Political Filings, Letters & Commentary – Fiber Broadband Association

Coalition Letter in Support of ReConnecting Rural America Act

Fiber Broadband Association — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 16:00:43 +0000

On July 17, 2023, the Fiber Broadband Association and a coalition of 24 other supportive organizations wrote to Chairwoman Stabenow, Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Boozman, and Ranking Member Scott in support of the “ReConnecting Rural America Act,” which was introduced by Senators Welch and Marshall in the Senate and Representatives Nunn, Craig, LaHood, and Sorensen and others in the House. This legislation would make USDA’s ReConnect Loan and Grant Program permanent, ensure networks built leveraging program funds deliver at least 100 Mbps symmetrical speeds and prioritize awards to areas in which at least 90 percent of households lack 100/20 Mbps. This is a time when public policy plays an important role in helping to build and sustain broadband in rural markets that would not otherwise justify such investments and ongoing operations.

Read the Letter Here

Recommendations to Further Improve Government Permitting Processes to Expedite the Deployment of Fiber Broadband to All Americans

FBA — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 18:36:20 +0000

There are numerous federal, state, and local agencies that play a role in overseeing access to public rights-of-way and infrastructure for fiber broadband projects. While these agencies have rules and processes in place today, FBA urges government agencies, providers, and other stakeholders to work together to evaluate these rules and processes and make reasonable additions and modifications. To assist in that effort, FBA recommends permitting policies, processes, and standards that governments should adopt to facilitate more expeditious access to fiber broadband infrastructure.

Read Recommendations

FBA Memorandum of Support for Bills in New York State Legislature

Gary Bolton — Tue, 30 May 2023 18:37:23 +0000

FBA submitted the attached “Memorandum in Support” on Friday, May 30, for three active bills in the New York State (NYS) Legislature:

FBA Memorandum in Support

FBA Commentary: Order Instituting Rulemaking Proceeding to Consider Rules to Implement the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program

FBA — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 12:38:32 +0000

Fiber Broadband Association’s submitted commentary on the order instituting a rulemaking proceeding to consider rules to implement the broadband equity, access, and deployment program.

View Full Commentary

FBA & NTCA Letter to Alan Davidson at NTIA Re: “Fiber First” Approach for BEAD Program

FBA — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 04:00:55 +0000

The Fiber Broadband Association (“FBA”) and NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association (“NTCA”) applaud the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) for adopting a “fiber first” approach for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (“BEAD”) program. Consistent with the priority set forth by Congress in the law that created BEAD, we believe the program provides the best possible chance to bring robust, reliable all-fiber broadband service to the many millions of unserved and underserved locations throughout the country. That said, we understand that NTIA may be considering permitting States and Territories to award grants to applicants using other, less capable transmission technologies where the costs to deploy networks can be extremely high. While NTIA may believe there may be select instances where fiber deployment costs could be excessive, these should be viewed as rare exceptions to the overall approach. If we as a nation could deploy an electric wire to a location decades ago, there is no reason we cannot deploy fiber to that same location today.

Download Full Letter

FBA Commentary on “Empowering Broadband Consumers Through Transparency” on Broadband Consumer Label

FBA — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 22:14:13 +0000

FBA Broadband Label Comments (3-9-2022)The Fiber Broadband Association (“FBA”) hereby submits comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) issued by the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) in the above-captioned proceeding. The NPRM seeks to implement Section of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which directs the Commission to adopt regulations requiring the display of broadband consumer labels. FBA’s comments are directed solely to one issue: expanding the content of the label to include the type of network technology over which the service is provided. Our proposal reflects the fact that consumers choose a broadband Internet access service (“broadband”) provider, in part, based on whether the network technology is all-optical fiber, hybrid fiber/coaxial cable, fixed wireless, xDSL, or satellite. FBA is not alone in recognizing that the type of network technology is relevant to the provision of broadband service – and thus of import to consumers. The Commission requires that providers identify their network technology when collecting and reporting their broadband availability data. Most recently, the U.S. Department of Treasury encouraged State and local governments “to prioritize investments in fiber-optic infrastructure wherever feasible, as such advanced technology enables the next generation of application solutions for all communities and is capable of delivering superior, reliable performance and is generally most efficiently scalable to meet future needs.” And, numerous consumer ratings entities also highlight the broadband connectivity technology. Thus, as we elaborate upon herein, the Commission should use its authority under the Infrastructure Act to add information about the network technology over which broadband service is provided.

