Cartesian and ACA Connects released the 4th version of their estimate for how far the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) money will go, finding that we can reach “at least 71 percent of eligible locations” with fiber with the estimated $61 billion is available (BEAD + provider matching) to reach the remaining 10.1 million unserved and underserved locations. The estimate reduces the 10.1 million locations because 3.2 million of them will be covered by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) programs — mostly Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). But a footnote hints at a larger looming adjustment: the American Rescue Plan Act put billions into broadband, most directly with the $10 billion Capital Projects Fund (CPF). If ARPA-funded projects take ~1 million locations off the board for BEAD (we really don’t know what the number is because there weren’t up front reporting requirements) that could be ~15% of the remaining Digital Divide, before BEAD. Why is this important? One requirement of the $42 billion dollar BEAD broadband deployment program is funding not be allocated where another federal program already provides an “enforceable commitment” to build broadband. The problem? CPF doesn't require money be spent on underserved and unserved locations, and the lack of upfront reporting makes it hard to tell which locations have an enforceable commitment.

Based on conversations I've had with some of my peers, I have to ask: will fixed wireless access (FWA) peak soon? Every person I've asked has dismissed FWA wireless as a temporary technology with no real long-term legs. My peers say that FWA is already oversubscribed, cell towers aren't designed to handle all-day broadband connections, and that the service is just not good enough. Interestingly, the numbers seem to be telling a different story: T-Mobile and Verizon predict they will collectively reach 15 million FWA customers. That's not to say some of my peers' observations don't run true. FWA costs significantly less than big cable broadband, and there are a lot of customers for whom price is the predominant factor. I don’t think anybody knows for sure where FWA is going to top out. But it doesn’t feel to me like it's already hit the top of the market.

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is encouraging eligible organizations to apply for grant funding to improve the availability of telecommunications services for Wisconsin residents. The grant funding opportunities include the Nonprofit Access Grant Program, the Lifeline Outreach Grant Program, and the Telemedicine Grant Program. All three grant programs are funded by the Universal Service Fund to help Wisconsin residents get essential and advanced telecommunications services. 

• The Nonprofit Access Grant Program provides grant funding to nonprofit organizations to facilitate affordable access to essential telecommunications services, including internet access, for low-income households and people with disabilities. 
• The Lifeline Outreach Grant Program improves participation in the Lifeline Program, which helps address affordability challenges by providing a discount on essential telecommunications services for low-income customers.
• The Telemedicine Grant Program provides funding to help certain non-profit medical clinics and hospitals or public health agencies purchase medical telecommunications equipment that will promote technologically advanced medical services, enhance access to medical care in rural or underserved areas of the state, to underserved populations, or to persons with disabilities.

All applications must be submitted through the PSC’s Grants System. 

University of Nebraska scientists and staff are formalizing existing research and outreach in precision agriculture into a strategic initiative called NFarms. The effort, in collaboration with producers and industry, will refine and expand precision agriculture capabilities crucial to boosting farm efficiency and environmental sustainability. NFarms will be a test bed for new technologies, as well as platforms to help farmers better harness data. The initiative also will develop innovative decision-making tools producers can use for efficient field management. In 2024, the university will break ground on an NFarms facility that will house precision agriculture technologies. Construction is expected to be complete in the summer.

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are often the first point of contact for underserved populations seeking access to care. And often that first impression can make all the difference in accessing care that improves outcomes. At Kenosha Community Health Center, that first contact is now handled by a nurse who can quickly and efficiently funnel the patient to the right care provider. Kenosha, part of the Pillar Health network, is one of several FQHCs to collaborate with Conduit Health Partners on nurse triage services. “This is an essential function of the health center,” says Ouimet, who estimates that 100-150 incoming calls a day are now connected to Conduit Health nurses. “These are nurses at the other end who can work with [patients] to coordinate care. The average call time is reduced, and we’re improving time to treatment and bed scheduling. It’s just better care.” Kenosha is part of an even larger trend of FQHCs, rural health centers, and assorted community health clinics outsourcing some services and using telehealth and digital health technology to alleviate those bottlenecks that keep patients from accessing the care they need.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is exploring internal use of artificial intelligence (AI) to make its work for Congress and taxpayers more efficient, in-depth, and effective. By developing these tools, GAO is also gaining insight into the benefits and risks of AI, which will help GAO evaluate other agencies' use and better provide technical assistance to Congress. As of January 2024, GAO is exploring the following eight AI use cases:

1. Organizes large volumes of text, such as public comments from Regulations.gov
2. Summarizes draft GAO legislative mandates  
3. Assists with copyediting according to GAO's style guide 
4. Provides automated responses to chat questions on published GAO work 
5. Summarizes qualitative responses from annual GAO Employee Experience Survey 
6. Monitors information about congressional committee calendars, press releases, and web contents  
7. Enhances GAO auditing through use of extended reality glasses  
8. Triages IT help desk requests and answers internal GAO policy questions

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced changes to her leadership team. At the conclusion of the January Open Meeting, Chairwoman Rosenworcel announced the formal departure of Deena Shetler from her team. Sanford Williams will serve as Deputy Chief of staff. Williams has worked in various roles at the FCC since 1999. Most recently he served as a Special Advisor to the Chairwoman and Deputy Managing Director in the Office of Managing Director. He is currently a lecturer of law at the University of California Los Angeles Law School. Williams graduated from Cornell University where he earned an undergraduate degree in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Johnson School of Management. He earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law where he was a member of the Virginia Law Review.