Why the RAIL Act Matters for America’s Digital Future
The RAIL Act aims to stop railroad companies from blocking broadband expansion with excessive fees and permit delays.
WISPs Dispute Speed Test Report
An Ookla speed test analysis found speeds were increasing at larger WISPs, but were mostly below federal benchmarks.
FCC Chair Offers Few Specifics on Universal Service Reforms
NTCA’s Bloomfield worries Carr’s push for USF ‘efficiency’ could hurt rural providers
Senate Clears Agriculture Bill With $109 Million for Rural Broadband
USDA's ReConnect would see about $50 million for 2026, more than the Senate had previously put forward.
USDA Nominee Glen Smith Vows Review of Rural Broadband Programs
During his nomination hearing, lawmakers pressed on coordinating USDA’s broadband programs and reviewing stalled energy projects.
Starlink Fallout Delays Ontario’s Universal Internet Target
Ontario delayed its broadband goal to 2028 amid U.S. trade tensions and construction setbacks.
Quintillion Completes Arctic Cable Burial, Restores Connectivity After 9 Months
Alaska ISP says all services have been fully restored to affected communities.
RiverStreet’s $20M Fiber Build in Bedford County, Va., Delayed Until 2026
Delays from a railroad-crossing permit and added projects have pushed the timeline back to June 2026.
Rural Internet Access Critical for AI Competitiveness: Connected Nation
Rural America risks falling behind in the AI race without foundational infrastructure
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.
Rural Carriers: Operating Expense Support From Universal Service Necessary
The carriers say their legacy USF support has dwindled as the FCC phased out legacy programs in favor of competitive auctions.
At Last, Quintillion Completes Arctic Cable Repair
Alaska-based firm restores data traffic after subsea fiber line was cut in January.
Rural Co-op Executives Press Congress to Modernize Universal Service Fund
Witnesses pressure lawmakers to update funding model and prioritize affordability.
FCC’s Trusty Reports on Week-Long Visit to Alaska
Says FCC broadband programs spurring deployment.
FCC Denies Mercury’s RDOF Waiver Request
Provider now faces over $25M in penalties for defaults.
David Zumwalt: Rural America’s Wireless Revolution
In rural America, fixed wireless access powered by CBRS is delivering fiber-like speeds at a fraction of the cost—and connecting millions who would otherwise be left behind.
Ookla Finds Stark Differences in Tribal Broadband Performances
Tribal Nations continue to push for better connectivity.
Work Begins on $87M Michigan Middle Mile Project
Project will pass fiber through island relying on DSL.
Rural Co-ops Back NTIA’s Overhaul of Environmental Review Rules
NRECA praises alignment with new law and Supreme Court ruling.
Senate Bill Would Terminate USDA’s Community Connect Grant Program
The program supports broadband expansion in rural areas where service does not exist.
Rural Texas County's Top Leaders Were Asleep, Out of Town During Initial Hours of Flood Crisis
Lawmakers have filed bills to improve emergency communications and provide additional funding for affected areas.
California Bill Modernizing 'Carrier of Last Resort' Rules Advances
AB 470 clears Senate committee by a 9–1 vote
Quintillion to Repair Broken Arctic Fiber Line After Six-Month Delay
Repairs begin, but plan for terrestrial backup network remains on ice
Blackfoot Asks FCC to Waive Over $1 Million in RDOF Penalties
Cites ‘unforeseeable site-specific geographic and economic challenges’ as reason for default
New Jersey Launches $40M Broadband Expansion
Brightspeed alone expects to receive $9.8 million
Cox Back On Track with RDOF, Except in Nebraska
ISP still subject to financial penalties in the Cornhusker State
Lumen Fully Exited from Rural Digital Opportunity Fund
The company said the 41,000 locations it handed back earlier this month were the last of its commitments.
House Restores ReConnect Funding for FY26
House doubles funding for rural broadband program, despite Trump proposing cuts.
D.C. Circuit Upholds LTD RDOF Denial
The FCC had found the company wasn't capable of expanding under its $1.3 billion award, the program's largest.
Lumen Defaults on More Than 41,000 RDOF Locations
Telecom giant offers no reason for relinquishments
Stakeholders Protest Rural Utilities Service Budget Cuts
Loans are 'a win-win situation for rural consumers and American taxpayers' because they are paid back with interest, the groups said.
