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Building the Nation’s Internet Pipes

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Summary

This article discusses the importance of middle mile networks, which carry large amounts of data over long distances to connect homes, businesses, and other communities. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded $930 million in grants to projects across 35 states and Puerto Rico to build regional middle mile networks. These projects have a variety of goals, including increasing Internet access around military facilities, connecting Tribal lands, and improving affordability of home Internet service. The article also details a few of the projects that have been funded, which will provide new fiber routes, increased bandwidth, and improved last-mile connections.

Q&As

What are middle mile networks?
Middle mile networks are the large pipes that carry large amounts of data over long distances and feed all of the smaller pipes that connect homes and businesses in a community.

How are the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program grants being used?
The Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program grants are being used to build regional networks across the country, support military bases, connect Tribal lands, increase affordability of a home’s Internet service, and beef up the bandwidth of existing services.

How will middle mile networks serve national security needs?
Several of the awardees’ projects will increase Internet access around military facilities, such as providing a public Internet connection to the Nellis Air Force Base and Department of Defense network and providing network services and resources to four military installations in North Carolina.

How will middle mile networks improve broadband access in Indian Country?
The Point Roberts Middle Mile Infrastructure Project will provide middle mile broadband resources to the Lummi Nation, and the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska has created two Tribally owned last-mile broadband companies that will offer retail broadband to approximately 13,000 households who are currently unserved or underserved.

What are the benefits of improved middle mile infrastructure?
The benefits of improved middle mile infrastructure include increased bandwidth, which helps improve congestion, and reduced cost of delivering Internet to households, which helps bring down the cost of a household’s Internet bill.

AI Comments

👍 This article does an excellent job of highlighting the need for middle mile networks in the United States, and how the NTIA's Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program is helping to make that happen.

👎 This article fails to provide any concrete examples of how these middle mile networks have improved the lives of people living in the communities they serve.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the implications of building the nation's internet pipes, or middle mile networks. It talks about how these networks are necessary to provide the needed bandwidth for large communities, military bases, and tribal lands. It also discusses how these networks will help reduce the cost of delivering internet to households, as well as expand access to areas that are currently unserved or underserved. It's really interesting!

Friend: Wow, that is really interesting. It sounds like these networks are really important for connecting people across the country.

Me: Absolutely! It's also great to see that a lot of the projects focus on making internet access more affordable and accessible to people in low-income communities. It's really important to bridge the digital divide and ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities.

Action items

Research local middle mile networks in your area to determine if they are meeting the needs of your community.
Reach out to your local government to advocate for increased funding for middle mile networks in your area.
Connect with local Internet service providers to learn more about how middle mile networks can help improve the affordability of home Internet service.

Technical terms

Middle Mile Networks: Networks that carry large amounts of data over long distances, similar to the plumbing that serves a skyscraper with hundreds or thousands of people.
NTIA: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a U.S. government agency that funds projects to build regional networks across the country.
Open Access: A type of network that allows multiple service providers to access the same infrastructure.
Last-Mile Connections: The connection between a service provider and the customer’s home or business.
High-Speed Broadband: High-speed Internet access that is faster than traditional dial-up connections.
Fiber Optic: A type of cable that uses light to transmit data.
Anchor Institutions: Organizations such as schools, libraries, and hospitals that are connected to the Internet.