Broadband Breakfast Club Exclusive Report
May 2023
In a late April Senate appropriations committee hearing, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the department and its telecom agency, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, are aiming to get money from its $1 billion Enabling Middle Mile Infrastructure grant program out of the door by the end of June — in line with its goal of spring for release.
Kansas Wraps Up Major Broadband Program, Eyes BEAD Construction in 2026
Kansas broadband development official outlines next steps as Kansas nears BEAD deployment.
Rural Internet Access Critical for AI Competitiveness: Connected Nation
Rural America risks falling behind in the AI race without foundational infrastructure
Experts Spar Over Consumers Need For Internet Speeds
Panelists split on whether gigabit broadband was essential or overhyped.
No More IXPs Means No More AI Development
Panelists at Mountain Connect argued that IXPs are key for delivering ultra-low latencies for AI
Mahesh Krishnaswamy: The Future of BEAD: Unlocking Reach & Resilience with High Capacity Wireless
As states revisit their broadband plans, scalable middle-mile solutions and built-in resilience take center stage.
Clallam County, Washington, Launches $22 Million Fiber Expansion Plan
County and Astound Broadband have begun construction on a joint partnership to bring fiber access to more than 1,500 rural homes.
FBA Survey: Many Smaller ISPs Opt to Own Middle Mile
The group found 70 percent of 38 surveyed ISPs owned and operated their own 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.
FiberLight to Acquire Metro Fiber Networks
Acquisition opens new corridor from Virginia Beach to Data Center Alley in Northern Virginia, and also Atlanta and Charlotte.
Tom Reid: Common-Sense Solutions to Closing the Digital Divide in Rural America
The BEAD investment offers great hope to rural America where we have been stuck in the digital divide since the beginning of the Internet age.
More Internet Exchanges Necessary for Rural Areas: Experts
Latency experienced by users is dependent in part on their distance from internet exchange points.
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'
Nokia Selected in New York for Ethernet Upgrade
Need to upgrade driven by data center growth
New ISP Halo Fiber Leveraging ARPA Grants to Help Bridge Alabama’s Digital Divide
Company hopes to use $188 million in middle mile broadband grants to connect unserved Alabama households.
NTCA Report Finds Middle Mile Costs Dropping for Rural Providers
High last-mile deployment costs, permitting delays, and inflationary pressures continue to hamper rural broadband expansion.
12 Days of Broadband
An annual series of the year's top 12 stories in broadband.
Open Access ErieNet Fiber Network Gets Underway In Western New York
'Construction has already begun for ErieNet with underground conduit installations, and utility work necessary' for pole attachments.
Plumas-Sierra Telecom Nabs $67 Million In Middle Mile Grants Across 4 California Counties
The investment in the cooperative could be a game-changer for rural connectivity in the Golden State.
Data Centers and the Environment
These vast, climate-controlled facilities, housing thousands of servers, support cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data-driven decision-making.
Internet Pioneer Says Interconnection Relevant to Last-Mile Access
Internet Exchange Points are distinct from data centers, and affect latency, cost and resiliency of a network.
Green Energy and the Democrats
Just as crypto has emerged as a tech and infrastructure issue with a heavily Republican tilt, advanced energy may serve a similar role for Democrats.
Artificial Intelligence and Copyright
As AI technology adoption increases, legislators are looking at cracking down on copyright concerns.
California Proposes $143M Last Mile Broadband Awards
The program's fourth round of funding will connect 170,000 locations.
Garland McCoy: State Broadband Officials Must Be Prepared to Defend Deployment
Will you be prepared to defend your BEAD deployment at a future state or federal hearing?
Crypto and Republicans: Navigating the Digital Currency Landscape
During the Trump era, GOP lawmakers emerged as vocal advocates for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
$53.3M Grant For Alabama's Middle Mile Network
The money comes from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
Understanding 'Junk Fees' in Broadband
President Joe Biden has made attacking 'junk fees' a key focus of his administration.
California Middle-Mile Initiative Prioritizes Connecting Local Grant Applicants
The $3.8-billion program's director said 107 grant applicants intend to connect to its infrastructure.
Mark Monroe Guides Ahead-of-Schedule Middle Mile Program
A proposed budget from the governor's office steps back from guaranteeing more money amid rising costs.
