US Ignite partnered with the National Science Foundation and Schmidt Futures to design Project OVERCOME and test creative solutions to connect the unconnected. Project OVERCOME’s design ensured careful consideration of both the technical requirements of broadband access and the community collaboration, outreach, and engagement needed to explore sustainable success. By providing free or low-cost broadband to users as a part of the study and measuring targeted outcomes via a survey, we identified the impact of Project OVERCOME on Internet adoption. Key findings from Project OVERCOME include the following:

• Increased support from community members and Internet service providers is crucial for improving digital literacy and reaping the benefits of broadband deployment for disadvantaged populations.
• Providing access to the Internet is not enough to address digital inequality; policymakers must also promote digital literacy and provide resources and support for underserved communities to participate in the economy and shape their communities.
• The study found that informal help from family and friends is not effective in increasing Internet use, highlighting the importance of systematic help and training provided by organizations.

Congress appropriated $65 billion through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to close the digital divide and ensure universal access to reliable, high-speed, and affordable broadband across the US. The cornerstone—$42.45 billion—rests with the implementation of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which entrusts execution and deployment of the resources to state governments. To maximize the opportunity that BEAD presents and to close the digital divide once and for all, we recommend the following 11 points:

1. Allow rolling challenges to FCC maps and publish transparent adjudication in a timely manner;
2. Mandate annual reporting, preferably through an easily accessible and navigable website and map, by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) (with the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB)) that measures progress in reaching people and communities that remain left behind;
3. Create a community advisory committee for NTIA composed of representatives from across the federal government and community stakeholders from across the country;
4. Encourage states to create dedicated funding, staffing, or public-service opportunities to support community engagement for unserved and underserved communities;
5. Develop clear guidance for meaningful community engagement;
6. Ensure matching requirements are not a barrier for highly vulnerable unserved or underserved communities;
7. Increase and emphasize support for immediately available solutions that leverage community institutions; 
8. Create statewide multistakeholder councils to guide implementation;
9. Set a high standard for the preference for fiber-optic cable;
10. Address permitting barriers; and
11. Integrate workforce development strategies into broadband implementation projects.

US Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) successfully pushed the Federal Communications Commission to update its National Broadband Map to more accurately reflect Nevada’s current broadband needs, which is critical for the allocation of funding for high-speed internet from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's (IIJA) $42 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. A previous, deeply flawed map misrepresented the high-speed internet coverage in Nevada and would have caused the state to lose out on potentially millions of dollars in BEAD funding. The new version of this map identifies nearly 27,000 new broadband serviceable locations across Nevada, in addition to nearly 7,000 new locations without access to high-speed service that was not included in the previous version.

The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board (IBAB) and the Idaho Office of Broadband are now accepting grant applications for the Idaho Capital Projects Fund (CPF) Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program. The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board and the State of Idaho seek to fund broadband projects across the state that assist with or improve distance learning, telehealth, telework, and public safety. This grant program is designed to meet the CPF criteria and improve internet connectivity in unserved and underserved locations. The grant opened on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. MST. The application period will end on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. MST.  Applications must be submitted via the Idaho Department of Commerce’s online portal, here.

The Federal Communications Commission — which has jurisdiction over radio, television, cable, and satellites —  isn’t best known for grappling with cutting-edge technology. But amid the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney, the communications regulator may be forced to tackle artificial intelligence, an area that’s beginning to intersect with communications infrastructure and airwaves. A pressing concern is the skyrocketing rates of robocalls, leading to several FCC actions as the agency seeks to cut down scams against consumers. AI can make robocall operations much cheaper because the technology can automate dialing, talking, and responding, according to former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler. Nicol Turner Lee, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said robocalls could open Pandora’s box of possibilities for consumer deception, especially for elderly Americans. Wheeler added voter manipulation as a related area of concern, where an AI-cloned voice could direct an individual on an Election Day to an incorrect location to cast their vote. A former FCC senior official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly, said there are a number of related concerns triggered by AI in areas with FCC jurisdiction.