Fidium Brings Fiber Service To Pittsfield, New Hampshire
More than 3,000 homes and businesses gain access to high-speed internet in rural town.
NRECA Discusses Policies, Funding Needed For Rural Broadband
With the Trump Administration planning to cut ReConnect, rural broadband cooperatives are scrambling
FCC Approves Sale of TDS Networks in Western Colorado
ISP made $18 million on sale to Elevate.
Re-Launch of Congressional Rural Broadband Caucus Praised
Bipartisan caucus applauded for continuing in the new Congress.
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.
Mercury Broadband Stares Down $25 Million Penalty for Surrendering RDOF Locations
Company petitions FCC to reduce expected penalty
Bipartisan Bill Aims to Help Rural Communities Access Federal Broadband Funds
The bill would codify the USDA’s existing Broadband Technical Assistance Program.
Everstream Solutions Proposes to Delay Pennsylvania Market Exit
TDS has agreed to Everstream's six-month delay.
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.
USDA Scrubs DEI Criteria from Rural Broadband Grant Programs
Removal of DEI scoring may shift broadband funds away from Tribes and disadvantaged areas.
Clearfiber CEO Sentenced for Money Laundering
Hensen submitted false invoices to the USDA
Texas Broadband Architect Hegar Slated to Become Texas A&M Chancellor
Hegar expects to return nearly $1 billion in BEAD money to the U.S. Treasury
Rep. John Joyce Provides Updates on Nuclear, SPEED for BEAD
Noted Constellation’s Three Mile Island restart currently a year ahead of schedule
Broadband Industry Coalesces in Support of ‘SPEED for BEAD’
Fiber-focused organization isn’t discouraged by Rep. Richard Hudson measure that touts ‘technology neutrality’
Visionary Broadband Expands Service 10,000 Rural Homes
Delivered high-speed broadband to Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana
Rep. Hudson Bows New Bill to Change Key Terms in BEAD Program
Richard Hudson, R-N.C., announced the SPEED for BEAD Act
Ontario Cancels $100 Million Starlink Contract over U.S. Tariffs
Deal signed last November would have connected 15,000 homes and business
AT&T Defends Copper Network Retirement Plan Amid Union Opposition
AT&T is transitioning to newer fiber optic technology and plans to retire its copper infrastructure.
House Hearing to Explore Rural Broadband Deployment
The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 5
Senate Confirms Brooke Rollins to Lead USDA
Was approved in a 72-28 vote Thursday; approach to rural broadband issues was not prominently discussed in hearings.
Texas Awards $424.6 million in Broadband Deployment Grants
Most of the grants will fund fiber projects.
Texas Opens Funding for Starlink, LEO Rivals
Plan hopes to expand broadband access in rural communities
Ookla: South Carolina Tops Nation in a Rural Speed Category
State leaders say improved mapping helped to improve rural speeds
Cox Announces RDOF Shortfalls in Three States
ISP did not reach its buildout milestones in Louisiana, Nebraska, and Arizona.
E-BRIDGE Broadband Law Signed by Biden
Removes hurdles for rural broadband deployment projects
Sen. Ernst Introduces Bill to Relocate Executive Agency Employees
FCC does not seem to be affected by the bill.
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.
Senate Passes Bill to Ease SEC Reporting Rules on Rural Providers
Bill simplifies SEC reporting for providers with High-Cost support and assets under $10 million.
Cable ISP Trade Group: FCC Data Highlights Broadband Expansion
About 2.1 million rural locations were added between June 2023 and June 2024
FCC Draft Order Would Loosen RDOF, CAF II Auction Financing Rules
The item would swap out Weiss ratings and let RDOF winner reduce their letters of credit sooner.
Mercury Broadband Defaults on More RDOF Locations
Missouri-based ISP defaulted on 160 Census Block Groups in Michigan.
LTD, FCC Argue RDOF Standard of Review in D.C. Circuit
The agency denied the company more than $1 billion in subsidies.
Mercury Broadband Defaults on Hundreds of RDOF Locations
Largest default was in Michigan, with 640 Census Block Groups
Rosenworcel: Shooting Tragedy Shows Need for Rural Broadband
5G Fund will help reach emergency call centers in rural areas, Chairwoman says.
Ziply Fiber Selling to Bell Canada Parent in $5 Billion Deal
Ziply and Bell plan to accelerate fiber growth across both sides of the border.
