Tracker notes recent changes to the FCC’s definition of broadband could mean over one in five US home internet households would no longer qualify as receiving high-speed service. “The proliferation of connected devices in the home puts pressure on service providers to deliver the necessary network infrastructure as well as higher speeds to ensure positive experiences with these products,” said Kristen Hanich, Director, Research, Parks Associates. “Almost half of consumers report having issues with connectivity in the home, including extensive issues with Wi-Fi, devices working together, and optimization of the network. New services can enable the next phase of growth by supporting the continued adoption and usage of connected devices in the home.” Parks Associates Broadband Market Tracker is also tracking the growing consolidation of home internet and mobile services. In Q1 2024, adoption of fixed wireless access (FWA) through a mobile network operator (MNO) increased to 7.8 million US residential home internet connections. At the same time, adoption of mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) services from ISPs reached over 15 million residential customer mobile lines 

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There are more than 400 small fiber providers in the U.S. that are ripe for picking by investors or larger fiber companies when the "inevitable" major fiber consolidation wave occurs, according to AlixPartners. The firm conducted a survey in August of 60 executives at different #fiberbroadband companies in the #telecom space. According to the survey, 93% of respondents said consolidation is happening or will happen soon. But according to AlixPartners’ survey, 75% of executives still prioritize growth even though investors prioritize profitability. Fierce Network, Andrej Danis, Genevieve Werner https://lnkd.in/eCs742VY

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📢 Growing Momentum for the BEAD Program 📢 Two years after the NTIA announced over $42 billion in BEAD funding, things are finally gaining traction as providers and manufacturers take action to expand broadband access. EBI recently released a Topic Scorecard on BEAD perceptions. The key takeaway? There’s still significant room for leaders to shape the conversation and stake a claim as the program matures. #Broadband #BEAD #DigitalEquity Get the full the report here: https://lnkd.in/gxEHKfU7

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Improving access to broadband improves communities. 🏡 Access to education and increased remote job opportunities are just two of the benefits to broadband accessibility. Bubble Cloud/ Bubble Social Media Marketing suggests that you take a look at this document from #Cisco to learn about solutions and funding that can bring broadband access to underserved communities.

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