Category Archives: Digital Divide

MN is one of 11 states that asks the FCC to defend lower cost calls from prison

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

A coalition of 11 attorneys general is urging a federal appeals court to uphold a Federal Communications Commission order that drastically reduced the cost of phone and video calls for incarcerated individuals and their families.

In an amicus brief filed Monday with the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the AGs said the FCC acted squarely within its authority when it issued its July 2024 order capping calling rates in prisons and jails.

The FCC was expressly authorized to regulate these communications services when Congress enacted the Martha Wright-Reed Act in 2022, the brief said.

Under the FCC’s rate caps, the cost of a 15-minute phone call dropped from as much as $11.35 to $0.90 in large jails and from $12.10 to $1.35 in small jails. The rules went into effect for large prisons and jails on Jan. 1, 2025 and for small jails on April 1.

The rules were adopted under former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel with the partial support of now Chairman Brendan Carr and the full support of Republican Commissioner Nathan Simington.

In a release, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, D, said staying connected to loved ones and a support system while in prison was one of the best ways to reduce recidivism and support successful rehabilitation later on.

Bonta was joined by the AGs of nine other states and the District of Columbia. The states are New York, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

Five of the states – California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Colorado – have already implemented policies to provide free phone calls for incarcerated individuals in state-run correctional facilities. However, those rates may not apply to local adult jails and federal prisons within the states.

Broadband prices are going up and customers are making hard decisions

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C|Net reports…

Higher prices have come for your internet bill — at least it feels that way for many. That’s according to a new CNET survey that found 63% of US adults paying for home internet saw their prices increase last year. On average, they paid $195 more last year than they did the year before.

Price hikes didn’t necessarily translate to better service, either. More than half of people who saw their bills increase said they still experienced unreliable connectivity.

They talk about the role of the end of the ACP, but they don’t talk about percentage-wise and dollar-wise how the loss impacts the overall results…

CNET’s survey also sheds light on the impact of the Affordable Connectivity Program’s end, a $30 monthly subsidy that helped low-income households pay for internet that shut down in mid-2024. 12% of respondents said they’ve seen their bills increase in the past year after the benefit went away.

“The demise of ACP was detrimental to so many and I think that this is reflected in these numbers,” said Christopher Ali, professor of telecommunications at Penn State University.

By the time the Federal Communications Commission ended ACP enrollments in February 2024, 23 million Americans had enrolled. The program accepted households at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, or $60,000 in annual income for a family of four last year.

A major concern here is the decrease in broadband adoption. For as long as I’ve written about broadband, cost has been the great barrier.

OPPORTUNITY: Digital inclusion participation survey for households making less than $90,000

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This is an invitation from the survey developers. The survey closes April 18, 2025. It would be nice to get big response from Minnesota so that we can learn more about digital barriers and fixes in Minnesota…

Public Knowledge, UnidosUS, and NDIA have been working on The Blueprint for Equitable Digital Participation—a national initiative focused on elevating the voices and experiences of low- and middle-income households navigating the digital divide.

Through a series of focus groups and roundtables, we’ve gathered valuable insights from community members and advocates. Now, as we move into the final phase of the project, we’ve launched a digital survey to broaden our reach and ensure even more perspectives are reflected in this effort.

We’d greatly appreciate your help in sharing the survey with your communities, particularly any participants in your digital inclusion programs.

  • The survey takes approximately 14 minutes to complete
  • Responses will be kept anonymous; however, if participants want to enter for a chance to win one of three $50 Visa gift cards, we ask that they provide their name and email addresses so we can contact them on how best to get a gift card to them.
    Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LS88XVT

Public Interest groups offer four proposals to close the digital divide

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The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society reports…

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society joined Access Humboldt, Common Sense Media, Everyone On, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, New America’s Open Technology Institute, and Public Knowledge (all members of the Lifeline Coalition*) in a filing in the Federal Communications Commission’s RE: DELETE, DELETE, DELETE proceeding.

