USDA Announces Broadband Grant in North Carolina 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it has invested $23.7 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for nearly 8,750 rural households in North Carolina.  

“Our core mission at USDA is to increase rural prosperity, and this mission cannot be achieved without addressing the digital divide our rural communities face due to a lack of high-speed broadband internet connection,” LaVoy said.  “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities in deploying this critical infrastructure, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.” 

Star Telephone Membership Corporation of Clinton, N.C., will use ReConnect Program grant funding to deploy a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband network capable of simultaneous transmission rates of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) or greater.  The funded service area includes 8,749 households, 19 businesses, 10 educational facilities, and three critical community facilities.  The project will facilitate more access to services and information for local residents, and it will improve the overall quality of life for people in the community. 

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The Regulatory Mix Today: USDA Announces Broadband Grant in North Carolina, Colorado Reminds Carriers about 511 Traveler Help Phone Number Compliance, FCC’s IAC Releases Telehealth and Public Safety Report  

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Colorado Reminds Carriers about 511 Traveler Help Phone Number Compliance 

The Colorado Department of Transportation (DOT) is reminding carriers that it operates a 511 traveler information help phone number.  When users call 511 from anywhere in the state, carriers automatically forward these calls to one of three numbers.  One of these numbers is a local number and, per government mandate (Decision No. C18-1071, Proceeding No. 04a-127T), this local number must be shut down and all callers must be forwarded on to this 800 number (877-315-7623).  About a year ago, the Public Utility Commission circulated the mandate to all carriers letting them know about this change, but the DOT is still seeing quite a few calls to this local number.  The DOT is now attempting to contact all carriers to see who may still be forwarding 511 callers to the local number and asking them to update to a different number. 

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.