Community Broadband Media Roundup - February 18

Alaska

Why the future of satellite Internet might be decided in rural Alaska by Erin Winick, MIT Technology Review

California

San Jose launches new fund to bring Internet to thousands of off-line homes by Emily Deruy, The Mercury News

The city estimates that, even today, around 95,000 residents have no Internet access at home.

San Jose, CA to bridge digital divide with new inclusion fund by Chris Teale, Smart Cities Dive

Georgia

Georgia House OKs electric co-ops to offer high-speed Internet by Mark Niesse, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

“Families and children are being left behind because they don’t have access to Internet in our community,” said state Rep. Winfred Dukes, a Democrat from Albany.

Maine

Maine’s rural broadband may get a boost by J. Craig Anderson, Portland Press Herald 

Town of Oakland receives broadband grant from Maine Community Foundation by Elaine Theriault-Currier, Bangor Daily News 

Maine one of eight states chosen to update national broadband availability map by Kate Foye, Bangor Daily News 

Maryland

Rural Broadband Task Force releases final report by Alan Van Wormer, The Bay Net

North Carolina

Community initiatives share a vision for North Carolina at IEI Forum by Sarah Glova, WRAL TechWire

“A big challenge in our state, is rural residential connectivity,” said Davis. “The idea that elderly patients in their homes don’t have the connectivity to be able to access telehealth services to manage their diabetes or their heart diseases… the idea that our kids go home at night in these rural counties and don’t have a connection, so they’re not able to access all the digital resources that other kids are able to access.”

Broadband access fundamental right by Bunny Sanders, Reflector

Virginia

Botetourt County moving ahead with broadband by Craig Settles, Roanoke Times 

General 

Rural electric cooperatives have an important role in our broadband future by Alyson Moore, Telecompetitor

Here's what you need to know about the T-Mobile, Sprint CEO testimony to Congress, CNBC