Unfortunately, the Legislature failed to act last week and it could set back for years the progress that California has made in closing the digital divide. Read More>>>
Category: Media Coverage
As the FCC nears a decision on the proposed merger between Charter Communications, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, digital inclusion advocates in California have negotiated a $32.5 million deal with "New Charter" that could support broadband adoption by hundreds of thousands of low [...]
The Federal Communications Commission's lauded expansion of its "Lifeline" program for low-income broadband access could end up being less than promised. Read More>>>
Given its economic benefits, isn't home Internet access-especially to low-income people-an economic development no-brainer? Read More>>>
Qualifying Americans would receive a $9.25 monthly subsidy for broadband Internet - which, advocates hope, would cut the cost to consumers to about $10 to $20 per month. Read More>>>
This week, the Federal Communications Commission will debate whether to expand the agency's Lifeline program, which was created in 1985 to offer low-income Americans with subsidies for telephone service. If approved, the expansion would allow low-income people to use Lifeline subsidies for Internet service. Read [...]
"Charter is not just buying a big new service area - they are buying the digital divide," said Sunne Wright McPeak, president and chief executive of the nonprofit California Emerging Technology Fund, which is working to bring computers and affordable Internet connections to more California [...]
In a commentary written before the FCC's announcement, California Emerging Technology Fund President and CEO Sunne Wright McPeak called on the FCC to act. She wrote that 20 percent of households don't have access and that this is a singular moment in time to meet [...]
Broadband infrastructure improvement projects are at risk of being cut if a state assemblyman's legislation doesn't move forward. Assembly Bill 1758, named the "Internet for All Now Act" by Assemblyman Mark Stone, D-Monterey Bay, would amend legislation governing the California Advanced Services Fund for telecommunications. [...]
Rarely is there a moment in time when just five people hold in their hands the destiny of millions, but such is the case for the Federal Communications Commission. In the next few weeks, the five commissioners will decide on a Broadband Lifeline Program and [...]