Will Congress Pass Broadband Funding This Year?
In the latest update from Voqal’s director of telecommunications strategy, Mark Colwell assesses congressional efforts to increase broadband funding this year. One of Voqal’s organizational goals is to improve broadband connectivity – especially among those who are unable to afford service or who have traditionally been disadvantaged based on where they live. Voqal has continually
Mobile Citizen Spotlight: Ashbury Senior Computer Community Center
Voqal project, Mobile Citizen, aims to bridge the digital divide by offering free and low-cost internet to educational institutions, nonprofits, and social welfare agencies. In its most recent case study, Mobile Citizen highlights the work of Ashbury Senior Computer Community Center to help close the digital divide in Cleveland. Below is an excerpt from the
Voqal’s Mark Colwell Presenting During Gigabit Libraries Network Webinar
Throughout the two-month coronavirus stay-at-home orders, the Gigabit Libraries Network has hosted weekly presentations to discuss anchor institutions meeting the connectivity needs of their communities. Over 1,300 participants have heard from 26 speakers since the series began in late March. All of the events have been recorded and posted on the Pandemic Response page at
How does the CARES Act Help Close the Digital Divide?
While the coronavirus pandemic has taught America about how entertaining puzzles and baking bread can be, it has also exposed how dependent we are on broadband and how far too many Americans – especially students – lack access at home. Two weeks ago, Congress passed historic legislation called the CARES Act to respond to the
Senate Proposal Fails to Adequately Address Digital Divide
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the United States especially hard. As we reported last week, the crisis is highlighting many challenges, including the severity of the digital divide. Far too many Americans either lack broadband access at home or are unable to subscribe when it’s available. The most commonly cited factor for not subscribing is
Coronavirus Forces Schools Online, Exposes Digital Divide
Last week, the viral outbreak of COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Here in the U.S., the response among educators has been swift. Hundreds of schools are extending spring breaks, requiring multi-week closures, or even canceling on-campus classes and moving all classes online for the remainder of the semester. A
Mobile Citizen Spotlight: Aspiritech
Voqal project, Mobile Citizen, aims to bridge the digital divide by offering free and low-cost internet to educational institutions, nonprofits, and social welfare agencies. In a recent case study, Mobile Citizen highlights one of those organizations, Aspiritech. An excerpt from that case study can be found below: Aspiritech is a world-class software testing and quality
Congress, Tribes Again Express Concern with FCC’s EBS Tribal Window Rollout
It has been over 4 months since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to overhaul the Educational Broadband Service (EBS) spectrum band (2.5 GHz) and prepare it for commercial auction. As EBS licensees, Voqal strongly opposed the Commission’s decision because it was an enormous missed opportunity not only to strengthen educational benefits, but also to
New Broadband Report Outlines Road Map for Addressing the Digital Divide
The newly-renamed Benton Institute for Broadband & Society has released a new report titled Broadband for America’s Future: A Vision for the 2020s. The report, authored by Benton senior fellow, Jonathan Sallet, is a magnum opus of broadband policy for the forthcoming decade. Jon Sallet, along with Adrienne Farris, recently appeared on the Community Broadband
Recent Reports Highlight Complexities of the Digital Divide
Back in September, Blair Levin and Larry Downes authored a much-talked-about opinion piece that made a bold claim: America’s Cities – not its rural areas – are the real cause for concern when it comes to the digital divide. Their main argument is that while many believe rural broadband access is the reason for the