Tag: rural

25 JAN

Microsoft will help expand rural broadband access in Vermont

Microsoft is continuing to help more people in rural areas gain broadband access through its Airband Initiative. It’s teaming up with Vermont to expand connectivity there, while offering students access to digital skills and computer science programs. With the help of RTO Wireless, an ISP, Microsoft is building out broadband infrastructure in the state as […]

17 DEC

7 million people in China left cities to move to rural areas and take up farming last year, and it reveals a growing trend

VCG/VCG via Getty Images A rising number of educated urbanites in China are choosing to wave goodbye to city life and head back to the land. “Reverse urbanization” is picking up as infrastructure improves in remote areas. Last year the Ministry of Agriculture announced that seven million people had returned to the countryside from cities. […]

05 DEC

Microsoft says the rural broadband divide is worse than you think

Politicians and regulators like to say they’re increasing access to broadband in rural areas, but the reality might be far less rosy. Microsoft has conducted a study showing that far fewer Americans have broadband access than FCC data suggests. While the FCC is currently focused on availability and notes that 24.7 million people can’t get […]

21 NOV

Ajit Pai wants to raise rural broadband speeds from 10Mbps to 25Mbps

Enlarge (credit: Steve Johnson / Flickr) The Federal Communications Commission is planning to raise the rural broadband standard from 10Mbps to 25Mbps in a move that would require faster Internet speeds in certain government-subsidized networks. The FCC’s Connect America Fund (CAF) distributes more than $ 1.5 billion a year to AT&T, CenturyLink, and other carriers […]

07 OCT

Ajit Pai faces rare criticism from GOP senator on rural broadband failures

Enlarge / FCC Chairman Ajit Pai speaks during an FCC oversight hearing held by the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday, August 16, 2018. (credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg) US Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) yesterday blasted the Federal Communications Commission, saying it has failed to prevent budget cuts in funding for rural broadband. “It has been […]

29 AUG

FCC funds rural broadband for more than 700,000 homes and businesses

As part of its efforts to make broadband more available in rural areas, the Federal Communications Commission announced that the Connect America Fund Phase II “reverse auction” will bring broadband service to more than 700,000 homes and businesses for the first time. More than half of those will have download speeds of 100Mbps or more, […]