House lawmakers want to pursue the General Services Administration for allegedly obstructing wireless siting on federal land, and may consider a hearing on the topic in the coming months. Several lawmakers questioned PCIA President Jonathan Adelstein Wednesday on this count, and he insisted legislation is necessary.

House lawmakers want to pursue the General Services Administration for allegedly obstructing wireless siting on federal land, and may consider a hearing on the topic in the coming months. Several lawmakers questioned PCIA President Jonathan Adelstein Wednesday on this count, and he insisted legislation is necessary.

Broadband industry representatives plan to tell the House Communications Subcommittee on Wednesday how to make their lives easier. The hearing on challenges of broadband infrastructure investment is set for 12:30 p.m. in 2322 Rayburn.

Broadband industry representatives plan to tell the House Communications Subcommittee on Wednesday how to make their lives easier. The hearing on challenges of broadband infrastructure investment is set for 12:30 p.m. in 2322 Rayburn.

Ongoing “challenges for broadband infrastructure build-out” include pole attachments, tower siting, access to federal lands and buildings, and tribal broadband deployment, House Republican staffers said in a six-page GOP memo for this week's House Communications Subcommittee hearing on broadband infrastructure investment. “The issue of pole attachments continues to be the subject of considerable dispute between attachers and pole owners,” the GOP memo said. “Critics claims that the terms and conditions set by utilities are onerous or obscure; that pole owners often have little incentive to provide speedy access to attachers; and that pole owners drag out the application process. Finally, the rate formulas are complicated and prone to litigation and controversy, all of which leads to delays in the deployment of networks.” An eight-page Democratic memo included sections on federal grant programs, such as the broadband stimulus grants given through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Obama administration’s efforts to allow broadband deployment on federal land and the creation of the Broadband Opportunity Council. “Broadband networks that are wholly or partially...owned by local governments also can help increase access and competition, as well as provide additional consumer choice,” the Democratic memo said, acknowledging the Republican pushback against municipally owned networks. “Many towns and cities have attempted to build out such services, but 20 states have imposed prohibitions or restrictions on public entities providing communications services.” The hearing will be at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in 2322 Rayburn.

Ongoing “challenges for broadband infrastructure build-out” include pole attachments, tower siting, access to federal lands and buildings, and tribal broadband deployment, House Republican staffers said in a six-page GOP memo for this week's House Communications Subcommittee hearing on broadband infrastructure investment. “The issue of pole attachments continues to be the subject of considerable dispute between attachers and pole owners,” the GOP memo said. “Critics claims that the terms and conditions set by utilities are onerous or obscure; that pole owners often have little incentive to provide speedy access to attachers; and that pole owners drag out the application process. Finally, the rate formulas are complicated and prone to litigation and controversy, all of which leads to delays in the deployment of networks.” An eight-page Democratic memo included sections on federal grant programs, such as the broadband stimulus grants given through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Obama administration’s efforts to allow broadband deployment on federal land and the creation of the Broadband Opportunity Council. “Broadband networks that are wholly or partially...owned by local governments also can help increase access and competition, as well as provide additional consumer choice,” the Democratic memo said, acknowledging the Republican pushback against municipally owned networks. “Many towns and cities have attempted to build out such services, but 20 states have imposed prohibitions or restrictions on public entities providing communications services.” The hearing will be at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in 2322 Rayburn.

President Barack Obama praised the commitments of other stakeholders involved in the ConnectHome initiative he launched this week (see 1507150053), devoted to putting affordable or free broadband in low-income households in 28 communities. “Now, I want to give credit where credit is due,” Obama said Wednesday evening during a speech in Durant, Oklahoma, where one initiative beneficiary -- the Choctaw tribal nation -- is based. “This is not something government does by itself. I’m proud to say that folks around the country are stepping up to do their part. So businesses like Cox are providing low-cost Internet and devices. Best Buy is committing [to] free computer education and technical support so that folks learn how to make the most of the Internet.” A higher percentage of the people in South Korea have access to high-speed broadband than they do in the U.S., Obama said. He framed ConnectHome as a part of a broader administration goal: “So that’s why my administration has made it a priority to connect more Americans to the Internet, and close that digital divide that people have been talking about for 20 years now,” he said. “We’ve invested so far in more than 100,000 miles of network infrastructure; that’s enough to circle the globe four times. We’ve laid a lot of line. We’ve supported community broadband. We’ve championed net neutrality rules to make sure that the Internet providers treat all web traffic equally. And then we launched something called ConnectEd, and this was targeted at making sure that every school was connected and classrooms were connected. And we’re now well on our way to connecting 99 percent of students to high-speed broadband in their classrooms by 2018, and that includes here in Durant.” House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., issued a statement Thursday praising ConnectHome as “an important step.”

President Barack Obama praised the commitments of other stakeholders involved in the ConnectHome initiative he launched this week (see 1507150053), devoted to putting affordable or free broadband in low-income households in 28 communities. “Now, I want to give credit where credit is due,” Obama said Wednesday evening during a speech in Durant, Oklahoma, where one initiative beneficiary -- the Choctaw tribal nation -- is based. “This is not something government does by itself. I’m proud to say that folks around the country are stepping up to do their part. So businesses like Cox are providing low-cost Internet and devices. Best Buy is committing [to] free computer education and technical support so that folks learn how to make the most of the Internet.” A higher percentage of the people in South Korea have access to high-speed broadband than they do in the U.S., Obama said. He framed ConnectHome as a part of a broader administration goal: “So that’s why my administration has made it a priority to connect more Americans to the Internet, and close that digital divide that people have been talking about for 20 years now,” he said. “We’ve invested so far in more than 100,000 miles of network infrastructure; that’s enough to circle the globe four times. We’ve laid a lot of line. We’ve supported community broadband. We’ve championed net neutrality rules to make sure that the Internet providers treat all web traffic equally. And then we launched something called ConnectEd, and this was targeted at making sure that every school was connected and classrooms were connected. And we’re now well on our way to connecting 99 percent of students to high-speed broadband in their classrooms by 2018, and that includes here in Durant.” House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., issued a statement Thursday praising ConnectHome as “an important step.”

President Barack Obama is leaning on finances from industry and other groups to launch a pilot project the administration is calling ConnectHome, promising to help to connect to the Internet for 275,000 low-income households and just under 200,000 children. The White House will coordinate with industry players including CenturyLink, Cox Communications and Google Fiber to focus on 28 communities -- 27 cities and the Choctaw tribal nation -- to deliver broadband access for free or at heavily subsidized rates.

President Barack Obama is leaning on finances from industry and other groups to launch a pilot project the administration is calling ConnectHome, promising to help to connect to the Internet for 275,000 low-income households and just under 200,000 children. The White House will coordinate with industry players including CenturyLink, Cox Communications and Google Fiber to focus on 28 communities -- 27 cities and the Choctaw tribal nation -- to deliver broadband access for free or at heavily subsidized rates.