BEAD
Service Providers and California Officials Warn BEAD Builds Won’t Solve Affordability
Providers cited payment instability and post-construction costs, while officials urged an Affordability Connectivity Program replacement.
Appalachian Regional Commission
House Committee Approves Appalachian Satellite Broadband Bill
The legislation directs GAO to study the use of satellite broadband for economic development in Appalachia.
Funding
GAO: FCC’s E-Rate Has Adequate Anti-Fraud Measures
The program fared the best in GAO’s review of five government subsidies.
NTIA
New BEAD Rules Subject to Congressional Review, GAO Finds
Congress should have received a report before the rules were issued, the watchdog said.
NTIA
Colby Humphrey and Lexi West: America’s Plans to Expand Broadband Could Be Hindered by Workforce
The BEAD program faces potential delays as the telecom industry confronts a projected shortage of skilled workers needed to build infrastructure.
FCC
Carr To Congress: FCC Improving Coordination Among Federal Broadband Programs
Chair responds to an April audit that flagged mapping weaknesses and data gaps.
Democracy
Donald Trump's Library of Congress Fight is Really About the Separation of Powers
The battle over control of the Library of Congress has prompted Republican leaders on Capitol Hill to deliver rare pushback against Trump.
IIJA
House Bill Could Open Appalachian Broadband Funds to Starlink
GAO study would evaluate whether the Appalachian Regional Commission should fund LEO providers.
BEAD
Lawmakers Renew Bill to Address Permitting Delays on Federal Lands
The bill comes as state officials push for reforms to environmental and historic preservation permitting rules under BEAD.
BEAD
Former FCC Commissioner Predicts Court Battle Over BEAD’s Fiber Preference
But Kathryn de Wit of Pew said the structure of BEAD was carefully crafted to address systemic flaws in federal broadband policy.
Commerce
Senate Bill Requiring NTIA to Overhaul Federal Broadband Efforts Is Back
Bill mandates a national broadband strategy but explicitly bars new regulatory authority over internet service providers.
AI
House Representatives Call for Standards in Government Use of AI
A bipartisan task force urged Congress to establish policies governing AI use in federal agencies.
Crypto
States Could See a Crypto Policy Blitz in 2025
2024 was big for Bitcoin, but 2025 could be bigger, in spite of risks.
Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation
House Passes Trio of Last-Minute Broadband Bills
Two bills target BEAD delays, one focuses on U.S. wireless leadership
BEAD
NTIA Responds to GAO Report: ‘Alignment Can Be Challenging’
NTIA outlined several recommendations in its response to the government watchdog agency.
FCC
Cruz Critical of Broadband Subsidy Administrator After Audit
The Government Accountability Office found the program management 'consistent with selected FCC requirements.'
