On June 24, 2022, The Hill published an Op-Ed I wrote urging policymakers to fully fund the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). That Op-Ed predicted that funding for the ACP is likely to run out by mid-2024 and called for action at the state and federal levels to extend that funding.

The US Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) setting the ground rules for $42.5 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Development (BEAD) Program grants made available under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Infrastructure Bill).

Launched one year ago, the Vernonburg Group is a mission-driven organization helping clients close the global broadband connectivity gap – addressing policy and regulation, access to financing, technical feasibility, project management, and program development. Over our first year in business, we have worked with truly amazing clients, all committed to helping close the global digital divide through creation of new technologies, business models, and policies.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of affordable fixed broadband connectivity for access to education, healthcare, employment, government services, entertainment, and other daily activities.

One of the many damaging aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is its impact on children and young people lacking broadband connectivity at home.

In this blog, I argue that institutional investors should make efforts to achieve universal affordable broadband access a key part of their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment criteria. If you have not heard of ESGs before you should be aware that they are a really big deal.

With the unforgettable 2020 US Presidential election finally starting to fade in the rearview mirror, it’s time to return to discussions about what needs to be done to stimulate our ailing economy, ensure that all of us can succeed in the new normal, and better prepare us for future natural and manmade disasters. President-elect Biden has stated that getting control of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery are among his top four priorities.

This week I attended the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance’s annual summit, which was held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As this is the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance’s eighth annual global summit (nine if you include a pre-formation event in Singapore), I thought I would provide some reflections on the event and on the last decade.