They offer four proposals…

  1. Delete the Sunset of Support for Voice-Only Services. The Commission should reverse its proposal to end support for voice-only phone service under Lifeline. Many vulnerable populations—especially seniors and those in rural areas—continue to rely on traditional voice services for essential communication, including access to emergency services. Ending support for voice-only plans would reduce the program’s flexibility and leave many participants without a reliable option. Preserving this support ensures Lifeline remains true to its name.
  2. Delete Administrative Burdens by Connecting Eligibility Databases. To improve access and reduce administrative burdens, the Commission should streamline the Lifeline enrollment process by connecting state eligibility databases—such as those used for SNAP—to the National Verifier. Automating eligibility verification through these data connections would make enrollment faster, more accurate, and less dependent on paperwork. The Commission should work with states to ensure that all relevant databases are integrated with the National Verifier. The more connections established, the fewer barriers applicants face, effectively “deleting” some of the most cumbersome and time-consuming aspects of the program.
  3. Delete Outdated Restrictions on the Lifeline Benefit. Connectivity has changed dramatically since Lifeline was established over 40 years ago. Today, full participation in society requires access to both home broadband and mobile data services. To reflect this reality, the Commission should update Lifeline’s benefit structure to allow simultaneous support for both fixed broadband and wireless service. The monthly benefit amount should also be increased to account for modern service costs. Additionally, the Commission should explore allowing multiple benefits for qualifying households, such as those with parents and school-aged children who need to communicate while in separate locations.
  4. Delete Barriers to ISP Participation in Lifeline. To expand the reach of Lifeline, the Commission should reduce barriers that prevent internet service providers (ISP) from participating. Currently, ISPs must obtain an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) designation, which is generally granted on a state-by-state basis and can be difficult to secure. This regulatory hurdle discourages provider participation, especially for those looking to offer Lifeline services exclusively. The Commission should establish an alternative federal-level pathway for ISPs who wish to participate solely in Lifeline, enabling broader participation and greater consumer choice.

 

Broadband providers talk about benefits of removing Carrier-of-Last-Resort Laws

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

Industry leaders from AT&T, Lumen, Ziply Fiber and Brightspeed said Thursday that federal and state policies requiring providers to maintain copper telephone networks are diverting capital away from next-generation broadband networks.

Lumen Senior Vice President of Public Policy Melissa Mann said the company has been actively advocating for state-level reforms to laws that mandate the upkeep of copper networks. She pointed to a recent win in Utah, where lawmakers passed legislation relieving providers of certain carrier of last resort (COLR) obligations.

“We’re having positive conversations in other states as well,” Mann said, noting that at least 21 states have taken steps to modernize regulations around COLR and copper network maintenance. States like Illinois, Colorado, and Minnesota were also advancing what she described as “common-sense reforms.”

Minnesota does have a bill in the Legislature now on the issue: HF1971: relieving telecom carriers of the obligation to serve certain areas; requiring the Office of Broadband Dev to resolve disputes.

Loss of federal Library Funding could impact digital adoption in rural areas

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NDIA (National Digital Inclusion Alliance reports…

Since 2020, the digital navigator model has spread like wildfire. Programs with trusted guides who assist community members with ongoing, individualized support for accessing affordable and appropriate connectivity, devices, and digital skills are now in hundreds of communities across the U.S.

Thirty-nine states and territories included digital navigator programs in their state/territory digital equity/opportunity plans, many of whom included libraries as key community partners.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is one of the reasons this model was developed and went to scale so quickly. Just yesterday, staff at the Institute for Museum and Library Services were placed on leave, meaning there are no staff to manage current grants.

Digital Navigation was one of the priorities mentioned by the MN Broadband Task Force in their latest report…

Support Digital Literacy: Standardize digital literacy definitions across agencies and fund Digital Navigators for anchor institutions to teach digital skills and connect residents to resources. Create a searchable digital literacy resource directory available in multiple languages and accessible formats. Provide greater opportunities for partner organizations to build capacity, and work to strengthen existing relationships.

The NDIA talks about the loss of IMLS federal funding and the potential impact on rural libraries and communities…

Most public libraries are primarily funded by city and county taxes. Small and rural libraries with limited local funding will feel the loss of their IMLS grants the hardest. Losing millions of dollars in grant funds from IMLS will drastically impact the ability of these anchor institutions to deliver critically needed services for their community members–from getting people online to teaching them the skills they need to support workforce development, education, and telehealth.

