Digital Inclusion
FCC’s Gomez Defends DEI Against Government Intrusion
Democrat says government interference with DEI initiatives could have long-term economic and social consequences.
Latest
USF
Supreme Court Appears Reluctant to Rule Against USF
The $9 billion-per-year fund is being challenged as unconstitutional nearly 30 years after its creation.
Expert Opinion
States Approach Readiness for the Broadband Rollout, But Federal Nod is Elusive
No BEAD final proposals have been posted since late 2024, but many are due over the next few months.
Congress
Thune: More Congressional Review Act Votes Coming
Wi-Fi hotspots CRA still pending.
Commerce
Rep. Hudson Wants to Rewrite Many BEAD Requirements
Republican lawmaker targets rules on labor, DEI, and price caps in the name of faster rollout.
Briefs
Phoenix Center Challenges Brattle Group’s Fiber Value Impact
Ford said that fiber is too expensive in many rural areas to be a practical solution.
Expert Opinion
Dean Bubley: Does AI Drive Demand for Mobile Spectrum?
Hundreds of millions of people are using mostly text-based AI applications.
Digital Inclusion
USDA Scrubs DEI Criteria from Rural Broadband Grant Programs
Removal of DEI scoring may shift broadband funds away from Tribes and disadvantaged areas.
Defense Department
Cruz Still Aiming For Spectrum Pipeline in Reconciliation Bill
The Defense Department has opposed the idea of auction authority with a 'pipeline' of projects for auction.
FTC
FTC’s Ferguson Says Tech Censorship Practices May Violate Antitrust Law
Chairman signals agency’s expanding role in countering Big Tech censorship
BEAD
An Interview With Former BEAD Director Evan Feinman
In an interview with Cardinal News, Feinman talked about how BEAD helped Virginia, and why he’s worried about its future growth.
Infrastructure
Earth, Ether, Fire and Water: An Elemental Data Center Story
A convergence of interest between the energy-hungry needs of major Internet players and the Trump administration's 'energy dominance'
SmartWAVE Webinar
April 10, 2025: Citywide Wi-Fi Projects
The broadband team and chief technology officer in St. Louis will discuss the city's goal of revitalization and community connectivity.
EU
Data Center Tension Between Power Demands and Sustainability Goals
In Europe, environmental standards 'are not a hope, not a wish, not a best effort—it's a regulatory mandate.'
Data Center
Because of Power Availability, Fiber Providers Racing to Connect Remote Data Centers
Power availability is now dictating location decisions, forcing fiber providers to adapt with unprecedented long-haul infrastructure builds.
Metro Connect
With Unprecedented AI-Driven Demand, New Financing Solutions Needed
In 2024, there was 6.7 gigawatts of data center demand, said Kush Urs of Guggenheim Partners. That was more than 6X since 2020.
