Congress
‘Fair Use or Foul Play?’: Senate Subcommittee Hears Experts on AI Pirating Written Works
Debate centers on whether training AI with pirated books qualifies as fair use.
Sadie McClain
Reporter Sadie McClain studied journalism at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She wrote for The Breeze, a student newspaper, and worked at JMU’s University Writing Center.
Data Center
Google Commits $3B to Hydropower for Pennsylvania Data Centers
Partnership with Brookfield delivers 3,000 megawatts of hydroelectric capacity to Google
mergers
GCI Liberty Completes Spin-Off From Liberty Broadband
Separation comes ahead of Liberty Broadband’s merger with Charter Communications.
Digital Inclusion
USDA Cuts Race and Gender Criteria From Rural Development Programs
Follows March rollback of equity scoring in broadband grants.
Congress
Senate Panel Advances USDA Budget, Trims ReConnect in FY26
Senate appropriators cut $56 million from House’s proposed ReConnect budget.
Brendan Carr
Trusty Makes FCC Debut At Open Meeting
Carr is delighted by new Republican majority.
AI
Zayo Expands To Accommodate AI Boom
Hyperscalers building increasing bandwidth infrastructure.
Spotify
Spotify Mistreating Subscribers, Senators Say
The music platform's audiobook feature allegedly exploits a loophole in federal regulations.
Brendan Carr
Trusty Sworn In As FCC Commissioner
The Republican will debut at an FCC meeting Thursday.
BEAD
Non-Deployment BEAD Funds In Jeopardy, State Officials Say
BEAD’s recent policy notice narrowed qualifications for funding opportunities.
FCC
Advocates, Sheriffs, and Service Providers Face Off Over FCC’s Prison Phone Rates
FCC rules prisoners shouldn’t pay for most communications security services. But opponents ask: Who will?
Democracy
Missouri Joins States Following SCOTUS, Striking Down Chevron Deference
Four red states move to end judicial deference in 2025.
AI
Sen. Capito Highlights Trump's Fast-Tracking Nuclear Permits
Announcement coincides with EPA proposal to repeal Biden-era carbon regulations.
House Appropriations
House Restores ReConnect Funding for FY26
House doubles funding for rural broadband program, despite Trump proposing cuts.
BEAD
Federal BEAD Rules Claim Neutrality, But Critics See Bias
Some panelists said new rules impose unequal requirements on broadband providers, others called changes 'largely positive'
Hawaii
Kauai, Hawaii, Becomes Fully Fiber Enabled
About 65% of the state is now fiber enabled.
