<div>A lot of broadband news today - on a lot of fronts!First, and most critically for the implementation of BEAD, we’re beginning to get more clarity on the role of wireless vis-a-vis fiber in state broadband deployments.Four states – Vermont, Georgia, Missouri, and Nevada – received NTIA approval to declare cellular fixed wireless services as “underserved.”<a class="embed" href="https://broadbandbreakfast.com/some-wireless-services-called-underserved-in-4-states-expanding-bead-locations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Some Wireless Services Deemed 'Underserved' in 4 States, Expanding BEAD Locations</a>Some details:<blockquote>Vermont, Georgia, Missouri, and Nevada received Commerce Department approval to mark areas whose sole source of internet comes from cellular fixed wireless service as "underserved," hence making these regions eligible for broadband infrastructure funding under the <a href="https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/funding-programs/broadband-equity-access-and-deployment-bead-program?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Broadband Equity Access and Deployment</a> program.Gaining approval of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the four states’ broadband availability maps will now consider all locations served only by CFWA as "underserved." Providers will be able to rebut the claims of underservice.</blockquote>From Vermont:<blockquote>One of the earliest states to raise concerns about wireless, Vermont reported that the process of getting the modification introduced involved extensive communication with the NTIA, as well as the provision of thorough evidence to support their case.  Through conducting a series of studies, the state determined that less than 5 percent of service availability claims made by the 'largest' cellular fixed wireless service provider in the state, T-Mobile, were actually true.…Vermont wrapped up the initial phase of the <a href="https://broadbandbreakfast.com/bead-roundup-michigan-and-missouri-begin-accepting-challenges/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state challenge process on Monday</a>, during which T-Mobile did not submit any challenges to Vermont regarding the modification, <a class="mention" href="https://www.broadband.io/u/55ac9dd1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@David Fish</a> told Broadband Breakfast.</blockquote>From Missouri:<blockquote>Missouri had planned to reach out individually to all cellular fixed wireless providers to reach an understanding on a case-by-case basis as to whether to remove their service claims from the state broadband map, <a class="mention" href="https://www.broadband.io/u/7494de71" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@BJ Tanksley</a>, director of the Missouri Office of Broadband Development, told Broadband Breakfast.Instead, NTIA asked the state to adopt the same pre-challenge modification as Vermont and other states: Classifying cellular fixed wireless service with speeds below 100 * 20 Mbps as “underserved” for the purpose of determining a location’s BEAD eligibility. By adopting the modification, the broadband office reported that 13,904 more locations across the state will be eligible for funding through BEAD in its <a href="https://ded.mo.gov/media/pdf/bead-initial-proposal-vol-1?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">approved Volume 1  plan</a>.</blockquote><h3>Net Neutrality, meet Affordable Connectivity Program</h3>There’s also some unexpected battles – progressive versus progressive – brewing at the junction where Net Neutrality rules meet the Affordable Connectivity Program.<a class="embed" href="https://broadbandbreakfast.com/coalition-to-reform-usf-raises-alarm-about-fcc-exempting-broadband-providers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coalition to Reform USF Raises Alarm About FCC Exempting Broadband Providers</a><blockquote>Public interest advocates are criticizing one aspect of the draft net neutrality order released Thursday by the Federal Communications Commission: A provision that would exempt broadband internet access service (BIAS) providers from contributing to the $8.1 billion Universal Service Fund.…But, in “forbearing” from applying USF obligations on broadband companies – once reclassified as telecoms – public interest advocates say FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is closing the door on the best opportunity to subsidize broadband connections for low-income Americans.</blockquote>As <a class="mention" href="https://www.broadband.io/u/59213541" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@Gigi Sohn</a>, representing the Affordable Broadband Coalition, argues, with the Affordable Connectivity Program quite possibly going away in a month, reforms to the Universal Service Fund represented the best hope as the vehicle to fund its permanent replacement.Forbearing would significantly hinder the FCC's flexibility to expand USF contributions to support ACP-like broadband affordability initiatives, they said. In other words, is isn’t good to shoot yourself in the foot just before you’re about to have the use of the foot.<h3>The Challenges of Spectrum Sharing</h3>The issue of spectrum-sharing doesn’t figure into the NTIA’s four-state BEAD decision highlighted above, per se, but there is a lot of talk – finally – about what it will take to get the military types at the Defense Department to communicate with the spectrum-hungry wireless industry. That, at its core, is what the lapse in the FCC’s auction authority more than one year ago was all about.No matter how much some of us talk about fiber-to-the-foothills, wireless technologies are vital to extend and enhance fiber connectivity. And spectrum-sharing a key part of that future connected America where we finally have more than 100 Mbps * 20 Mbps broadband available everywhere.<a class="embed" href="https://broadbandbreakfast.com/the-challenge-of-spectrum-sharing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Challenge of Spectrum Sharing</a>Enjoy the weekend!</div>

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Big news Friday for broadband: So what's next for BEAD and ACP?

<div>Internet service provider (ISP) Kinetic has broken ground on a new $21 million rural fiber network in Lee County, Georgia, that it says will ultimately connect 4,000 broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) and enable “upload and download at up to 8 gigabits a second, or 8,000 megabits a second”(!!). Lee County is committing $12.5 million to the project from federal ARPA Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, according to a <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240207263409/en/Officials-Break-Ground-on-21M-Kinetic-Project-to-Bring-Fiber-Broadband-to-4000-in-Lee-County" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">press release from Kinetic</a> published yesterday.Interestingly, the project also is a good example of a partnership between a private ISP and a utility. As the press release notes: Sumter Electric Membership Corp. “work[ed] jointly with Kinetic to secure the funding to expand Kinetic’s fiber optic broadband network to rural customers. Sumter EMC will also let Kinetic attach fiber to its utility poles.”</div>

Kinetic celebrates groundbreaking on $21M Lee County rural high-speed fiber network

Jessica Simmons

Deputy CIO for Broadband and Special Projects 

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Jessica SimmonsDeputy CIO for Broadband and Special ProjectsGeorgia Technology Authority<a href="mailto:Jessica.simmons@gta.ga.gov">Jessica.simmons@gta.ga.gov</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Big news Friday for broadband: So what's next for BEAD and ACP?

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