Rural
Capito Bill Tightens FCC Vetting of Broadband Providers
Measure targets accountability in how federal broadband funds are awarded
Rural
Because Rural America is often the least-connected region in the country, ensuring coverage is central to BEAD.
ReConnect
RUS Signals Launch of Next ReConnect Funding Round
Elmshaeuser says program remains central as federal broadband funding expands
Kari’s Law Reporting Act
House Passes Slate of Broadband Bills
They included the Senate-approved Rural Broadband Protection Act.
Satellite
Ookla: Once ‘Science Fiction,’ Satellite-to-Mobile Phone Technology is Quietly Emerging
Ookla’s latest report reveals 24.5% space satellite growth between July 2025 and March 2026.
Labor Department
New Mexico To Close Digital Divide With $382 Million From BEAD
The state broadband office hopes to use BEAD non-deployment dollars to expand infrastructure, 5G, and workforce programs.
ReConnect
USDA Requests $230 Million for Rural Broadband and Telehealth, a Decline Over Previous Budgets
The agriculture department proposed canceling $40 million in unused ReConnect funds in 2027 budget.
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.
Pole Attachments
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.
USF
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.
Massachusetts
$28.5 Million Massachusetts Initiative To Bring 27,000 Laptops, Tablets to Residents
Devices will be available at public centers or offered through free lending programs for rural and underserved communities.
Data Center
The Case for Open Access Hyperscale Data Center Networks
The infrastructure powering hyperscale data centers risks bypassing the very communities that host it.
Rural
Bundling Emerges as Key Advantage in Rural Broadband Market
As ‘app fatigue’ grows, rural broadband customers are turning to bundled services, raising the stakes for rural providers.
Rural
Optimum Connects 3,000 Locations in Louisiana's Sabine Parish
Officials say the effort targets long underserved areas across the rural parish.
California
California Activates Nation’s Largest Middle-Mile Network, Connecting Tribal, Rural Areas
The Bishop Paiute Tribe is the first to access the state’s $3.2 billion broadband effort spanning 8,000 miles of fiber.
AI
States Race to Win the Tech Economy in 2026 State of the State Addresses
Here’s what 30 governors said about broadband expansion, AI growth, and online child safety.
April McClain-Delaney
New Bipartisan House Bills Take Aim at Strengthening Rural Broadband Access
The four introduced bills look to expand broadband access, modernize utilities, and improve USDA programs.
