Nebraska
Nebraska Broadband Director Patrick Haggerty to Depart May 1
DOT Director Vicki Kramer will take over the role on an interim basis.
BEAD
The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program is a $42.45 billion initiative administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the U.S. Commerce Department. Established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, BEAD aims to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs.
Rural
Ookla: U.S. Digital Divide Narrows in 43 States
Aggressive broadband expansion in late 2025 extended fiber access to 60 percent of U.S. homes.
NTIA
Bill Maguire: The FCC Secures a (Bipartisan!) Win for Rural Broadband
The FCC's unanimous pole attachment ruling is a promising sign of bipartisan pragmatism in broadband policy, the author writes.
BEAD
BEAD Data Creates Opportunities for Non-Awardees
Experts say providers can use competitor data to guide expansion.
Fiber
Expert Says Millions of Areas Remain Unserved In Spite of BEAD and Other Programs
Increased competition in already-served markets could leave rural communities behind.
BEAD
Missouri Lawmakers Fear AI BIll Could Jeopardize Non-Deployment Funds: Report
States with ‘onerous’ AI laws are set to be ineligible for the funding – $900 million in Missouri’s case.
Data Centers
The Case for Open Access Hyperscale Data Center Networks
The infrastructure powering hyperscale data centers risks bypassing the very communities that host it.
Michael O'Rielly
Calls Grow to Eliminate USDA Broadband Program, Watchdog Group Says
Citizens Against Government Waste targets Rural Utilities Service as duplicative.
BEAD
House Dems: States May Need to ‘Reconsider’ SpaceX BEAD Awards
They had concerns about the company’s proposed contract rider, which was rejected by NTIA.
BEAD
Consultants Urge BEAD ‘Rainy Day’ Fund To Cover Gaps
Infrastructure specialists urge administrators to reserve $7.6 billion from BEAD for unexpected shortfalls.
BEAD
Louisiana AI Bills Halted After Trump White House Threatens BEAD Funding
The administration’s actions have now halted regulation in at least two states.
NCTA
Broadband Expansion Alone Won’t Close the Digital Divide, Panelists Warn
Panelists cite skills gaps, security threats, and the need for more modern infrastructure.
Data Center
Sanders, AOC Introduce Bill to Pause Data Center Growth
The bill represents hesitation and concern for data centers among some lawmakers and communities.
Digital Equity Act
Court Asked to Pause DEA-Related Lawsuit Against Trump, Pending Key Court Decision
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance has been fighting to restore a $2.75 billion digital equity program.
BEAD
NTIA Planning to Finish BEAD Approvals by May
New notices of funding for the agency’s Tribal programs would come in late spring or early summer, a spokesperson said.
AI
Corning Exec Says AI, Broadband Driving Surge in Fiber Demand
Demand for high-capacity networks is accelerating as new technologies strain existing infrastructure.
