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Need help with internet costs? Discounts of up to $50 per month now available through the national Emergency Broadband Benefit Program to qualifying low-income households

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in collaboration with internet service provider companies, has launched a temporary program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households (and up to $75 per month… [ Keep reading ]

Mayor Durkan and Seattle City Council release Internet for All gap analysis report

Action Plan to increase access to internet and close the digital divide SEATTLE (September 16, 2020) – Following up on the Internet for All Initiative announced earlier this summer, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and Seattle City Councilmembers Lorena Gonzalez, Alex Pedersen and Debora Juarez announced the release of the initial… [ Keep reading ]

Internet and wireless providers pledge to make it easier to access broadband amid coronavirus crisis

The Federal Communications Commission recently introduced a broadband and telecom industry measure called Keep Americans Connected pledge. The 60-day pledge, announced March 13, calls on telecom companies to help people remain connected amid the coronavirus outbreak.  So far, virtually every major company in the U.S. broadband and telecom businesses, including… [ Keep reading ]

Tech Talk Tuesday: Summer webinars offer tips on building to meet demand for broadband

More than half of Seattleites live in apartments, condominiums and townhomes, known as multiple-dwelling-units or MDUs. And permitting records show nearly 81 percent of Seattle’s new housing builds are MDUs. These residents want access to abundant, high-speed broadband. They rate it as the top amenity when considering a place to… [ Keep reading ]

Seattle is Committed to Preserving Net Neutrality

On February 20th I was honored to have the opportunity to testify before the Washington State Senate Energy, Environment, and Technology Committee about the importance of net neutrality to the consumers of Seattle. I made the point that net neutrality was essential to achieving the digital equity and inclusion goals… [ Keep reading ]

Seattle IT Broadband Privacy Directors Rule Q&A

Today, the City of Seattle issued Seattle IT rule 2017-01 requiring the City’s key internet service providers to obtain permission from their customers before selling web browsing history and personally identifiable information at a detailed or aggregate level. This rule reinstates a key consumer privacy protection eliminated by the U.S…. [ Keep reading ]

New Report Discusses Approaches for Increasing Public Wi-Fi Service in Seattle

In 2016 the City of Seattle commissioned a report to identify areas where publicly-accessible Wi-Fi can have a meaningful impact in Seattle and to identify potential funding sources, business models, and partners to expand the availability of public Wi-Fi services, especially as a means to address Seattle’s digital equity and… [ Keep reading ]