This month, SHLB has been actively involved in two important FCC proceedings that affect anchor institutions: Pole Attachments and Rural Health Care Program. ?
For Pole Attachments, SHLB supports the FCC’s efforts to remove barriers to infrastructure access and lower the costs of broadband deployment. However, we also urge the FCC to address the issue of cost allocation when a pole needs to be replaced to accommodate a new attachment.
SHLB filed comments to the FCC in 2022, asking for fair pole attachment policies that recognize that pole replacement costs should be shared by pole owners and pole attachers.?We also met with the FCC several times this month to emphasize the need to provide greater clarity for?large?broadband projects of over?3,000 poles and to improve self-help options by pole attachers.
For the Rural Health Care Program, SHLB is extremely grateful that the FCC's new Order adopts several SHLB recommendations, such as allowing conditional eligibility for healthcare sites that plan to become eligible for funding in the near future and adjusting the SPIN change deadline.
These changes will help expand access to telehealth services and improve health outcomes in rural areas. SHLB filed comments and reply comments to the FCC in early 2023, and also met with the FCC this month to express our support for the draft Order. ?
Thank you for your continued support and engagement with SHLB.
- Kansas Office of Broadband Development:?The LINC broadband awards, totaling nearly $30 million, aim to extend last-mile and middle-mile connectivity, alongside funding for an Internet eXchange Point at Wichita State University. Additionally, $5 million in BAG awards?will target 11 projects covering 2,300 locations with high-speed broadband in rural Kansas communities. The ADOPT program, launched on December 6, will enhance?public Wi-Fi and device distribution across the state.?
- Benton Institute for Broadband & Society: Benton publishes "Infrastructure Planning Tools for Rural Farming Communities,"?a report that shows how rural?communities in Illinois?used various tools and methods to understand their broadband needs and plan?to use broadband to enhance their farming practices and outcomes.
- Law Office of Rachelle Chong: Rachelle Chong, SHLB chairwoman emeritus, takes on a new role as a board member at Greenlight Network, a fiber-based ISP in New York, further leveraging her expertise to advance broadband access.
- CoSN:?CoSN unveils the "2024 Driving K-12 Innovation Top Topics," spotlighting hurdles, accelerators, and tech enablers that are poised to shape education in the coming year. This resource marks a pivotal guide in steering responsible and effective AI implementation in educational settings.?
- US Ignite:?US Ignite sponsors the inaugural "All Together for Digital Inclusion Stakeholders Summit" in Austin, TX, catalyzing discussions on the digital divide and prompting a call to action for public comment responses to critical programs aiming for digital inclusion, like BEAD and the?Texas Digital Opportunity Plan (TDOP).
- Kajeet:?Kajeet hosted?an informative webinar, "E-Rate 101: Navigating School Bus WiFi for 2024," shedding light on E-Rate eligibility for school bus WiFi and outlining the key benefits of this solution.?
- Gigabit Libraries Network:?IMLS Award: The "Libraries in Response" webinar series, initiated by GLN in 2020, explores how libraries responded to the health crisis.?The webinar series engages?over 6,000 registrations for 83 sessions featuring prominent speakers. The series is set to kick off?its 2024 schedule with a focus on AI, "Developing a Library Strategic Response to Artificial Intelligence,"?featuring Andrew Cox from the U. of Sheffield.
Absolutely thrilled how SHLB wrapped up '23 strong! ?? Your dedication to bridging the digital divide really sets the bar. Here's to more impactful work in 2024, especially for improving access to behavioral health resources. #DigitalInclusion #BehavioralHealthAwareness ??