As the federal government distributes $42.5 billion to expand broadband internet access across America and its territories, some local leaders are asking themselves: How much economic impact could faster internet create? A report by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society estimates that, across 15 agricultural counties in Illinois, faster internet speeds could boost production of corn and soybeans by over $100 million annually. The report argues that faster internet will allow farmers to more precisely plant, fertilize and harvest crops — a method called “precision agriculture.” A tool included in the report provides estimates of increased corn and soybean revenue in each of the 15 counties. Bryan Stevens, a corn and soybean farmer and board president of the Hancock County Farm Bureau, who participated in the Broadband Breakthrough program, said he sees increased broadband access as a serious factor for farmers’ pocketbooks. “I can see how they can come up with these numbers based on efficiency,” Stevens said. “The less time I waste in the spring or in the fall … the better off I am.”

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is urging Congress to increase minimum uplink standards for broadband networks funded by the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The association says a minimum requirement of 100 Mbps symmetrical would benefit electric co-ops as they compete with larger providers for BEAD grants, since regional co-ops are more likely than nationwide providers to invest in high-speed broadband for rural residents. Electric co-ops are governed by boards typically comprised of their members, the same people who rely on the co-ops to power their homes and businesses. As more boards ask co-ops to build broadband networks, they are often asking for fast fiber. Money from electricity customers can’t be used to subsidize broadband builds, but electric co-ops can create telecom subsidiaries, which can hire the people who work for the co-op to deploy fiber. Another advantage for electric co-ops is that they typically own the power poles, so they don’t have to pay lease fees in order to hang fiber.

In early January 2024, the Iowa Department of Management (DOM) released the draft State of Iowa Digital Equity Plan for public comment. The Digital Equity Plan outlines the results of extensive research and outreach efforts to set baseline conditions and goals for addressing digital equity opportunities in Iowa. The deadline for public comments is February 2, 2024. The State of Iowa developed a vision statement for the Digital Equity Plan to serve as a north star for digital equity initiatives for the life of the plan and beyond: "All Iowans will have access to affordable high-speed broadband internet, useful devices, and the training and support in order to participate, contribute, and thrive in society." Digital equity in Iowa cannot be solved by a single organization acting alone. However, collective and coordinated efforts can shrink and close the digital divides separating Iowans from better opportunities in the classroom, the workplace, and at home.

Breezeline closed out construction projects in both West Virginia and New Hampshire. Together, the two projects total over $80 million of investment and more than 800 miles of new fiber. Construction in both multi-year projects began in late 2021. Breezeline began activating customers as portions of construction were completed, starting in early 2022 in New Hampshire and summer of 2022 in West Virginia. Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) internet, TV and phone services are now available to all residential and businesses in the public rights of way across those completed footprints. The company’s $42 million, 283-mile fiber expansion in West Virginia will bring fiber internet to some 40,000 homes and businesses in the state’s Morgantown area. Breezeline has invested more than $40 million in it's 525-mile fiber network in New Hampshire, which now reaches more than 45,000 homes and businesses in five communities.

President Biden issued a landmark Executive Order to ensure that America leads the way in seizing the promise and managing the risks of artificial intelligence (AI). On January 29, Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed convened the White House AI Council, and agencies reported on their 90-day actions tasked by the Executive Order. The Executive Order directed a sweeping range of actions within 90 days to address some of AI’s biggest threats to safety and security. To mitigate these and other risks, agencies have:

• Used Defense Production Act authorities to compel developers of the most powerful AI systems to report vital information, especially AI safety test results, to the Department of Commerce.
• Proposed a draft rule that proposes to compel U.S. cloud companies that provide computing power for foreign AI training to report that they are doing so.
• Completed risk assessments covering AI’s use in every critical infrastructure sector.

In order to seize AI’s enormous promise and deepen the US lead in AI innovation, agencies have also:

• Launched a pilot of the National AI Research Resource—catalyzing broad-based innovation, competition, and more equitable access to AI research.
• Launched an AI Talent Surge to accelerate hiring AI professionals across the federal government, including through a large-scale hiring action for data scientists.
• Began the EducateAI initiative to help fund educators creating high-quality, inclusive AI educational opportunities at the K-12 through undergraduate levels.
• Announced the funding of new Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines), including with a focus on advancing AI. 
• Established an AI Task Force at the Department of Health and Human Services to develop policies to provide regulatory clarity and catalyze AI innovation in health care.