All Technologies Must Be Employed to Realize BEAD Success
US Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D, 19th, CA) recently cautioned the California PUC on its fiber-centric approach to getting all online.? To paraphrase, he believes that a fiber-only approach may be squandering limited resources, potentially leaving many Californians offline, contrary to the obtainable goals of Congress.??
“…California is slated to receive $1.86 billion in BEAD funding, which, when combined with state funding, is meant to connect every home in California. This is a generational investment that we must make the most of, as Congress is unlikely to appropriate this level of funding for broadband in the future.?
“However, even this unprecedented funding is not sufficient to connect every location with fiber. The CPUC itself has found that there is a $5 billion funding gap if it were to attempt to achieve universal service with fiber alone. Limiting technologies to fiber where it is costly will result in fewer homes and businesses connected overall. Options like fixed wireless, where prudent, must be considered.”? (emphasis added)?
A number of other states are facing a similar challenge, caused to a large extent by the NTIA’s fiber priority framework.? This unforced error was not the intent of Congress.? Unfortunately, unless states employ other technologies like fixed wireless, BEAD will not reach all as required by the IIJA.
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We have a tool to help states find this proper balance – an interactive dashboard, which provides a sliding scale of scenarios and assumptions – showing where states can set their high-cost thresholds, enabling today’s funding to reach all, not almost all, with broadband.?
That tool can be accessed here: https://www.vernonburggroup.com/broadband-funding-optimization-tool
As Rep. Panetta warns, “An over reliance on fiber that cannot serve the entire state using existing funds could result in fewer households being served and rural areas once again being left behind.”?
This can be avoided.
The Biden Administration has made “Internet for All” a ’24 Election issue.? WISPs – who can employ not only fiber but fixed wireless access and other technologies – can help states get Internet to All.? That is, if the Administration invites all technologies to the table.?
Life Sciences Data and Technology Management - Technology Convergence - Security and Surveillance - Automation and Energy Management
1 年True but not something anyone wants to hear. We rely on wireless technologies every second of every day but have bought into the idea that at home, we have to have a wired solution. I served on a state task force for 3 years. In spite of everyone saying that what I said made sense, here we are. Standards are based on what we think we need vs what we actually are capable of consuming, and we are convinced that only cabled solutions can deliver it. Glad I'm out of the ISP business.
VP @ Natural Wireless, LLC NY, NJ, FL, PA, MA
1 年Very true.