Challenges of Broadband Infrastructure Deployment
Rights of way, pole attachments, environmental permitting and other hurdles to broadband infrastructure deployment.
Navigating the Landscape of U.S. Data Privacy Regulations
There is a renewed focus on how best to protect personal information in an increasingly digital world.
Middle Mile Program With Fruits for Omaha Tribe of Nebraska
An Omaha Tribe representative shared the impact middle mile development has had on his community.
The Smart City Blueprint for Urban Innovation
At play in Smart Cities: Data collection, smart infrastructure, IoT, communications technologies, regulations and more.
Unraveling the Complexities of Net Neutrality
Top controversies include 5G network slicing, paid prioritizing and exempting broadband providers from Universal Service Fund contributions.
The Challenge of Spectrum Sharing
At the center of the battle over the airwaves in the United States is the question of spectrum sharing.
The Policy and Law Behind 'Rip and Replace'
The policy and law surrounding the program to remove Chinese telecommunications equipment from U.S. networks.
The FCC's Digital Discrimination Rules
The controversies and details surrounding the FCC's rules to prevent and eliminate digital discrimination.
Bill Long: How Middle Mile Investments Close the Digital Divide
Internet for all: Zayo’s mission to connect what’s next.
A Hidden Issue Potentially Impacting BEAD Implementation: Pole Attachments
Problems accessing poles could delay fiber builds funded by the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.
A Deep Dive into the BEAD Program’s Matching Funds
Will the program’s matching funds requirement stretch federal dollars, or hinder smalller providers?
States Should Use BEAD Funds to Finance Internet Exchange Points
Internet traffic points will create a ‘better ecosystem for interconnection.’
Precursors to BEAD Implementation: A Deep Dive Into Prior Broadband Programs
How will prior broadband programs impact BEAD Implementation?
A Deep Dive into Allocations Under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program
What’s next for BEAD implementation?
Impressive Match for Middle Mile Projects Not a Likely Harbinger for BEAD Awards
BEAD program awards are expected to have a smaller matching funds total than the middle mile awards.
Impacts of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022
When President Biden talks about his economic program, the CHIPS Act is the star of the show.
Johnny Kampis: Broadband Industry Hopeful to Get Waivers from Biden Administration Protectionist Policies
The Buy America mandate could seriously hamper the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.
Industry Optimistic About Calls for a Targeted ‘Buy America’ Waiver Ahead of Broadband Awards
Strict domestic manufacturing requirements may hinder the success of the $42.5 billion BEAD Program.
Green Energy Provisions Meet Smart Grid and Broadband Infrastructure
Advances for the green economy in the Inflation Reduction Act rely upon smart grid infrastructure.
Content Moderation, Section 230 and the Future of Online Speech
Our comprehensive report examines the extremely timely issue of content moderation and Section 230 from multiple angles.
In State of the Union Address, Joe Biden Underlines Importance of ‘Buy America’ Rules for Broadband
President links longstanding provision of federal law, strengthened in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to ‘fiber optic cables’
What to Know About Build America, Buy America Provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Will providers be required to use equipment that is not readily available within the United States?
What You Need to Know About the FCC’s Maps and the Challenge Process
The Broadband Breakfast Report for January 2023 lays out the things to know about the challenge process.
FCC Breach Notifications, More 6 GHz Testing?, Alaskan Middle Mile Options
FCC looks to strip time to notify and expand definition of breach for telecom reporting.
The 12 Days of Broadband (2022 Edition)
Broadband Breakfast presents the first of its annual '12 Days of Broadband' series about the top 12 stories of the year.
Chart of States' Planned BEAD Deployment by Technology
Broadband Breakfast is tracking planned BEAD connections by technology
Chart of Fixed Wireless Access Subscribers
Broadband Breakfast is tracking fixed wireless access subscriptions.
Chart of Wireline Broadband Subscribers
Broadband Breakfast is tracking wireline broadband subscriptions.
Chart of Wireline Broadband Subscribers By Technology
Broadband Breakfast is tracking wireline and wireless broadband subscribers by technology.
Exclusive Reports
The Breakfast Club produces exclusive, Premium Reports on actionable topics of broadband policy and internet technology.
