Briefs
Industry Lawyer: ISPs Should Keep a Close Eye on FCC’s State Pole Review
FCC is considering revocation of states’ jurisdiction over pole attachments
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.
California
Fiber Projects Capture Most of $18.2 Million California Broadband Investment
Four projects led by Plumas-Sierra Telecom awarded $14.7 million of approved funding
BEAD
NTIA Defends BEAD Pole Rules
Providers anticipate understaffed cities, utilities being a deployment challenge.
BEAD
Lawmakers Press Commerce over Withholding of Billions in Broadband Funds
House Democrats dispute characterization of $21 billion in unspent funds as ‘taxpayer savings.’
BEAD
Arkansas First State to Execute BEAD Agreement with Amazon Leo
Arkansas also signed a grant agreement with SpaceX.
BEAD
Louisiana Inks BEAD Contract with SpaceX
The satellite operator has signed agreements in multiple other states.
BEAD
Astound Explains $165 Million BEAD Refusal in Texas
Resound also dropped out in the state.
Expert Opinion
Evan Swarztrauber: Congress Needs to Step In on Broadband Expansion
Aggressive FCC enforcement and congressional action is necessary to establish a uniform national standard on pole-attachment cost-sharing and timelines, the author writes.
Fiber
Fiber Internet Companies to Reduce Prices Amid General U.S. Inflation
Wire 3 and NEK Broadband will offer discounted plans to internet users.
BEAD
One Year After BEAD Restructured, Some States Still Can’t Access Infrastructure Funding
Despite federal promises to accelerate deployment, states are still waiting on approvals to access broadband funds.
BEAD
NTIA Leader Roth Emphasizes Importance of BEAD Deployments
The Trump administration official expressed excitement over the program’s expansion and hopes to see more progress.
BEAD
Winning Bidders Back Out of 31,000 BEAD Locations in Texas
The state was optimistic it would finalize a still-pending contract with Amazon, which refused its Nebraska award.
BEAD
Roth Provides BEAD and Spectrum Updates
The NTIA administrator discussed some of the challenges and updates facing the administration.
BEAD
ACLP: BEAD Winners Set to Put Up $11.4 Billion in Matching Funds
That’s more than 37 percent of the program’s total project costs, the group found.
BEAD
Electric Co-ops Finding BEAD Rules Onerous, Especially on Poles
Two said they were turning down tentative BEAD awards.
Rural
Great Plains Communications Says Rural Providers Will Need Support Beyond BEAD
Executive says rising bandwidth demands and sparse population make long-term support necessary.
