America’s Expanding Broadband Networks Continue to Grow: The Midwest Pt. 2

As America targets efforts towards connecting every community to robust broadband – including the distribution of more than $40 billion in federal funds for building new networks – cable providers continue to do what they have always done: build out their networks to reach as many Americans as possible. With network expansions continuing to happen nationwide, here are a few more examples of projects that work towards the national goal of connecting every American. To learn about other projects highlighted in previous blogs, be sure to check out NCTA.com. Wisconsin Midco is building a state-of

America’s Expanding Cable Broadband Networks: The Midwest

As America targets efforts towards closing the digital divide and awaits the distribution of federal funds for broadband deployment and adoption, cable providers continue to do what they have always done: build out their networks to reach as many Americans as possible. Here is a small sampling of broadband projects by cable ISPs underway as they prepare to deliver fast internet speeds in Midwest communities. Iowa Mediacom earlier this year announced they had begun transitioning their Iowa gigabit network to the new 10G Platform. Residents in West Des Moines will be among the first to enjoy the

Midco's Commitment to Connecting Students During the Pandemic

"Midco will do what it takes." These are the words that Rupak Gandhi, school superintendent in Fargo, N.D., said he heard Midco representatives repeat to him again and again when his district turned to the ISP for help this past spring. Back in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools across the country including in North Dakota, Gandhi's district faced the challenge of getting every student ready for remote instruction, with every decision dependent on students having an internet connection in their homes. The school district of Fargo is the second largest in North Dakota and

Rural ISP Helps Keep Communities Thriving in Northwestern Minnesota

As states continue to reopen and the COVID-19 environment becomes a part of the norm for the foreseeable future, strong internet connectivity has proven to be critical for businesses, schools, and health services to continue. Nowhere does that ring truer than in some of the country's most rural areas. Dick Sjoberg, the president of Sjoberg's, whose family started the internet, TV, and phone business in the 1940s, shared that business has remained stable for many companies across the ISP's footprint in northwestern Minnesota, thanks to reliable broadband access. Given that some of the towns

Six Ways Broadband Leaders are Transforming Rural America

Earlier this week, NCTA, in partnership with the Rural Broadband Caucus, hosted a panel discussion in Washington, DC, where member companies shared programs and initiatives they are implementing to expand high-speed broadband networks, including gigabit service, to underserved areas. "If we're going to make any progress in revitalizing rural America, then broadband is just bottomline essential. It is not a red state/blue state deal," said Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), co-chair of the caucus, in his opening remarks. "It's about making that decision we made in the 1930s when we electrified America

Midco: Making a Difference in Rural America Through Broadband Investment

Today, Midco's Senior Director of Government Relations Justin Forde will testify before the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology on strides the ISP has made in delivering broadband to rural America, and the critical work that must be done at the federal level to shrink the digital divide in America. Midco is one of America's leaders when it comes to bringing rural America up to speed. The ISP reaches more than 400,000 customers in 400 communities throughout South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, and Wisconsin, some of which have populations of fewer than 100 people. The

America's ISPs Are Bringing Rural America Up to Speed

Tomorrow, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a hearing to explore the opportunities and challenges of deploying broadband in rural America. This is an issue that America's cable broadband providers are currently tackling, and a critical discussion that will explore creative ways to continue connecting every community. The conversation is also a timely one in light of recent discussions concerning the Farm Bill reauthorization and how broadband funds should be administered by the USDA Rural Utilities Service in order to be most effective in helping to bring

Connecting Rural America Through Fixed Wireless Technology

In places where there are more livestock than people and where miles of land separate one household from the next, finding an internet connection can sometimes be challenging. The length of time it would take and the amount it would cost to build a fiber network in certain remote regions can make it nearly impossible to bring high-speed fiber connections to rural areas. But America's internet service providers have been working towards innovative solutions to bridge the digital divide. Some of NCTA's members have begun to explore fixed wireless connectivity as an option to connect customers in