GOP Senators: Biden Deliberately Excluding Satellite, Wireless From Broadband Count
'When the data are wrong, policy outcomes will inevitably suffer,' GOP senators say.
Charter Broadband Losses Better Than Expected
The company said it would have reported positive gains if not for ACP impact.
Firefly Broadband Looking to Scoop up Virginia RDOF Locations
The company said it's having trouble reaching the defaulting provider.
Cable One, Mercury Broadband Default on RDOF Locations
FCC decided not to provide blanket amnesty for RDOF defaults.
NTIA Head Calls GOP Criticism of BEAD 'Election-Year Politics'
He pointed to FCC's implementation of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund under Trump as as a cautionary example.
Require Tribal Consent for 5G Fund, Tribes Say
Tribal officials say RDOF would have been more effective with such a requirement.
Starlink Reveals the Government’s Problem of Picking Winners and Losers
The government has a history of preferencing government-owned networks at the expense of private alternatives.
Minnesota State Broadband Advocacy Tip: Talk to Staff
Relationships with staffers can be helpful when engaging government officials, experts said.
Harris-Walz Urge Congress to Restore Affordable Connectivity Program
The proposal also includes support for 'right to repair' measures designed to appeal to farmers.
FCC Urged to Restore CLEC Access to Dark Fiber
Critics say a 2020 FCC decision has led to competitive issues in the broadband market.
ACA, INCOMPAS: Don’t Include Satellite in Broadband Deployment Analysis
The competitive provider groups differed on including fixed wireless.
Point Broadband Asks for Rip-and-Replace Extension
Alabama ISP says it needs more time to migrate all customers to secure hardware.
House Committee Probes Starlink RDOF Denial
The FCC said it stood by its decision not to award the company $885 million in broadband subsidies.
Pinpoint Defaults on Three RDOF Census Block Groups
The company will be subject to non-compliance measures
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.
RiverStreet Defaults on Six RDOF Census Block Groups
The company will be subject to federal non-compliance measures.
FCC Approves TDS-RiverStreet Sales
The FCC said the deal will not remove competition from the market
FCC Approves Ziply Fiber’s Acquisition of LocalTel
The FCC said the transaction will serve to benefit consumers
Lumen Facing Penalties in Wake of RDOF Defaults
The company defaulted on auction-won locations in three states
Little Agreement on Data Centers Except ‘Not Here’
Data centers are driving power demands but few seem to want data centers near them.
FCC to Increase Q4 Universal Service Fund Contribution Fee
The contribution factor will be raised from 34.4 percent to 35.8 percent
Charter CEO Warming up to BEAD
He said the company is 'excited about BEAD in the right circumstances.'
Dems, Levin Defend BEAD in House Hearing
Republicans have criticized the program for moving too slowly
In Wisconsin, Biden Unveils Historic Tax Break for Rural Co-ops
The president also celebrated advances in the region's broadband and semiconductor manufacturing.
Lumen Defaults on 3,500 RDOF Locations
The company won a total of more than 77,000 homes and businesses in the RDOF reverse auction.
Small Texas City Losing Cable TV, Keeping Internet after Network Sale
Alpine residents face a future without cable TV as the city’s only traditional pay-TV provider is pulling the plug.
In Auction Default, Indiana ISP Hands Back Broadband Locations to FCC
RTC is handing back nearly half of the locations won in the RDOF auction.
FCC Still a No on Broadband Subsidies for Musk's Starlink
Agency said petition under review was filed about 45 months late.
SATT Seeks $1.8M RDOF Transfer to Avoid FCC Default Penalties
The FCC found the transfer in the public interest, provided South Central Connect submitted the necessary financial and legal documents.
ISPs, Banks Still Want Looser Financing Rules for FCC Subsidy
Some commenters wanted a lower minimum Weiss rating, but many have pushed for a different standard entirely.
FCC Opens Review of Arvig, BEVCOMM Broadband Support Claims
The Minnesota companies said a local competitor does not offer voice service.
Mecklenburg Electric Coop Seeks Relief From CAF II Mess
EMPOWER says existing FCC financing rules could imperil its ability to affordably serve locations in three Virginia counties.
Senate Bill Would Provide States with Defaulted Broadband Funds
The bill would ensure that states have the money to connect unserved addresses.
