GCI Continues Progress on Aleutians Fiber Project Featured in “Every Last Mile”

GCI has kicked off the latest phase of its Aleutians Fiber Project in the Kodiak Island community of Port Lions. The undertaking is part of the ISP’s larger efforts to connect the remote Aleutian Islands to multi-gigabit speeds via 800 miles of subsea fiber-optic cable. “We’re excited to start work in our second phase of the Aleutians Fiber Project community,” said GCI Principal Program Manager Rebecca Markley. “Our crews are working hard to complete the construction phase as efficiently as possible for the launch of 2.5 gig residential internet speeds in the coming months. Once complete, we

Premiere of “Every Last Mile: The Untold Story of Connecting Rural America” Addresses Closing the Digital Divide

NCTA and the Washington Post Live recently partnered for a special screening of the new documentary, “Every Last Mile.” The film chronicles the untold story of connecting rural America, following three broadband construction crews as they overcome obstacles to tackle the monumental challenge of ensuring every American, regardless of where they live, has access to digital infrastructure and the opportunities it brings. The screening was followed by a roundtable discussion with Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Administrator Andrew Berke and Virginia’s broadband office director Tamarah Holmes, and

NOW STREAMING “Every Last Mile: The Untold Story of Connecting Rural America”

The COVID pandemic exposed how critical reliable internet service is to work, school, and life in general, and that communities without access to this important technology could permanently fall behind. Since then, unprecedented efforts have been dedicated to closing the digital divide, including reaching the 10 million Americans living in rural areas without access to robust broadband. But reaching America’s most rural communities is a massive challenge. The country has a landmass of 3.5 million square miles and all kinds of difficult terrain. So, how does the country get the job done, and

Coming Next Week – Every Last Mile: The Untold Story of Connecting Rural America

In today’s world, high-speed internet is the gateway to a world of opportunities. Access to fast and reliable broadband is especially important in rural areas, enabling people to participate fully in the digital economy with remote work opportunities, virtual learning, telehealth services and more. However, while internet access is essential, building out networks to America’s most rural locations is a dauting task. NCTA’s forthcoming docufilm, "Every Last Mile," explores the challenges and obstacles that internet providers face in wiring these communities. Overcoming obstacles While much of

New NTIA Data Shows More Internet Users Than Ever Before

As America continues to tackle the ambitious task to connect every corner of the country to the internet, the nation’s broadband leaders continue to be hard at work, extending their networks and upgrading speeds in communities of all sizes across the country. While the first few states have had their BEAD plans approved by NTIA, those projects are still a year or so away, as federal funds aren’t expected to be sent to projects until 2025. However, the ongoing hard work to bring next-generation networks to far-out communities moves forward, with new data from NTIA showing positive results for

Industry Stats: Broadband Continues to Expand Coast to Coast

As America works to connect every community to robust broadband—including the upcoming distribution of more than $40 billion in federal funds for building new networks—cable providers continue to do what they have always done: build superfast networks to reach as many Americans as possible.

Broadband Stats: Cable Helps Close the Digital Divide

With the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) up in the air, America’s cable broadband providers remain committed to doing their part to close the digital divide, working to connect low-income households just as they have for over a decade.

With ACP Winding Down, Cable Providers Are Committed to Keeping Customers Connected

Unless Congress acts, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is set to run out of funds this month. When that happens, millions of Americans will lose a significant benefit that helps them access critical online services like healthcare, education, and job opportunities. With the program's future up in the air, America’s cable broadband providers are reenergizing their longstanding efforts to close the digital divide. Why it matters: To date, ACP has helped connect over 23 million Americans across rural and urban areas, a significant step forward in the nation’s mission to connect everyone

Rural Virginia County Thrives With Broadband

Highland County, Virginia Community Leader Speaks to the Importance of Broadband Access The $42 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funds is a clear nod to the critical role that broadband access plays in today’s digital world. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) estimates that, even with the tremendous progress ISPs have made this past decade, there are still nearly 8 million Americans without access to the internet. Many of these folks live in the country’s hardest-to-reach, rural areas, where the cable industry works day-in and day-out to extend