[T]he non-compliance framework the [FCC] adopted for the RDOF was designed to avoid altogether the burden of filing and addressing petitions such as these - carriers continue to receive the majority of funding except in the most serious of shortfalls, and they can quickly receive all funding by catching up on buildout.
"NTIA's goal is simple: stretch every dollar as far as possible to achieve universal Tribal connectivity and better serve Tribal communities' needs," said NTIA Administrator and Assistant Secretary of Commerce Arielle Roth in a prepared statement.
The digital divide is evolving beyond household access to broadband. As artificial intelligence (AI) is woven into the fabric of everyday life - from smart homes and virtual assistants to creative and professional tools - a new divide is emerging: those with a fiber connection, and those without.
The state also announced that the ConnectALL program is awarding $5.2 million to four projects under its Connectivity Innovation Program. The goal is to expand mobile service, close rural and urban coverage gaps, and create replicable models for future deployments, according to the press release. They projects are in Otsego ($843,357), Schenectady ($1,627,430), Warren ($1,996,408), and Nassau ($731,192) counties. ConnectALL also will launch three requests for applications (RFAs). Two are under the Connectivity Innovation Program and one under the Regional and Local Assistance Program.
The Indiana Connectivity Program continues to award significant funding to enhance broadband access statewide, aiming to support agricultural technology and address connectivity needs.