Benton finds connection between ACP and broadband adoption

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A new report from the Benton Institue for Broadband and Society finds…

ACP and BROADBAND ADOPTION
· As ACP enrollment rose from 15 million households to nearly 23 million at the end of 2023, there was a positive link between ACP enrollment (as a share of eligible
households) and the level of broadband adoption (either wireless or wireline) in 2023 data.
· Statistical analysis shows that ACP had a role in “net additions” to broadband subscription levels on the order of 2.9 percentage points nationally, or approximately 3.8 million households.
· There was also a positive correlation between the growth in broadband adoption from 2021 to 2023 and ACP enrollment. This growth was in the context of very small growth in overall broadband adoption from 2021 to 2023. Analysis indicates that, absent ACP, growth in broadband adoption of any type would have been 0.8 of a percentage point lower than it was.
· These two types of positive correlations—between ACP enrollment and levels of broadband adoption in 2023 and growth in between 2021 and 2023—are evidence that areas where significant numbers of eligible households enrolled in ACP had more broadband subscribers than they otherwise would have.
ACP HELPED GET PEOPLE ONLINE in RURAL AREAS
· The “net addition” effect described above was more likely to be a rural phenomenon, meaning rural areas were associated with higher levels of broadband adoption
compared with urban areas—with ACP enrollment having a significant role in supporting subscriptions. The “net addition” effect was 6.9 percent in rural areas, compared with 1.7 percent in urban areas.

ACP HELPED KEEP PEOPLE ONLINE in URBAN AREAS
· In urban and metro areas, ACP had a somewhat stronger influence on retaining existing subscribers. These are the “subscription vulnerable,” whose home internet connections
are sometimes at risk due to household budgetary pressure. Urban and metro areas have higher costs for foundational parts of the household budget, like food and housing. Including those factors in the analysis shows that ACP’s cost relief helps them stay online.
· ACP’s impact on the “subscription vulnerable” affects approximately 11.5 million households in this category; i.e., the ACP keeps about 8.8 percent of households online
with wireline service who otherwise might not be able to sustain service.

Two ways broadband providers can serve low-income households: Low Cost Plans and Fixed Discounts

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NDIA (National Digital Inclusion Alliance) looks at two ways broadband providers can help low income customers…

In the absence of what was the Federal government’s largest subsidy targeting service prices (a $30/month discount for households, and $75/month discount for those households on tribal lands) the responsibility to keep low-income Americans connected to the internet falls more heavily than ever on individual companies – a responsibility which a number have met. NDIA’s Honor Roll page lists those plans from ISPs that meet our low-cost plan inclusion standards for low-cost broadband service.

Of the strategies used to bring broadband into the realm of affordability for low-income households, two approaches from ISPs have emerged as the most common: fixed discount offers, and low-cost plans.

More on low cost options…

Low-cost plans are structured more simply than fixed discount offers, which we review below. Everything to do with subscribing to a low-cost plan can be completed within a single transaction – no need to work out whether an internet plan is compatible with a separate discount offer, or what the final price will be during a promotional period and after promotions expire.

A disadvantage of traditional low-cost plans as an affordability solution is that individual ISPs themselves determine what is considered to be “low-cost” –that is, what qualifies as low-cost for Spectrum may not align with what qualifies as low-cost for AT&T. And neither may coincide with what a consumer considers low-cost.

And fixed discounts…

Fixed discount offers refer to a voucher-style, broadly applicable discount that is applied to an existing internet offer to lower the total monthly price paid by the consumer.

In comparison to traditional low-cost offers, fixed discount offers allow users a certain level of flexibility that traditional low-cost offers may not. Verizon’s Forward discount offer, for example, means a discounted price to consumers who meet certain eligibility criteria, bringing down the cost of a given internet plan by up to $30 (ACP was an example of a fixed discount offer)

One advantage of fixed discount offers is the potential to combine a discount with other promotional offers to reduce monthly bills further, even if temporarily. Fixed discount offers also place slightly more choice, typically with regards to bandwidth, in the hands of users when it comes to choosing the right low-cost internet plan for their needs, assuming there are sufficient options available. In other words, consumers can choose which plans to apply their discount towards, instead of being boxed into an existing low-cost offer being made available by an ISP.

Digital equity the objective of proposed state broadband office expansion

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The MN House has a write up on HF2279, I also mentioned it yesterday…

If you were to think about which areas of the state do not have access to high-speed internet, you might think of rural areas, where laying fiberoptic lines to homes in sparsely populated areas is logistically and economically difficult.