FBA Commentary on BEAD filed with NTIA

FBA — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 21:52:09 +0000

The Fiber Broadband Association submits these comments in response to the Notice and Request for Comments issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration related to the grant programs for which the NTIA is responsible under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. FBA’s comments are focused on questions set forth in the Notice and related issues on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (“BEAD”) Program, whereby the NTIA will provide grants to States, Territories, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to close the digital divides.

Download Full FBA Commentary on NTIA BEAD

Letter to Congress Co-Signed By FBA and 172 Organizations

FBA — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 04:00:58 +0000

The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Room S-221, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader
United States Senate
Room S-230, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
Room H-305, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
Room H-204, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy:

We urge Congress to provide full funding to universally build networks that will deliver the capacity that will meet local needs for decades and to ensure rigorous scrutiny of recipients of federal
dollars so that the program achieves the legislation’s future-proof goals. It is time to act to end the digital divide forever by passing a national broadband infrastructure program that will deliver
universal, affordable, 21st-century-ready access. Eighty-five years ago, Congress passed the Rural Electrification Act to connect American homes with electricity. Through decisive government action, universal access to electricity was delivered. That decision changed the lives of Americans by giving them an opportunity to participate in the modern world. It also helped bind America together, bridging a distinct divide that existed in the country. Today, Congress can demonstrate the vision that its predecessors showed decades ago by connecting every American with the 21st-century equivalent of electricity – broadband.

All across the nation, gaps in accessible and affordable broadband connectivity due to a lack of infrastructure capable of meeting today’s and tomorrow’s communications needs have clearly been demonstrated. In fact, it is reported that 35% of rural Americans do not have access to broadband from any provider. Millions more, including low-income urban neighborhoods, may have rudimentary access but at speeds too slow, too unreliable, and too expensive to accommodate distance learning, telehealth, or working from home – now essential requirements in today’s economy. As a result, community anchor institutions – such as libraries, rural health clinics, community centers, and houses of worship – often have trouble obtaining the high-speed broadband they need to bring education, information, and telemedicine to the residents of their communities.

21st-century broadband, far above the 2015 FCC standard of 25/3 Mbps, is a necessity for all communities demanding modern services to help overcome the challenge of distance, attract new businesses, and provide young workers good paying jobs. Any new federal program must fund broadband infrastructure capable of enabling businesses to meet the needs of consumers, empower businesses to relocate to any community, provide opportunities for teleworkers and students at the same level regardless of geography, enable anchor institutions to fully provide for their entire communities, and make possible precision agriculture capabilities for agriculture producers to improve efficiencies.

The United States met the challenge of electrifying America in the last century with an audacious plan we take for granted today. A similarly bold approach is needed to build universally available broadband infrastructure fully capable of supporting all communications technology needs and meeting the ever-rising demand for bandwidth. A federal program by Congress that emphasizes delivering future-proof infrastructure can enable not just ubiquitous fiber wireline access, but also make possible ubiquitous wireless services that rely on fiber optics including 5G, next-generation Wi-Fi, and their future iterations.

