The Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development had awarded a Keystone Communities Program grant of $500,000 to help Indiana County leaders to extend broadband internet access to underserved rural, outlying areas of the county. In total, the award of four grants totals $1.25 million. The packages include $200,000 toward replacement of the Burrell Township Library, $450,000 for improvements to Sherman Street Park in Clymer and $100,000 to repave a well-worn four-mile stretch of Pine Vale Road in Grant Township.
USDA e-connectivity toolkit offers rural broadband resources
The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a new "e-connectivity" toolkit to support the deployment of high-speed Internet service in rural communities. The toolkit features 27 USDA programs meant to facilitate the expansion of broadband, including grants, loans and technical ass...
Trump preparing plan to boost AI, 5G technology
President Trump is preparing an ambitious plan to ramp up the government's role in speeding next-generation technologies such as 5G wireless and artificial intelligence. In a statement, top White House technology policy aide Michael Kratsios said it "will ensure … that the ...
We need a national rural broadband plan
Assistant professor at the University of Virginia Christopher Ali wrote an op-ed in the New York Times calling for a national rural broadband plan. Ali highlighted that the lack of a national rural broadband policy is causing the United States to lose the global competition in com...
Powell may ‘start small’ with fiber-optics deal
Powell, OH, is "considering an agreement that would give the city its first fiber connection." The city’s operations committee reviewed a proposal from Consolidated Electric Cooperative "that would see Powell spending $81,650 to connect to an existing fiber-optic network for...
State-funded broadband build-outs making progress — but for lawmakers, anxiety lingers
Local residents "are beginning to see the fruits of state-funded broadband expansion efforts." While Chazy & Westport Communications announced completion of a project that expanded broadband to 620 homes and businesses, Slic Network Solutions has completed the majority of its netw...
Trump pledges investment, but is silent on key tech issues
During his State of the Union address, President Trump promised legislation to invest in "the cutting-edge industries of the future," but did not elaborate upon any technology policy issues like broadband or privacy. Following the speech, Michael Kratsios, deputy assistant to the ...