And you would be right.

But Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL-Brooklyn Center) noted many urban areas can also be internet deserts due to lack of infrastructure or affordability reasons.

She sponsors HF2279, which would expand the duties of the Office of Broadband Development, which was established in 2014 to provide statewide grants to new and existing internet providers to invest in building broadband infrastructure into unserved and underserved areas of the state.

“High-speed internet access is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity for homeowners and businesses,” she said.

The House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee amended the bill Wednesday and laid it over for possible inclusion in a committee bill.

The office would be charged with developing a statewide digital equity plan and implementing programs to meet the state’s digital equity goals specified in the bill by 2028, including:

  • 95% of households must have access to a personal computer or comparable device;
  • 95% of households must have a home broadband subscription and be enrolled in an internet service plan; and
  • 70% of eligible households must receive available internet service discounts.

MN House Bill laid over for possible inclusion in future bill: HF2279: expanding name and duties of the Office of Broadband Development

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The Minnesota House Committee on Agriculture, Finance and Policy discussed HF2279: expanding name and duties of the Office of Broadband Development today…

HF2279(Vang)
Office of Broadband Development renamed to Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity, duties and reporting requirements modified, state’s broadband goals expanded, multifamily dwelling grant program established, and definitions amended.

Laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill.

From Rep Vang

  • A1 amendment: prevails (technical issue)
  • A2 amendment:  change digital equity to digital opportunity – also no funds attached. Prevails.
  • Millions of dollars are coming into MN for broadband. Most funds are going to rural areas to build broadband. That’s important. BUT there are areas in the TCs that are unserved or underserved, often to affordability. Also Western Hennepin County has sketchy service because of rights or way. In urban areas there are apartment building that aren’t wired.
  • The bill expands scope of OBD and increased annual goals to include adoption and include greater reporting.

Testifiers:

Mike Baer (Hennepin County)

  • From a rural area. Bad broadband made education more difficult.
  • Broadband changed everything once we had it. Earned several degrees.
  • Precision ag has helped family business.
  • Many residents in Hennepin County aren’t online because of access, skills and affordability.
  • DEED Digital Opportunity Plan includes many people and this people adheres to that plan better than current bills.
  • Would require another OBD annual report.
  • No financial obligation in bill.

Questions:

I get it but aren’t there other forms of broadband than fiber that might work?
Another testifier could help.
[Henn County Dep of Broadband] Yes, fiber works today. Satellite works for some areas. There may be more options in the future. We support the bill because we think drill for fiber isn’t enough. People will need more. It’s not a build it and they will come issue. We need to help people adopt broadband.

We’re looking at broadband adoption and that was the goal of the whole department – but computer access might be a much wider scope. How does that impact federal funding?
[OBD Bree Maki] MN is part of the Digital Equity Act, which is $12 million. Out plan written for that does include things mentioned in the bill.

What about last mile? Do we fund their broadband subscriptions?
Our job is to be able to get one good provider to locations MN. We currently don’t have a subsidy program. ACP was that program but it was cancelled. Some providers offer low-income options.

We have $650 million coming into MN. We need to decide how to use it. Maybe we need to look at how urban areas can tap into that to get devices and subsidies.

In rural areas, speeds vary greatly. What is served?
less than 25/3 is unserved; less than 100/20 is underserved. When we award grants, we require providers to install 100/20.

SO is fiber the only option?
Fiber is most long term and reliable. We are tech agnostic – so if there are options that meet those needs, we are happy with that. The federal funding requires us to get broadband to everyone and that might open the door to satellite.

EVENT March 19: MN House Committee to discuss HF2279: expanding name and duties of the Office of Broadband Development

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The Minnesota House Committee on Agriculture, Finance and Policy will discuss HF2279: expanding name and duties of the Office of Broadband Development tom March 19…

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 , 1:00 PM

Agriculture Finance and Policy

Chair: Rep. Rick Hansen
Location: Capitol G3
Agenda:

HF44 (Curran) Food manufacturers and brand owners required to report ortho-phthalate testing results of packaged food products to the commissioner of agriculture.
HF2102 (Lee, F.) Local food purchasing assistance program funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF2279 (Vang) Office of Broadband Development renamed to Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity, duties and reporting requirements modified, state’s broadband goals expanded, multifamily dwelling grant program established, and definitions amended.
HF2280 (Hansen) Beginning farmer program provisions modified, grain buyer provisions modified, commissioner of agriculture permissions granted to protect public health against fertilizer and fertilizer by-products, and biodiesel fuel mandate reporting provision repealed.
HF2281 (Hansen) Livestock market agency and dealer licensing provisions modified, farmers’ market or community event food sampling and demonstration provisions modified, food certificate payment provisions modified, and obsolete provisions repealed.

