FRNA: Combined Board and Board Committees Meeting Federal Register

Sep 18, 2020 - Notice from the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) announcing a public meeting of the FirstNet Authority Board and Board Committees on September 30, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Agenda items are being finalized and will be published on the FirstNet Authority website.

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NTIA: Recruitment of First Responder Network Authority Board Members Federal Register

Sep 18, 2020 - The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is requesting expressions of interest for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board to serve 3-year terms beginning January 2021. The membership of the Board must include rural representation. The FirstNet Authority Board is responsible for providing overall policy direction and oversight of the FirstNet Authority to ensure that the nationwide network continuously meets the needs of public safety. Expressions of interest are due by October 19, 2020.

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RBCS: Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Inviting Applications for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs for Fiscal Year 2021 Federal Register

Sep 15, 2020 - Announcement from USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service inviting applications for loans and grants under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Programs for fiscal year 2021. Awards will be made based on the amount of funding available through the appropriations process. Projects should focus on achieving e-connectivity for rural communities, developing the rural economy, and supporting the rural workforce, among other things.

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RUS, RHS, FSA, RBCS: Special Authority To Enable Funding of Broadband and Smart Utility Facilities Across Select Rural Development Programs Federal Register

Sep 15, 2020 - Notice of final rule to allow up to ten percent of a loan, grant, or loan guarantee from the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Housing Service to be used to construct broadband infrastructure in areas not served by minimum acceptable level of broadband service. Comments on the final rule are due by November 16, 2020. This rule is effective September 15, 2020.

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FCC: Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, Connect America Fund Federal Register

Sep 14, 2020 - The Federal Communications Commission announces an information collection associated with the rule for the Connect America Fund Phase II auction and the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction and adds the effective date of September 14, 2020 to the rule which was originally published in the Federal Register on March 10, 2020.

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NITA: Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NTIA internet Use Survey Federal Register

Sep 14, 2020 - The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is announcing an extension of a comment request on an information collection on the NTIA Internet Use Survey. The survey is used to inform the development of policies related to digital inclusion and other internet-related issues. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.

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USDA Expands Access to Broadband Infrastructure for Rural Businesses and Residents Under Select Rural Development Programs

Sep 14, 2020 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a final rule allowing the use of funds from select programs to help expand access to broadband services for rural residents and businesses. Entities may use up to ten percent of a loan, grant, or loan guarantee to build or improve rural broadband in certain areas, includes a list of eligible programs.

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Energy, Water and Broadband: Three Services Crucial to Health Equity

Sep 10, 2020 - Blog post discusses the inequities in rural, tribal, and low-income communities, as well as communities of color, highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes how these populations are less likely to have access to clean water, broadband, affordable energy; includes examples of communities working to make these more accessible.

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FCC: Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Federal Register

Sep 8, 2020 - The Federal Communications Commission is seeking comments on an information collection regarding the actual speeds and performance of fixed and mobile broadband connections as part of the Measuring Broadband America Program. Comments on the information collection are due by November 9, 2020.

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FCC: Meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment Federal Register

Sep 3, 2020 - The Federal Communications Commission announces a virtual public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) on September 18, 2020 from 10:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m. Eastern. Current agenda items include reports from the Access to Capital Working Group, Digital Empowerment and Inclusion Working Group, and the Diversity in the Tech Sector Working Group.

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