The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for high-speed internet access in Americans’ homes and elevated debate about the cost and affordability of connections and devices. Congress responded with emergency measures designed to keep households online. Lawmakers enacted two laws: the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 […]
Category: Media Coverage
The federally funded Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) offers a maximum $30 a month discount on high-speed home internet for qualifying households. Affordable Internet service varies from $10-$30 a month – so after the discount is applied, home internet may be free. The California Emerging Technology […]
The Southern California Association of Governments and the California Emerging Technology Fund, in partnership with the Los Angeles Digital Equity Action League, is targeting vehicle emissions with a series of recommendations to increase broadband adoption and allow for work from home. The California Air Resources […]
Groundbreaking research identifies significant opportunities to reduce vehicle trips and GHG if work-from-home policies are both flexible and low-income communities have access to affordable, reliable home Internet Pursuing long-term solutions to address climate change, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), California Emerging Technology Fund […]
Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D – Orange County) was on hand at the Anaheim Union High School District Office to help distribute 400 Chromebook laptops to students from Frontier Communications. “The pandemic has highlighted some of California’s infrastructure deficiencies with startling clarity. Some of those […]
In Cities-Today.com, Sarah Wray describes an interesting public-private partnership. “The Household Internet Access Initiative (HIAI), in partnership with Helium and the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), is based on residents hosting hotspot nodes on a decentralized Internet of Things (IoT) network. These mine cryptocurrency that will be used to […]
The recent infusion of state and federal dollars aimed at expanding broadband networks and services has been massive and unprecedented. Taking full advantage of these funding streams now requires similarly unprecedented engagement and partnering across all sectors, according to stakeholders convened last week by California […]
USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism is issuing a new policy brief assessing the impact of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program put into place during COVID-19. The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program began in May 2021 to help close the digital divide and boost […]
Stakeholders looking for broadband funding for their communities at a National Telecommunications and Information Administration listening session on Wednesday were split on whether funding should go to middle-mile infrastructure. The NTIA, which is administering the $42.5 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act under […]
With the COVID pandemic surging into 2022 and complicating recovery and a return to normalcy, the conversation about closing the digital divide remains a critical component of closing equity gaps in California. Luckily, the conversation is resulting in more than just words thanks to efforts […]