*Additional bills/items may be added.

TESTIMONY AND MATERIALS SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Individuals wishing to testify or submit written testimony or handouts for the hearing must e-mail the committee administrator (Peter.Strohmeier@house.mn.gov) by 1 p.m. the day prior to the hearing. Handouts must be in PDF format with OCR capability. In-person testimony may be limited due to committee time constraints.

AMENDMENT DEADLINE: Amendments must be e-mailed to the committee administrator by 1 p.m. the day prior to the hearing.

Bills Added [I’ve only included the broadband related bill]

HF2279(Vang)
Office of Broadband Development renamed to Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity, duties and reporting requirements modified, state’s broadband goals expanded, multifamily dwelling grant program established, and definitions amended.

FCC to Increase Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution for telecom companies

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

Telecommunications companies will see a slight increase in the percentage of end-user revenue they must contribute to the Universal Service Fund (USF).

In a public notice Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Managing Director announced that the universal service contribution factor for the second quarter of 2025 will be 36.6 percent, up slightly from 36.3 percent in the first quarter.

The updated tax will go into effect on April 1, impacting wireless carriers, long-distance providers, and other telecommunications companies.

Bill introduced in MN House: HF2279 Renaming and modifying Office of Broadband Development

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From the MN House…

Vang introduced:

H. F. 2279, A bill for an act relating to broadband; renaming the Office of Broadband Development to the Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity; modifying the duties and reporting requirements of the office; expanding the state’s broadband goals; establishing a multifamily dwelling grant program; amending definitions for the purposes of broadband development; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 13.598, subdivision 13; 116J.39; 116J.391, subdivision 1; 116J.394; 116J.395, subdivisions 6, 8; 116J.397; 237.012, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy.

The bill as introduced...

A bill for an act
relating to broadband; renaming the Office of Broadband Development to the
Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity; modifying the duties and
reporting requirements of the office; expanding the state’s broadband goals;
establishing a multifamily dwelling grant program; amending definitions for the
purposes of broadband development; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections
13.598, subdivision 13; 116J.39; 116J.391, subdivision 1; 116J.394; 116J.395,
subdivisions 6, 8; 116J.397; 237.012, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 13.598, subdivision 13, is amended to read:

Subd. 13.

 

Continue reading →

Libraries, school and others ask Senate to protect FCC wi-fi order

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Broadband Breakfast reports...

National education groups are concerned that the Senate could prevent millions of people from accessing the internet with federal assistance.

A coalition of 31 education and library groups urged senators in a letter Monday to reject a resolution by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that would roll back the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to allow E-Rate funds for wireless hotspots.

“Almost 20,000 schools and libraries across the country are currently in the process of applying for several hundred thousand hotspots,” the letter stated, adding that millions of Americans could lose access to essential online resources if the measure, S.J.Res.7, is approved.

EVENT Mar 19: Understanding Internet Access and Use Among Older Adults

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An invitation from the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society…

Join us on March 19th, 1 PM ET on the Benton Institute’s Youtube page for a discussion about how states can better understand internet access and use among older adults.

The Digital Equity Act identifies older adults (those 60 years and older) as a “covered population” and charges states with crafting and implementing appropriate strategies to address their connectivity needs. The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, with support from AARP, has developed guidance for states to understand ongoing connectivity challenges for their older residents.

Revati Prasad, PhD, Vice President of Programs of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, will preview the report, Older Adults Online: Measuring Internet Access and Use, and moderate a panel with:

  • Julia Brinjac, Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority
  • Erin Huggins, North Carolina State University
  • Colby Humphrey, PhD, Pew Charitable Trusts
  • Tim Morstad, AARP

Speakers will discuss how states are currently planning to collect and use data about the technological needs of their older adult populations, as well as appropriate measurement frameworks, research methodologies, and datasets going forward.

Please RSVP.