Bob Young

And Utah releasing results tonight as well. Utah is proposing to utilize $231M (73%) of its eligible BEAD funding to serve 32,261 eligible locations and CAIs. The technology mix is fiber (55%), LEO (25%), LFW (17%) and ULFW (2%). #BEAD #RuralBroadband

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Discover how the City of Mesa is closing the digital divide without the fiber delays. With Ceragon’s MultiHaul™ TG mmWave network, the city now connects neighborhoods, parks, and downtown corridors with gigabit-speed Wi-Fi that’s fast, scalable, and cost-effective. Link to the Case Study is in the first comment 👇

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GCI Communication Corp. is transforming broadband services across Alaska with the power of Harmonic’s cOS™ virtualized broadband platform. We are thrilled to partner with GCI as they offer DOCSIS 4.0 services with multi-gigabit speeds and high-quality broadband experiences to communities across Alaska. GCI’s leap to DOCSIS 4.0 is fast tracked by Harmonic’s turnkey solution. From start to finish, our expertise drives seamless transition to blazing-fast broadband with minimal disruption for customers. 📍 Full story in the comments #HarmonicBroadband #DOCSIS #BroadbandInnovation #HarmonicTechExpo25 #SCTE #TechExpo25

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Really interesting announcements today from Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) about the ability for emergency calls and security / preparedness communications to connect via #WiFi networks and #OpenRoaming, for resiliency and extra in-building reach. There's a three reports and multiple angles here: - Automated connection of phones and other devices to Wi-Fi for 911 / 999 / 112 calls via OpenRoaming, even if there's normally some other authentication method needed. This is broadly similar to the cross-network roaming for emergency calls across cellular networks, and works irrespective of subscription status - Ability to use #WiFiCalling for #emergency #voice comms. (This is for public calls to emergency services, not for first responders' own critical radio comms) - Prioritisation of public safety and "emergency preparedness" traffic on Wi-Fi networks, despite any network congestion. During critical incidents, there can be a huge surge of traffic, especially if mobile infrastructure is damaged (eg in a hurricane). Being able to dedicate capacity or prioritise usage by key personnel or devices makes both the Wi-Fi network and overall communications more resilient and suitable for first responders. - Better location-awareness and use of the Wi-Fi infrastructure for positioning, especially indoors, and the ability to communicate that to the public-safety dispatchers and systems. Based on a quick scan of the documents, some of these features are dependent on newer #Wi-Fi7 systems, with others designed to function on older variants. In general, I think this is an excellent move - in many emergency situations, Wi-Fi and fixed/fibre networks may be more tolerant of outages than cellular, and there will also be some users with Wi-Fi only devices. It adds to the options for communications and network coverage, and also seems to have been designed in a way to minimise possible user intervention and confusion in stressful situations. However, there will be a need in some cases to have some sort of "emergency profile" included in devices. I'd say this is also a very good way to encourage broader adoption of PassPoint and OpenRoaming by enterprises, building owners, CSPs and device vendors - and could also prompt regulators / policymakers to consider it as mandatory. Lastly, I think this is a step in the right direction to a broader view of emergency communications. As well as different access networks - mobile, fixed, Wi-Fi and soon satellite - I think that there should be a much broader "emergency API" approach, so that calls can be initiated in messaging apps, or even from AI voice platforms, going beyond some limited use of things like smart speakers or in-car eCall today. I'll also be covering emergency aspects of Wi-Fi on my enterprise innovations panel at the WBA #WGCEMEA conference in Paris next week. #publicsafety #firstresponders #criticalcommunications #wifi #telecom #regulation https://lnkd.in/eGkDYVgQ

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Great piece today by Tamara Chuang of the The Colorado Sun on the shift in broadband internet for all projects and how wireless is now a legitimate solution set in the deployment ecosystem. #BEAD https://lnkd.in/g-r8gPgs

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How do you achieve flawless fiber networks? 1. Testing is the only way to verify the quality of your network. 2. Automated workflow management is vital to an efficient testing process. 3. There’s no one size fits all approach. The right test, assurance and monitoring solutions for your network are entirely dependent on your network topology, operational processes and business models. 4. Partner with VIAVI – versatility and adaptability are built into our portfolio, and we can scale with you as your business grows. Download the brochure now to learn more! #FiberOptics #NetworkTesting #OTDR #FiberInspection #FiberExperts #SmarterTesting

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A Utah school had no usable cellular service inside. Calls dropped. Texts failed. Emergency calls didn’t go through. InfiniG partnered with AT&T and T-Mobile to bring their signal indoors - delivering reliable voice and data coverage in every hallway and classroom. Now staff, students, and parents stay connected when it matters most.

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Sharing slides from a webinar on 'Wireless Spectrum - Approaches to Licensing', presented by FCC's Wireless Telecom Bureau Chief. The topics include: - General principles for accessing spectrum, - Licensed spectrum rules and configuration, - Secondary markets, - Spectrum transition mechanisms - Case studies. I personally believe that spectrum hoarding should not be permitted. In the context of Pakistan, it should be auctioned on 'Use it or share it' basis. Spectrum leasing / sharing should be permitted. New concepts of 'Supplemental Coverage from Space' (SCS) should be explored. And the tiered spectrum access system should be expanded to frequency bands other than CBRS as well.

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📶 The CBRS conversation is far from over — and that's a good thing. This Broadband Communities article explores the ongoing push-pull between access and efficiency in the CBRS band. As more providers lean on shared spectrum to expand coverage and capacity, how we manage it matters more than ever. Thoughtful insights here on striking the right regulatory and operational balance to ensure CBRS remains both open and effective. https://lnkd.in/g8mgvfXe

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The Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation of Montana recently turned up a new broadband network leveraging Ciena’s broadband solution that provides fast, reliable, and affordable internet access to its tribal households, businesses, and public service entities, such as the health center, police department, and schools. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4l5cOSF

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Washington state takes a major step to bridge the digital divide! The Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) has submitted its Final Proposal to the federal government for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program in an effort to unlock $1.2 billion to expand high-speed internet across the state. Next steps: Once the National Telecommunications and Information Administration approve the proposal, expected by December, WSBO will announce awards and begin funding broadband projects statewide. Learn more and view the proposal: https://heyor.ca/KkI1Xp

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