Policyband

Sen. Capito Wants NTIA to Restore West Virginia's Full $1.2 Billion in BEAD Funding

'I hope we get our $1.2 billion. I’m going to hold the Trump administration’s feet to the fire that this is what we’ve been promised, this is what we should get'

Democracy

TechFreedom Urges Supreme Court to Protect FTC Independence

Group pressed the Supreme Court to safeguard the FTC’s autonomy from presidential interference.

SpaceX

Canada Makes Significant Broadband Progress, But Rural Gaps Persist

Canada achieves 95% broadband coverage, despite major rural and Indigenous gaps.

BEAD Data

Oregon, Idaho Release BEAD Plans

Both would get fiber to roughly half of their BEAD-funded locations, about 53 percent in Oregon and 49 percent in Idaho.

Digital Inclusion

Affordable Connectivity Program Reached More Than Twice the Families of Lifeline

At Georgetown panel, researchers credit public-private partnerships for ACP's 43% take rate vs. Lifeline's 20%.

USF

Participants Urge Against Appropriations for USF

Some commenters said Lifeline benefits should be upped to $30 per month.

Public Safety

South Carolina Sees Breakthrough in Fight Against Contraband Phones

Officials may soon get FCC approval to jam illicit prison phones.

Fiber

FBA Opposes Lower FCC Broadband Speed Benchmarks

FBA Urges FCC to Set Higher Broadband Standards as Fiber Expands Nationwide

Social Media

Framework Deal on TikTok Reached Between U.S. and China: Sec. Bessent

Bessent says the objective of the deal would be to switch to U.S. ownership; Trump and Xi to speak Friday, possibly to finalize the deal.

Expert Opinion

Jill Crosby, Sabrina Burns: Broadband Rollback Undermines Innovation

Policymakers revisiting the USF must recognize that affordable, reliable Internet access is essential for participation in the startup ecosystem.

ITI

Don’t Ban Test Labs in China, Tech Industry Says

The FCC estimates 75 percent of new wireless devices are tested in the country.

events

Full Slate of Hearings This Week on Broadband, Artificial Intelligence and Energy

Congress tackles broadband, AI and energy in a busy week of hearings. Broadband Breakfast's Resilient Critical Infrastructure Summit is on Thursday.

FCC

Exclusive Interview with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr

On restoring U.S leadership in wireless, the C band auction that we have to conduct within the next two years is probably one of the top priorities inside the building, Carr said.

Policyband

Starlink Slashes U.S. Prices in New Offer Across Several Rural States

SpaceX has sharply cut prices of its Starlink satellite Internet service in parts of the U.S., offering its hardware kit for $89 − the lowest price to date.

AI

AI Infrastructure Boom Drives Need for Jump in U.S. Energy Production, Experts Say

AI's energy demands will require a 25% boost in U.S. electricity production over five years, experts warned.

What's New

‘Social Media is a Cancer’: Making Sense of the Charlie Kirk Assassination

Connecting the dots between Utah politics and culture, the hyper-partisan world of social media, and a tragic political assassination.