Puerto Rico gov’t earmarks $400M to expand broadband to unserved areas
October 22, 2020
The Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, or AAFAF, released a Request for Proposals to select an administrator for what it is calling the Broadband Infrastructure Fund, to expand the service into Puerto Rico’s rural areas. The government will allocate $400 million during Fiscal 2021 to support expansion efforts in unserved and underserved areas and […]
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Gov’t gets $90M to pay for internet service for public school students, teachers
October 20, 2020
Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez announced the allocation of $90 million in federal funds to subsidize the cost of internet connections for all public school students and teachers, which they will be able to request through Nov. 30, 2020. The aid, available through the CARES Act, will be up to $400 per participant and will […]
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‘Practical Techie:’ Workspace may be a new viable Office alternative
October 20, 2020
Formerly known as G Suite, Google’s new version of Workspace is a workable alternative to other mainstream document processors such as Microsoft Word and Apple Works. And probably cheaper, too. Workspace is less than $6 a month, unless, of course, one wants to upgrade to a more professional suite. I say workable because many corporations […]
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Pierluisi looks to insert Puerto Rico fully into U.S. economy
October 19, 2020
Pedro Pierluisi, the 61-year-old gubernatorial candidate for the New Progressive Party, believes that Puerto Rico should serve as a bridge for the U.S. mainland to gain “better access to the Americas,” according to his economic development proposals posted on his campaign website. Pierluisi strongly believes in: carrying out a realistic and transformative reengineering of how […]
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Puerto Rico schools and libraries to get $5.3M to expand broadband
October 15, 2020
Several hundred Puerto Rico-based schools, municipalities and nonprofits will receive more than $5.5 million from the Federal Communications Commission’s E-Rate funding program to boost broadband services. The program is part of the Universal Service Fund, which has opened two funding windows so far this year. During the first round, the agency received 361 funding requests […]
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AT&T confirms availability of 5G across Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, USVI
October 14, 2020
Wireless carrier AT&T announced the availability of next-generation 5G technology across all of Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands. AT&T began the deployment of the 5G network in June, starting with 58 municipalities, as this media outlet reported. The carrier also announced the availability of the new Apple […]
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Centro CRECE unveils Competitiveness Toolkit
October 13, 2020
Centro CRECE, a nonprofit organization that cultivates solutions to promote self-management and growth, announced the launching of the “Competitiveness Toolkit” for Puerto Rico. This analysis, developed in collaboration with the firm Inteligencia Económica evaluates Puerto Rico’s competitiveness in a global market and presents necessary reforms to improve the environment of doing business, fostering entrepreneurship, and […]
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32K+ SBA PPP loans granted in Puerto Rico eligible for simpler forgiveness process
October 12, 2020
The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department released a simpler loan forgiveness application late last week for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This decision could affect a little more than 32,000 PPP loans granted in Puerto Rico, according to SBA data released earlier this year. This action […]
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USDA assigns $1.9M for distance learning, telemedicine projects in Puerto Rico
October 8, 2020
Puerto Rico has been awarded nearly $1.9 million for two projects — the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust and the Migrant Health Center Western Region Inc. — that will provide enhanced access to telemedicine and online education to rural communities. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) […]
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Bankruptcy filings down 31.1% in Puerto Rico in September
October 6, 2020
A total of 443 petitions were filed at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Puerto Rico during the month of September, representing a 31.1% drop from the same month in 2019, according to a report released by research firm Boletín de Puerto Rico. In September 2019, the court received 629 bankruptcy cases, according to the report. […]
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Liberty Communications gets ‘B+’; Outlook Stable rating from Fitch
September 30, 2020
Upon confirming Liberty Communications of Puerto Rico LLC’s recovery from the 2017 hurricanes, including the improvement of its financial profile, and the restoration of service, Fitch Ratings has affirmed all of the company’s ratings, including the Long-Term Foreign Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B+’. Fitch also affirmed the ‘BB-‘/’RR3’ ratings on the company’s secured […]
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Bureau of Economic Analysis releases 1st prototype of GDP estimates for Puerto Rico
September 29, 2020
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis released prototype annual estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) for Puerto Rico for the years 2012 to 2018, the agency announced. This publication “represents another major step by the Bureau to develop comprehensive economic accounts for Puerto Rico that are consistent with international guidelines and that are […]
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5 Puerto Rico-based telecom providers apply for FCC funding
September 21, 2020
The Federal Communications Commission confirmed that five Puerto Rico-based telecommunications service providers have filed applications to receive funding from the “Uniendo a Puerto Rico” pool, which has $504.7 million available during a 10-year period to support fixed broadband projects. In a notice, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureu confirmed it received complete applications from: Aeronet Wireless […]
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T-Mobile, Engine-4 launch 1st 5G & NB-IOT lab in Puerto Rico, USVI
September 21, 2020
T-Mobile and Engine-4 have launched the first 5G & NB-IOT Open Innovation LAB in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands meant to bring together developers, start-ups, companies, academic institutions and government institutions together with the collaboration of corporate partners. NB-IOT stands for “Narrowband Internet of Things,” which is a technology to enable a wide […]
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Puerto Rico’s reliance on internet services increasing during pandemic
September 17, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic, which since mid-March has upended the lives of most people in Puerto Rico, has also brought with it a shift in traditional work environments that now generate a greater demand for telecommunications services, specifically internet connections. That was one of several conclusions included in a study commissioned by advertising agency Wunderman Thompson, […]
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