Broadband Breakfast on September 7, 2022 – Assessing the NTIA’s Middle Mile Grant Application Process
The event will be headlined by Sarah Bleau, middle mile program director at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
NTIA Says Primary Awards For Middle Mile Grants to Fall Between $5 Million and $100 Million
The long awaited notice of funding opportunity laid out the system for how each applicant program will be scored.
Broadband Breakfast for Lunch on April 13, 2022 — Preparing for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Join Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson on April 13 at Broadband Breakfast for Lunch
NTIA Pressed on Existing Middle Mile Connections at Infrastructure Listening Session
Commentators concerned existing middle-mile infrastructure not used to drive last-mile home.
State BEAD
Broadband in the U.S.A.: Every state and territory
Earnings
Quarterly Earnings Reports
Infrastructure
Broadband infrastructure is the means to deliver Better Broadband, Better Lives
Policyband
Unlimited Access to Broadband Breakfast and Policyband
Broadband Breakfast Live Online
Broadband Breakfast Live Online is a FREE broadband news webcast on broadband technology and internet policy. It takes place every Wednesday at 12 Noon ET.
Data Center Summit
The 'Data Centers, Nuclear Power and Broadband Summit' took place on March 27, 2025.
NTIA’s Larry Strickling Recounts Broadband Stimulus Gains, Seeks to Continue Efforts Without Federal Funds
WASHINGTON, May 30, 2014 – The president’s chief adviser on telecommunications, the head of the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, on Thursday heralded the first of a series of workshops designed to find ways to “build on the momentum of our successful
American Energy
American energy production has increased substantially over the past few years.
Nuclear
As data centers proliferate, Nuclear Energy is potentially ready for a revival.
Crypto
Cryptographic technologies and blockchain ledgers are driving a new era of decentralized finance.
Energy
The rapid rise of cloud computing and artificial intelligence has placed an unprecedented strain on America’s energy grid.
Fiber
Fiber-optic technology is the gold standard for home or commercial broadband, and powers wireless connectivity, too.
Mobile
Mobile communication has become a central part internet connectivity.
Democracy
The internet has the potential to impact, and also to enhance, society's democratization.
Section 230
Section 230 is sometimes called the 26 words that created the internet.
Net Neutrality
Whether broadband providers may prioritize delivery of bits by the entities they own is a divisive topic.
Open Access
Open Access networks separate network operations from internet services. Ownership may also be separate from operations.
Funding
The pandemic has prompted a new era of funding for broadband infrastructure.
Rural
Because Rural America is often the least-connected region in the country, ensuring coverage is central to BEAD.
Wireless
Wireless technologies are critical for mobile communications, and for being able to reach remote locations.
Satellite
Satellite broadband remains an option those areas beyond the reach of fiber, terrestrial or mobile wireless.
Universal Service
The Universal Service Fund, codified in 1996 with the Telecommunications Act, remains the foundation of universal access.
Data Center
Data Centers and Cloud Computing rely upon robust and high-speed upload and download internet speeds.
Tribal
Tribal leaders say the federal government has failed to uphold its trust responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of Native American tribes.
5G
The 5G wireless standard promises breakthrough in capacity, speed and dynamic spectrum-sharing capabilities.
WISP
Wireless Internet Service Providers play an important role in delivery of fixed wireless broadband.
Digital Inclusion
We need humans to make digital inclusion work.
Education
Technology, particularly broadband access and adoption, plays a vital role in K-12 and secondary education.
Health
The innovations of telehealth and mobile health care has transformed medicine and health care.
Public Safety
Ensuring that emergency communications are enabled with broadband is the next frontier in public safety.
Telework
Broadband internet service allows many people to work from almost anywhere.
Cybersecurity
Digital locks and keys are necessary, but not sufficient, to ensure cybersecurity.
Robocall
The scourge of robocalls is making America's once-vaunted telephone network less trustworthy.
BEAD
The BEAD program is implemented by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the U.S. Commerce Department.
Community Broadband
The last three years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of communities building publicly-owned, locally controlled infrastructure.
Privacy
The entire concept of privacy has been transformed by broadband and the internet.
Broadband Mapping and Data
Accurate broadband mapping and data has been central to America's broadband buildout.
