Broadband Stats: Rural Infrastructure
These days more Americans are working and learning remotely than ever before, a trend accelerated by the pandemic. That trend is not limited to professionals in large urban centers. Thanks to years of investment and hard work, rural and far-out communities are connected to the high-speed networks that facilitate virtual work, school, and entertainment. Despite the harsh conditions, Alaska’s Aleutian Islands in the Bering sea are currently being connected by 800 miles of undersea fiber cable. The project will bring gigabit speeds to remote arctic communities as well as the country’s largest
Broadband Data: Infrastructure
As Congress moves forward on the bipartisan infrastructure package, America’s broadband leaders are continuing their work to extend superfast networks to all Americans, from large urban communities to far-out mountain towns. And while federal funding will be important to help close gaps and jumpstart projects in traditionally difficult-to-serve regions, these areas are just a small percentage of the country. That’s because cable (and other) internet service providers have been investing in and upgrading networks in urban and rural communities for decades. In fact, cable internet providers
How Rural Broadband Can Help Agriculture Into the Future
The COVID-19 pandemic drove many to rely on America’s broadband networks like never before. Despite being a sudden shift, the story is a successful one. While European networks had to work with video streamers to reduce the file quality in order to facilitate the sudden shift in network usage, American broadband networks never experienced those issues. In fact, they adapted to changes in consumer behavior as cable internet service providers continually added capacity. For sure, one thing the last year and a half highlighted is how important a broadband connection has become in our daily lives
NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell Talks Infrastructure and More on C-SPAN
NCTA President and CEO Michael Powell is the featured guest this week on C-SPAN’s The Communicators, where much of the discussion focused on the Biden administration’s infrastructure plan, specifically its broadband provisions. While the full 30-minute interview is available here, we used C-SPAN’s video clipping tool to develop several soundbites on the key issues that were covered. Those topics include: Importance of targeted funding, How to future proof new networks, The success of direct consumer subsidies, and Warning against rate regulation. Powell also talked about other topics ranging
How the Biden Broadband Plan Can Accomplish Connectivity for All
By Michael Powell NCTA President & CEO Now that we have had a few days to reflect on the President's infrastructure plan, we want to be clear about how we view it. We share the end goal of the Biden broadband proposal: ensuring that 100% of Americans have access to robust broadband networks. However, such a monumental plan must be properly targeted to achieve our principal national objectives—getting broadband networks built in areas where they don't exist, and modernizing a safety net to help low-income families adopt and afford internet service. Here is what we strongly support. 1. Dedicate
Boom or Bust: Getting Broadband Infrastructure Programs Right
By Michael Powell NCTA President & CEO Congress is going big on broadband. It has appropriated more than $20 billion to spend on broadband in just the last several months. That is a huge amount compared to past efforts, equating to almost 25% of the annual revenues of the entire fixed broadband industry. And, in the wings is an infrastructure bill that could deliver another whopping $100 billion in spending. These efforts are certainly welcome. The pandemic has amplified the importance of broadband infrastructure and accelerated the urgency of getting all Americans connected. Broadband have
Charter Brings 'Big Internet' to Virginia's Eastern Shore
There was a time when Timothy Smith, the owner of an antique appraisal, restoration and woodworking shop in Onancock, Virginia, struggled in his day-to-day work because of a slow and unreliable internet connection. Not only was it a challenge for Smith to hear customers on the other end of the phone, but he also found himself waiting far too long for internet images to load. Smith's business–Timothy Smith & Sons–specializes in woodworking and antique restoration services for prestigious institutions, historical societies, government agencies, and private clients in the Mid-Atlantic region
Charter's Investment in Rural Ohio Brings Residents Up to Speed
Late last year, the citizens of Athens County, Ohio, which is situated in beautiful Appalachian country, received some exciting news. The county would soon be receiving access to internet speeds that rival those in Los Angeles and New York City households. For a rural area that sees many tourists come through, and where many of its residents travel from small towns to work in the city of Athens, this was a pretty big deal. By the end of 2019, Charter deployed its advanced Spectrum Internet services to over 2,400 homes and businesses in the area using its own private capital funds. Over the
Alaska’s GCI Will Extend Fiber Service to Remote Aleutian Islands
Over the past few months, we’ve seen firsthand the power that broadband networks have in delivering services usually only available in person. From telemedicine to remote work to distance learning, 2020 has shone a spotlight on the critical role broadband plays in modern life. That’s why it’s more important than ever for America’s broadband leaders to continue working to close the digital divide. An example of getting broadband to the most remote areas is a new project from Alaskan broadband provider GCI to bring terrestrial fiber broadband to the remote Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska
The Cost of Replacing Old Wooden Poles is Slowing Down Broadband Deployment in Unserved Areas
Reliable fast internet is in high demand like never before. The robust networks powered by America's cable internet service providers continue to support millions of Americans through the COVID-19 pandemic as they turn to distance learning and remote work during this unprecedented time. But even as NCTA member companies reach millions more unserved Americans and invest billions in broadband network expansion and improvement each year, too many remain unconnected. Connectivity in these largely rural areas could be expedited by addressing obstacles that increase both the costs and time required