Digital Inclusion
Congress Tried Twice to Reduce Prison Phone Rates
The House’s first attempt spelled out detailed limits; the final law left those details to the FCC.
Jericho Casper
Assistant Editor Jericho Casper graduated from University of Virginia studying telecommunications policy. She previously served as a research assistant examining state laws that restrict local governments from owning or operating broadband networks.
Speedtest.net
Ookla Introduces Device to Help Technicians Fix Wi-Fi Problems Fast
Ookla’s new Speedtest Pulse gives technicians a clearer picture of what’s slowing down your internet.
Commerce
Cantwell, Schatz Press NTIA on Nearly $1B in Undistributed Tribal Broadband Grants
$980 million in funds remain frozen; $294 million in announced awards still undistributed.
National Security
Senate Passes Pair of Bills to Safeguard Broadband Supply Chains
Measures from Sens. Hickenlooper and Ernst aim to prevent equipment shortages and bolster domestic production
Rural
USDA Nominee Glen Smith Vows Review of Rural Broadband Programs
During his nomination hearing, lawmakers pressed on coordinating USDA’s broadband programs and reviewing stalled energy projects.
Funding
Appeals Court Grants FCC Request to Pause USF Challenge
Fifth Circuit stay halts proceedings in Consumers’ Research v. FCC until government funding resumes
Broadband's Impact
Virginia’s Next Governor an Advocate for Better Broadband
In the House, Spanberger acted to direct the federal government to ensure that broadband networks were built to meet modern upload and download standards.
Land of Sky Regional Council
N.C. Launches $50M Broadband Recovery Program for Counties Hit by Helene
Hurricane Helene destroyed 1,700 miles of fiber, cutting service to 200,000 North Carolinians.
AI
NTIA to Make the 2028 Olympics a 6G Testbed
NTIA will ‘take the most ambitious, forward-leaning 6G concepts and show the world.’
Wireless
NVIDIA Invests $1 Billion in Nokia
The deal ushers in what NVIDIA and Nokia call the AI-native era of wireless.
Privacy
Texas Finalizes $1.3B Privacy Settlement With Google
Google violated state law by collecting users’ location, browsing, and biometric data, Texas' attorney general said.
Free Speech
Trump Expected to Name White House Economic Aide Ryan Baasch to FTC
A former Texas litigator, Baasch has taken on social media companies over content moderation.
Free Speech
Trusty Warns FCC Must ‘Walk Carefully’ on Broadcast Regulation
Citing the FCC’s obligations to maintain public interest in broadcasting, Trusty struck a tone similar to Chairman Brendan Carr.
FCC
Shutdown Likely to Pare Back FCC’s November Meeting
Commissioners clash over whether to continue votes as most FCC staff remain furloughed.
FCC
FCC Moves to Scale Back Broadband Label Requirements
The commission also moved to delete nearly 400 'outdated' regulations from rulebooks.
Fiber
Verizon Partners with Tillman's Eaton Fiber to Reach New Markets
The move follows similar ventures by AT&T and T-Mobile.
