AI

House Members Spar Over 10-Year Moratorium on State AI Laws

Shorter ban might be an acceptable compromise later

mergers

AT&T Paying $5.75 Billion for Lumen’s Consumer Fiber Business

The carrier plans to find a co-investor and operate the asset on an open-access basis, with itself as the anchor tenant.

Donald Trump

Net Inclusion Conference: Angry Advocates Rally for Digital Equity

Founder of National Digital Inclusion Alliance says the attack on the Digital Equity Act is ‘effing personal’

House Appropriations

Carr Pressed Over FCC’s ‘Speculative’ Savings as No Budget Request Submitted

Lawmakers say only a fraction of Carr’s $567 million in cuts may be realized .

BEAD

Oklahoma Broadband Director Wants BEAD Flexibility

The state is wrapping up its BEAD application window on Monday.

Expert Opinion

If You Really Want to Close the U.S. Trade Deficit, Try Boosting Rural Manufacturing

With appropriate investments in digital infrastructure and human capital, America’s rural regions could play a much larger role in global trade.

Middle Mile

Excited Wichita Breaks Ground on New Internet Exchange Point

Carrier-neutral IXP by Connected Nation and Newby Ventures at Wichita State University will boost internet connection times and speeds.

Policyband

Verizon Wants FCC to Lift Mobile Phone Unlocking Mandate

The Satellite Industry Association is urging the Trump administration to disregard fiber-deployment advocates trash-talking Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Pole Attachments

Cable, Utilities at Odds on Contractor Approval for Pole Work

NCTA proposed a 30-day deadline for utilities to greenlight an ISP's contractor.

Briefs

SiFi Partners with Viasat to Bring Fiber to Escondino, California

Company promises first connections to occur this year

Rural

Mercury Broadband Stares Down $25 Million Penalty for Surrendering RDOF Locations

Company petitions FCC to reduce expected penalty

Nuclear

First U.S. Utility Seeks Permit for a Small Nuclear Reactor

The Tennessee Valley Authority announced Tuesday it had submitted a construction permit application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a small, modular nuclear reactor.

Broadband Mapping and Data

FCC Report: 94 Percent of Locations Have Broadband Access

Ookla speed test data shows rural residents still lag behind their urban counterparts in connectivity.

House Appropriations

Carr Touts Job Cuts, Savings Ahead of Congressional Hearing

Agency has reduced staff, trimmed budget in recent months.

Expert Opinion

Tim Stelzig: Creating a Lasting Solution for BEAD

Implicit in this structure is a recognition that states and territories are better positioned than the federal government to know what is an appropriate cost threshold for their citizens.

Policyband

Court Tosses Biden-Era FCC Rules on Broadcaster Employment Data; DEI Victory for FCC's Carr

The rules were challenged by religious broadcasters, who were especially sensitive to the FCC’s decision to add a 'non-binary' gender category.