The FCC’s 2020 Broadband Deployment Report provides an update on the state of access to broadband in the United States. The report notes that, despite the findings that more people are gaining access to broadband each year, the work in closing the digital divide is not complete.

This article provides insight into a 2020 law allowing electric co-ops in Virginia to hang fiber in existing electric easements, including those outside their service area. The law, experts say, will make it easier to facilitate broadband deployment projects in rural, unserved parts of the state.

A guide for municipal leaders seeking to bring broadband to unserved areas of Virginia. The paper outlines the benefits of broadband, the challenges of deploying broadband in rural regions, available federal support, and a step-by-step process for leaders to follow.

‍

This toolkit is designed for policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholders on matters related to broadband development, primarily in developing countries. The resource identifies issues and challenges, analyzes potential solutions, and provides examples from other countries.

‍

This blog dissects the section of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that allocates $1 billion for middle mile infrastructure. In addition to providing an overview of the program, the piece recommends bringing the energy sector—utilities, electric cooperatives, and oil and gas companies—as partners on middle mile projects.

‍

A report from November 2019 describing statutory, regulatory, economic, and infrastructure barriers to Tribal broadband access and adoption. It also provides success stories and recommendations for increasing equitable access.

‍

The National Tribal Broadband Strategy proposes a roadmap for federal action and investment in broadband access and adoption for Tribal communities. It proposes specific activities that the federal government can undertake within the categories of coordination, data, network infrastructure, funding, permitting, broadband adoption, and economic development.

‍

‍

This report provides a summary of the policy recommendations that resulted from the 2020 Indigenous Connectivity Summit. The policy recommendations address barriers and opportunities related to Tribal broadband.

‍

This set of recommendations includes best practices for supporting inclusivity, community consultation, and engagement with Indigenous communities.

This news piece details the impact of a Project OVERCOME grant in the Blue River community that was ravaged by a fire that destroyed the area's communications infrastructure. The grant allowed the community to rebuild the area's Internet infrastructure. Based on the lesson learned, the community designed a solar powered steel communications tower that is more resilient and less vulnerable to fire.

This brief from the Urban Institute is part of a larger project exploring how innovative policies and programs from abroad can inform state and local efforts in the US to advance an inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Welsh program identified during the global search, Superfast Cymru, has the potential to inform U.S. policymakers seeking to close access gaps.

This 2017 legislation makes changes to the state's broadband accessibility grant program, referred to as the "program," to promote the deployment and adoption of broadband access services. It also directs the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to prepare a report updating its January 2017 report on broadband in the state.

This 2015 report from the Rhode Island General Assembly discusses that while the State's broadband infrastructure is highly ranked, areas with no coverage still exist. The report makes recommendations on how to increase access to these underserved communities.

An article analyzing the digital divide between rural, urban, and suburban America, showing that rural adults remain less likely than suburban adults to have home broadband and less likely than urban adults to own a smartphone, tablet computer or traditional computer. The author puts forth potential reasons for these findings.

This resource links to press releases and statements from Pew writers applauding the 2021 bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, focusing on its investments in expanding broadband access in underserved areas, wildlife and public lands, and the aftermath of floods and other natural disasters.