On March 20, 2024, Next Century Cities (NCC) met with the Federal Communications Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) staff regarding the Affordable Connectivity Program wind-down. NCC said the CGB must work closely with the Wireline Competition Bureau to craft wind-down guidance that ensures customers are protected. NCC also urged the Federal Communications Commission to require providers to disclose how a consumers bill will increase. "The Commission should require providers to disclose, in plain language, how a consumer’s bill will increase when sending out required wind down notices to ACP recipients. This includes which fees will be added and how prices, fees, and taxes will increase."

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) launched a new mapping tool, the NTIA Permitting and Environmental Information Application, to help grant recipients and others deploying infrastructure identify permit requirements and avoid potential environmental impacts when connecting a particular location to high-speed Internet service.  The application is designed to help federal broadband grant recipients and subgrantees identify and understand the types of permits they will need and plan routes for their broadband deployments. Identifying permit requirements early, initiating pre-application coordination with permitting agencies, and avoiding environmental impacts help drive successful infrastructure projects. NTIA’s public release of the application supports government-wide efforts to improve permitting and explore how online and digital technologies can promote efficient environmental reviews. A tutorial on how to use the map is available on the NTIA YouTube channel. In the coming weeks, NTIA will announce additional permitting initiatives to support federal broadband deployment projects.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted Kansas’ Digital Equity plan. The Digital Equity Act, part of the Internet for All initiative and a key piece of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs that promote digital equity and inclusion. The program aims to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. Using $692,664 from the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, Kansas created a plan aimed at addressing disparities in digital access, skills and affordability across the state.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted Alaska’s Digital Equity plan. The Digital Equity Act, part of the Internet for All initiative and a key piece of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs that promote digital equity and inclusion. The program aims to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. Using $567,800 from the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, Alaska created a plan aimed at addressing disparities in digital access, skills and affordability across the state.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted Alabama’s Digital Equity plan. The Digital Equity Act, part of the Internet for All initiative and a key piece of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs that promote digital equity and inclusion. The program aims to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. Using $981,081 from the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, Alabama created a plan aimed at addressing disparities in digital access, skills and affordability across the state. 

Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II joined the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) and announced the start of the State Challenge Process, encouraging Michiganders to help identify locations across the state that are eligible for high-speed internet infrastructure expansion through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Challenges will be accepted March 25 through April 23 through an interactive State Challenge Portal. That portal is now open for eligible participants to submit challenges on whether their home, business or institution is accurately represented as being served or not. Local units of government, Tribal governments, non-profit organizations and internet service providers are eligible challengers and will need to register for an account to participate in the State Challenge Process. Individual Michiganders do not need an account but can still provide information about service issues they may be experiencing with getting high-speed internet at their location or with their existing service. Once the State Challenge Portal closes, MIHI will review each challenge to ensure no eligible locations are left out of Michigan’s BEAD program. 

The Delaware Broadband Initiative hit a major milestone when its State Digital Equity Plan was formally federally approved, making the state officially eligible for millions in funding to execute it. The Digital Equity Plan was developed over months of stakeholder engagement, public meetings, surveys, polls and a public comment period. Delaware now expects to receive about $12 million in federal Digital Equity Act funds under the Internet for All initiative. The state will eventually grant funds to various entities, ranging from internet service providers (ISPs) to workforce development programs, to make the plan a reality. Delaware is the second state, after Louisiana, to receive equity plan approval. It’s anticipated to be the first state in the US to achieve 100 percent high-speed broadband access, which includes infrastructure, accessibility and affordability. Delaware Broadband Office Executive Director Roddy Flynn held a virtual town hall to discuss the process’ immediate future. Here are the takeaways.