Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC's Rosenworcel Releases New Podcast, USDA Announces Additional Broadband Funding

FCC’s Rosenworcel Releases New Podcast

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel announced the release of the latest episode of her podcast, Broadband Conversations. The podcast was launched over two years ago with the goal of amplifying the voices of women from across the technology, innovation and media sectors. Rosenworcel’s most recent guest is Kimball Sekaquaptewa, Chief Technology Officer at the Santa Fe Indian School. A member of the Hopi tribe, Kimball has spent her career fighting to bring more connectivity to tribal communities, schools, and libraries.

Rosenworcel said: “I first met Kimball two years ago on a trip to New Mexico. I was there to visit a Tribal community that had been revitalized by bringing broadband to the local library. I’ll never forget the commitment and determination I heard in her voice when she spoke of her efforts to get young people living on reservation lands access to the internet. So, it was a real honor to bring her voice to Broadband Conversations so that others can hear her passion. Plus, I can think of no better time to draw attention to her work because this pandemic has hit Tribal communities especially hard. We need to do more to ensure the least connected among us have every opportunity to get and stay online for work, school, health care, and more.”

USDA Announces Additional Broadband Funding

The USDA announced it is investing $37 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Alabama with grants to six companies. 

• Central Alabama Electric Cooperative will use a $8.6 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 13,853 people, 149 farms, 77 businesses and one fire station to high-speed broadband internet in Bibb, Chilton, Perry, Autauga, Talladega, Elmore and Coosa counties in Alabama.
• Millry Telephone Company Inc. will use a $8.3 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 4,444 people, 84 farms, 46 businesses, four fire stations and a post office to high-speed broadband internet in Choctaw and Washington counties in Alabama.
• Pine Belt Telephone Company Inc. will use a $6.5 million ReConnect grant and a $6.5 million ReConnect loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 5,799 people, 143 farms, 83 businesses, five fire stations, five educational facilities and four post offices to high-speed broadband internet in Perry, Hale and Marengo counties in Alabama.
• Moundville Telephone Co. Inc. will use a $166,000 ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the- premises network to connect 111 people and a farm to high-speed broadband internet in Hale County, Alabama.
• Mon-Cre Telephone Cooperative Inc. will use a $5.8 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 2,546 people, 36 farms, 19 businesses and three fire stations to high-speed broadband internet in Crenshaw, Lowndes and Montgomery counties in Alabama.
• Hayneville Telephone Company Inc. will use a $1.5 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 1,481 people, 19 farms, nine businesses, and four educational facilities to high-speed broadband internet in Lowndes County, Alabama.

In a second announcement, the USDA said it would also make an investment in North Carolina, where Yadkin Valley Telephone Membership Corporation will use a $2.3 million ReConnect grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network. This network will connect 5,686 people, 67 farms and 18 businesses to high-speed broadband internet in Davie, Yadkin and Iredell counties in North Carolina.

Recent Briefings from Inteserra!

• FCC Announces Launch Of National Verifier In Partnership With Oregon and Texas State Agencies
• FCC Releases Final List Of Census Blocks Eligible For Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction
• FCC To Move Access Charges For 8YY Calls To Bill-And-Keep
• Nevada Increases USF Assessment
• Washington Governor Extends Prohibition on Residential Disconnections During COVID-19

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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.