Fiber
Fiber Broadband Report Notes Significant Progress on Fiber Deployment, Increased Costs
More than 60% of U.S. households now are serviceable by fiber. But 92% of respondents said costs have risen since 2024
BEAD
Colorado, Wyoming Clear NIST Approval on BEAD Plans
June policy changes pushed deployment back by 18 months in Colorado, the state's broadband director said.
BEAD
Non-Deployment Funds Unlikely to be Clawed Back, Experts Say
NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth has said she would support permitting reform as one potential use for the funds.
Fiber
Fiber is the Foundation for the Next Wave of Connectivity, Say Advocates
‘Fiber always wins,’ said market analyst Michael Render
BEAD
Chambers Criticizes BEAD Delays, Calls for Clearer Broadband Standards
The BEAD program, Chambers argued, has done more to delay construction than to drive it.
BEAD
Speed Tests Could Help Improve Broadband Oversight, Ookla Executive Says
Rural Starlink users often report higher speeds than customers in congested urban areas
BEAD
Broadband Spared as Ernst Urges $2 Trillion Cuts
After calling BEAD a “boondoggle” last year, the Iowa senator omitted the program.
BEAD
Minnesota Broadband Chief on BEAD Challenges, State Investments, and Tribal Partnerships
While BEAD changes complicated Minnesota’s broadband plan, state investments and tribal partnerships remain strong.
Pole Attachments
Citynet CEO: West Virginia Broadband Held Back by Pole Fights
W.V. provider expresses hope that problems will soon be fixed
NTIA
FBA: ‘The Fiber Industry Could Not Be Better’
Trade association elated by passage of OBBB
BEAD
Gomez: Preserve Remaining State Control of BEAD
The FBA president said he was optimistic states would ultimately be able to maximize fiber deployment.
Infrastructure
West Virginia Received Few Non-Fiber BEAD Applications
State set its threshold at $28,000 per location, but average per-location cost was $9,182
Fiber Connect
Fiber Lobbyist: Keep States in Control of BEAD
Other broadband industry groups made similar asks in a separate letter to the Trump administration.
Briefs
Phoenix Center Challenges Brattle Group’s Fiber Value Impact
Ford said that fiber is too expensive in many rural areas to be a practical solution.
AI
Broadband Industry Coalesces in Support of ‘SPEED for BEAD’
Fiber-focused organization isn’t discouraged by Rep. Richard Hudson measure that touts ‘technology neutrality’
Commerce
AI Boom Drives Demand for Fiber Data Center Infrastructure
Shortages in power and semiconductors render fiber the only solution to sustain AI growth, panelists said.