Sincerely,

American Library Association
American Sustainable Business Council
Communications Workers of America
Engine
Fiber Broadband Association
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Farm Credit Council
INCOMPAS
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Digital Inclusion Alliance
National League of Cities
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
(NRECA)
NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association
Power and Communication Contractors Association
Rural America Strategies LLC
Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB)
Coalition
Access Humboldt
Access Now
ADS Advanced Data Services, Inc.
AgJunction
Agudath Israel of America Community Services
Akaku Maui County Community Media
Alaska State Library
Alliance for Community Media
Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network
(AREON)
ASBURY PARK (NJ) PUBLIC LIBRARY
Ashbury Senior Computer Community Center
Asotin County Library
Association of Idaho Cities
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
Association of Washington Cities
Baltimore City Office of Broadband and Digital
Equity
Benchmark Communications LLC
Benton Institute for Broadband & Society
Bevin Bowersmith, PCs for People Ohio Director
Build Healthy Places Network
California Center for Rural Policy
California Emerging Technology Fund
California IT in Education
CENIC
Center for Accessible Technology
Center for Democracy & Technology
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
Center for Innovative Technology
Center for Rural Strategies
Central Coast Broadband Consortium
Channelford Associates
Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
Clever
Coalition of African Communities (AFRICOM)
CoBank
Community Tech Network
Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel
Connecting Appalachia Coalition
CoSN – the Consortium for School Networking
Cyberspan Digital Alliance
Denver Digital Equity Coalition
Denver Public Library
Digital Inclusion Practitioners of New Jersey
(DIPNJ)
Digital Wish
DigitalC
Digitunity
Distributed Ledger Inc
Educational Professional Services
E-Rate & Educational Services, LLC
EveryLibrary Institute
Fight for the Future
Focus LLC
Free Geek
Fresno Unified School District
Front Porch
Gigabit Libraries Network
Global Minnesota
GWI (Great Works Internet)
Harrison Edwards PR
Hawaiʻi Community College
Hawaii Foodbank
HDT
IBSA, Inc.
IdeaTek Telcom, LLC
InnovateEDU
Internet Society
Internet2
Janice Meyers Educational Consulting, LLC
Jeff Davis County Library
JMF Solutions, Inc
Kellogg & Sovereign Consulting
Kovir LLC
LA Tech4Good
LEARN – Lonestar Education and Research Network
Library of Virginia
Link Oregon (Oregon Fiber Partnership)
Lit Communities Broadband, Inc.
Literacy Assistance Center
Literacy Partners
Literacy Source
Los Angeles County Economic Development
Corporation
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Massachusetts Municipal Association
MCNC
Media Alliance
MediaJustice
Merit Network
mohuman
Monkeybrains
National Association of Counties
National Association of Telecommunications
Officers and Advisors (NATOA)
National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA
International
National Digital Equity Center
National Hispanic Media Coalition
NC League of Municipalities
NC Telehealth Network Association
NMIC
NTEN
NYACCE
NYC Employment and Training Coalition
NYSERNet, Inc.
OCHIN & The California Telehealth Network
Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council, Inc.
OpenMedia
Pacific Northwest Gigapop
PCs for People
Petrichor Broadband, LLC
Prairie STEM
Public Knowledge
Ridgefield Economic & Community Development
Commission
Right Here, Right Now Project
Riverside Language Program, Inc.
Rural Community Assistance Partnership
Rush County Connect Broadband Taskforce – Rush
County, Indiana
San Francisco Tech Council
San Jose Public Library
Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB)
Coalition
Shreve Memorial Library
SmartWAVE Technologies
Sonic Telecom
Sonoma County Library
Southern Ohio Health Care Network
Southern Oregon Education Service District
Sports Fans Coalition
State Educational Technology Directors Association
(SETDA)
State of Hawaii, Broadband & Digital Equity Office
Stemnastics LLC
Sun Corridor Network
Sun Global Broadband LLC
Tangent Systems Inc.
Tel/Logic Inc. d.b.a. E-Rate Central
Teltech Communications – Frisco, TX
Texoma Communications, LLC
The Kansas City Public Library
The Kansas Research and Education Network
(KanREN)
The Quilt
Tilson
Ting Internet
UNITE-LA
Urban Libraries Council
Utah Education and Telehealth Network
Utilities Technology Council
Valley Vision
Velocity Fiber
Visionary Broadband
Voqal
WANRack, LLC
Washington Public Utility Districts Association
Western Governors University
Western New York Library Resources Council
Wikimedia Foundation
WinstonNet
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Writers Guild of America West
WTA — Advocates for Rural Broadband
X-Lab

FBA Filing to FCC on Emergency Connectivity Fund

FBA — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 04:00:35 +0000

The Fiber Broadband Association (“FBA”) hereby submits comments in response to the Public Notice issued by the Wireline Competition Bureau (“Bureau”) of the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) regarding the implementation of the Emergency Connectivity Fund (“ECF”) established as part of the recently enacted America Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“American Rescue Plan”) to help schools and libraries provide devices and connectivity to students, school staff, and library patrons during the pandemic. Among the issues raised in the Public Notice, the Bureau seeks comment on whether the Commission should impose a minimum service standard (“MSS”) for services to be considered eligible advanced telecommunications and information services to receive ECF support. FBA offers comments on this one issue. As discussed herein, to meet the needs of students, school staff, and library patrons, the Commission should set an MSS of 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload (“100 Mbps symmetrical”) for ECF-supported services.

FBA Broadband Label Reply Commentary

FBA — Sun, 04 Apr 2021 21:06:53 +0000

The Fiber Broadband Association (“FBA”) hereby submits this reply to comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) issued by the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) in the above-captioned proceeding. The NPRM seeks to implement Section 60504(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which directs the Commission to adopt regulations requiring the display of broadband consumer labels.