Agenda - Council - 09/13/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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superior, reliable performance and is generally most efficiently scalable to meet future needs.342 In designing these projects, recipients should ensure that the broadband infrastructure provides "reliable" service at required speeds and are not required to rely on providers' advertised speeds in their assessments. Consistent with further guidance issued by Treasury,343 while recipients are permitted to make investments in "middle -mile" connections that otherwise satisfy the requirements of the final rule, Treasury continues to encourage recipients to focus on projects that will achieve last - mile connections whether by focusing directly on funding last -mile projects or by ensuring that funded middle -mile projects have commitments in place to support new and/or improved last - mile service. Affordability The interim final rule encouraged recipients to consider ways to integrate affordability options into their program design but did not require recipients to take particular actions. The interim final rule also provided that assisting households with Internet access and digital literacy is an eligible use of SLFRF funds under sections 602(c)(1)(A) and 603(c)(1)(A) to respond to the negative economic impacts of COVID-19. Public Comment: Many commenters suggested that Treasury provide recipients with a broader set of tools to tackle what the commenters characterized as an affordability crisis in the broadband sector. As noted above, some commenters proposed that Treasury consider 342 Bennett Cyphers, The Case for Fiber to the Home, Today: Why Fiber is a Superior Medium for 21 st Century Broadband, Electronic Frontier Foundation (October 16, 2019), https://www.eff.org/wp/case-fiber-home-today-why- fiber-superior-medium-21 st-century-broadband. 343 See FAQ 6.10, Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Frequently Asked Questions, as of July 19, 2021; https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/1 3 6/SLFRPFAQ.pdf. 307