Broadband Communities
BEAD Panel Urges ISPs Not to Panic Under New Rules
Providers must navigate compressed timelines, shifting rules, and new definitions of ‘priority’ broadband.
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.
Virginia
Virginia BEAD ‘Bargain’ Round Delayed Pending NTIA Signoff
90-day shot clock ticks while state waits on Washington.
Broadband Communities
Texas Asks Feds for More Time to Meet BEAD Deadline
The state hopes to push its BEAD deadline back by more than two months to November 21.
LEO
Advocates: Fine Print in New BEAD Notice Favors Satellite Providers
Officials say LEO providers could skirt performance benchmarks others must meet in half the time.
BEAD
Texas Senator Resigns to Lead Comptroller’s Office, Citing Broadband as Key Priority
Kelly Hancock to replace Glenn Hegar, who clashed with NTIA and floated returning $1B in broadband funds
Funding
Wisconsin Governor Presses for $400M Broadband Investment
State GOP rejected $750M in 2023, banking on now delayed federal funds.
Spectrum
Broad Swath of Stakeholders Warns FCC Undoing EchoStar Deal Would Cause Harm
More than 60 stakeholders, including former GOP commissioners, back Dish/EchoStar in defense of its 2 GHz licenses
Commerce
New BEAD Rules Trigger Uproar Over U.S. Broadband Future
Awardees under original rules say they may not reapply.
Commerce
House Republicans Urge Trump to Release Broadband Funds
As GOP calls for speed, former BEAD chief warns of policy shifts.
FCC
Republican Majority Derailed as FCC Loses Two Members
Senate to accelerate confirmation of Trump nominee Olivia Trusty following Simington’s surprise exit.
FCC
Simington Announces Early Exit from FCC
Commission to enter 1-1 partisan split with Simington and Starks stepping down
Digital Inclusion
One Year Without the Affordable Connectivity Program
Without the broadband subsidy, families are facing harsh tradeoffs to stay connected.
Funding
Tilson Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy After Gigapower Contract Fallout
Tilson alleged that Gigapower failed to pay nearly $20 million in invoices.
DC Circuit
Supreme Court Greenlights Trump Firings of Independent Agency Officials
Emergency stay allows President to remove NLRB, MSPB members without cause
Defense Department
FCC Votes to Block Foreign-Controlled ‘Bad Labs’
Also proposed opening 20,000 megahertz of spectrum for space-based internet at May meeting.
Free Speech
Lawyers: FTC ‘Censorship’ Inquiry Itself Violates First Amendment
Critics say the agency is acting beyond its authority by probing how platforms police speech.
