rural broadband experiment – Page 2

FCC accepts incumbent's broadband availability claims at face value

1 August 2014 by Steve Blum
broadband, fcc, public policy, rural broadband experiment

Click to see how you come out.

An interactive map and a big spreadsheet listing census blocks (careful, it’s 50 MB-plus) that are eligible for participation in the FCC’s rural broadband experiments has been posted (h/t to Tom Glegola at the CPUC for the pointer).

The rules mean different census blocks qualify for different aspects of the program, but some way, some how, all are eligible. Judging by what the FCC’s press release says, the spreadsheet is definitive: “census blocks not on this list are not eligible for funding in the rural broadband experiments”.… More

Only telephone companies can take part in rural broadband experiments

14 July 2014 by Steve Blum
broadband, community networks, cpuc, fcc, public policy, rural broadband experiment

Eligible areas in the California, per the CPUC (click to get a bigger map).

The FCC today released the full details on the rural broadband experiments approved by the commission on Friday. Of legal necessity, the program is limited to regulated telephone companies, although independent ISPs can either partner with one or go through the process to become one.

Eligibility is pretty much what was expected, with one new twist. The money can only be given to “Eligible Telecommunications Carriers” (ETCs) and projects have to include voice service and meet all the rules that pertain to it.… More

FCC-funded rural broadband experiments have to walk the legacy telephone line

24 February 2014 by Steve Blum
broadband, community networks, cpuc, fcc, public policy, rural broadband experiment

Eligible areas in the Golden State.

With the deadline for what the FCC is calling expressions of interest in its rural broadband experiments coming up fast – a week from Friday, on 7 March 2014 – the California Public Utilities Commission has put together some helpful tools for prospective applicants.

The list includes…

A summary of the FCC Internet protocol transition experiment program, including both the rural broadband and legacy voice service experiments.
A spreadsheet showing the eligible census tracts in California served by large telephone companies – AT&T, Verizon, Frontier and, it seems, SureWest.

… More

Cities, independent ISPs not welcome in FCC rural broadband experiment

19 February 2014 by Steve Blum
broadband, community networks, cpuc, fcc, public policy, rural broadband experiment

FCC keeps friends close, and telephone companies closer.

Only traditional telephone companies, or companies and agencies that jump the same regulatory hurdles, can apply for grants to take part in the FCC’s upcoming rural broadband experiment program. That’s the word today from the California Public Utilities Commission.
Commissioner Catherine Sandoval led a workshop at the CPUC’s San Francisco headquarters this morning to look at how the FCC’s request for “expressions of interest” in its rural broadband program plays out in California.… More

FCC rural broadband experiment explained, for now

13 February 2014 by Steve Blum
broadband, community networks, fcc, ftth, public policy, rural broadband experiment

Seeking logical expressions of interest.

The details of a federal initiative to fund high speed broadband trials in rural areas of the U.S. are becoming clearer. The chief of the FCC’s office of strategic planning and policy analysis, Jonathan Chambers, offered some insight about the initial phase of the program during a webinar this morning, organised by the National Rural Assembly.

“Can we do better for rural Americans than is currently being contemplated?” Chambers asked.… More