Displaying items by tag: broadband

RALEIGH — A bipartisan group of senators is crafting legislation that would find ways to expand broadband access in North Carolina.

RALEIGH — Richmond County’s state representative has introduced a bill to help residents in rural North Carolina gain better access to broadband internet service.

RALEIGH — Free-market advocates in North Carolina are optimistic the relaxing of regulations in the state will help promote the growth of broadband and help close the digital divide.

RALEIGH — North Carolinians can now view results from an ongoing survey designed to show gaps in coverage in the state, which so far indicates a lack of access to broadband.

Roughly a year ago now, I spoke to the members of Gov. Roy Cooper’s broadband task force and noted how, from the viewpoint of anyone looking objectively at the issue of broadband access, the public-private partnership model advocated by NCLM is a “no-brainer.”

RALEIGH — Senate Republicans are asking Gov. Roy Cooper to reverse a move to eliminate relief money for rural broadband, hurting children and seniors.

RALEIGH — Movement to eliminate a rule for landline telephone carriers that remains in force for broadband providers could speed expansion of high-speed internet to areas lacking it. Legislation from U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-1st District, Expanding Opportunities for Broadband Development Act, would make it easier to bring broadband service to rural and unserved areas.

RALEIGH — Lawmakers spent Tuesday, Oct. 8, advancing four mini-budget plans as the budget veto stalemate drags on into another month.

RALEIGH — North Carolina for many years has been a battleground over government-backed broadband services. The issue seemed to be settled in 2011, when the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed the Level Playing Field Law, which severely restricted local governments’ ability to get into the broadband business.

RALEIGH — The North Carolina League of Municipalities is making a push to allow local governments to build broadband infrastructure and lease it to private internet service providers, but critics warn the plan would harm taxpayers’ pocketbooks.