
Ookla Releases 5G Availability Data For Each State
T-Mobile found to have greatest 5G availability among users.

Beyond City Limits: Redefining Success in Smaller Communities
Without broadband, smaller towns lose talent, businesses struggle, and economic potential is left untapped.

Arkansas’ First BEAD Round Covers 9% of Locations With Just 2% of Funds
Arkansas' first BEAD funds go to 18 providers to cover 7,000+ locations

Affordable Connectivity Program's End Spurs State-Level Action on Broadband
States are exploring new approaches to maintain broadband affordability for low-income households.

Hawaii High Court Shields Charter, Hawaiian Telcom over Maui Fires
ISPs will not be required to compensate insurance companies for policyholder payouts.

Some Red States Don’t Want Too Much Satellite for BEAD
'We’re hoping the administration's change is not just ‘Let’s give it all to satellite, and then the problem’s over,' said Montana's broadband officer.

Indiana, Texas A&M Hope Nuclear Power Draws Big Tech Data Centers
With AI driving huge energy needs, some states see an opportunity

Digital Privacy Advocate: States to Fill Gaps Left by FCC, Courts
EFF’s Rindala Alajaji sees states reining in Big Tech in 2025.
New ISP Halo Fiber Leveraging ARPA Grants to Help Bridge Alabama’s Digital Divide
Company hopes to use $188 million in middle mile broadband grants to connect unserved Alabama households.

FCC’s Starks Visits L.A. in Response to Wildfires
Met with local officials to discuss relief efforts

Fiber Broadband Association Voices Confidence About Fiber's Role in BEAD
GOP lawmakers have signaled a desire to increase participation from fixed wireless and satellite.

Senate Committee Votes To Advance Commerce Nominee Howard Lutnick
Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz told Broadband Breakfast he was 'certain there will be' changes to BEAD.

Sen. Moran Wants to Shield BEAD Grants from Taxation
Kansas senator hinted at tying broadband tax exemption to reconciliation bill.
California Lawmaker Files Affordable Broadband Legislation Similar to NY
The Institute for Local Self Reliance is hosting a forum – 'Consider Affordable Broadband State-By-State' – on Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

ACA Connects Pushes for Less Regulation, Faster BEAD Deployment
The industry group laid out its 2025 broadband policy priorities under President Donald Trump.

Quintillion Provides Subsea Fiber Cut Updates
Company hopes to have new fiber route completed by this spring.

Arkansas’ First BEAD Round Sees 98% of Locations Receive Bids
With 96% of applications deemed competitive, Arkansas now moves into adjudication.

Funding Freeze Makes More Uncertainty for BEAD
A White House memo directed agencies to pause all grant spending until Feb. 10.

Fiber Break in Alaska Causes Widespread Network Outages
Subsea fiber cables can't be repaired until late summer.

Sean Gonsalves: States Should Consider Adopting Affordable Broadband Laws
Massachusetts is advancing legislation to provide $15 monthly broadband service to low-income residents.

Broadband Breakfast on February 12, 2025 - The Future of Affordable Broadband
Broader GOP signals suggest major changes ahead for Biden-era connectivity programs.

Ookla: South Carolina Tops Nation in a Rural Speed Category
State leaders say improved mapping helped to improve rural speeds

Conexon Connect Completes First Major Florida Fiber Deployment
This is the sixth fiber project the company has completed nationwide.

Cox Announces RDOF Shortfalls in Three States
ISP did not reach its buildout milestones in Louisiana, Nebraska, and Arizona.
Colorado Hoping to Up Participation in BEAD Round Two
The state is instituting a higher low-cost plan and more flexible project areas.

Delaware Gets Its $107 Million in BEAD Cash
It became the second state to get necessary NTIA approval, one day after Louisiana reached the milestone.

New York's $15 Broadband Law Takes Effect Wednesday
N.Y. to enforce law mandating $15 and $20 Internet plans for low-income residents.

Hawaii Announces Plan to Become First Fully Fiber State
Project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026

NTIA Awarding Almost $18 Million to Tribal Communities
Funding will adopt and expand high-speed internet for seven tribes

Don't Hit Pause Button on BEAD, Say State Broadband Officers
States are beginning to get spending plans together for the $42.5 billion broadband expansion effort.

Law Prof van Schewick Calls Net Neutrality Ruling 'a Radical Decision’
What if the FAA lost oversight of Delta and American Airlines? she asks.

NTIA Announces a Fraction of Digital Equity Grant Awards
The agency has already committed to awarding $900 million for the program, a spokesperson said.

Arkansas, Arizona, New Hampshire Open for BEAD Apps
At least 20 states have reached the milestone.

Accelerating Broadband Deployment with a Shot Clock
The success of the shot clock approach in our region could serve as a blueprint for other states.

Fiber Broadband Association Rings in New Year Touting 100 Gbps Service
'The only thing that is certain in 2025 is uncertainty,' said GFiber's Ariane Schaffer.

Small ISP Questions Delaware's BEAD Awards
The state plans to spend its surplus BEAD cash on workforce development and network resilience projects.

The Year States Stepped Up for Broadband Affordability
States, cities, and private providers led the charge as federal broadband affordability efforts falter.

New York Open for BEAD Applications
It's at least the sixteenth state to start taking grant proposals under the $42.5 billion program.

Delaware Unveils BEAD Spending Plan
Republicans in Congrass have called for changes to the program when Trump takes office.

Ziply Fiber, BCE Holding Seek FCC Merger Approval
The acquisition marks Bell Canada’s first major expansion into the U.S. market.

DEI is Dead… But Will ‘Digital Equity’ Programs Shutter?
Why digital equity broadband programs may still continue under the coming Trump administration.

Pew Study Reveals Trends in State Plans to Close Digital Equity Gaps
Availability, affordability, and device access emerged as top barriers to Internet access

Georgia Opens BEAD Application Window
State to receive $1.3 billion in BEAD funds

Outlook for AI Regulation Uncertain Under Full Republican Control
President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order.

Mark Zuckerberg Dines with Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago
Trump was kicked off Facebook following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

ALLO Fiber Agrees to Net Neutrality in Network Lease Deal with Boulder, Colo
City Council secures expanded fiber capacity, affordability measures, and robust privacy protections in 20-year deal.

California Regulators Launch BEAD Webinar Series
Webinars will begin on Dec. 3, 2024.

NTIA Awards $23 Million to Illinois for Digital Equity
Funds will help jump start key digital equity initiatives.

Idaho Publishes BEAD Application Project Areas
Comments will be accepted through Dec. 19, 2024.

Telecom Industry Summit Puts Focus on Harms from Copper Theft
Surge in network vandalism and theft prompt industry push for tougher laws protecting communications infrastructure.

Mercury Broadband Defaults on More RDOF Locations
Missouri-based ISP defaulted on 160 Census Block Groups in Michigan.

California Announces Another $207 Million In Last Mile Broadband Grants
Included is $25 million to help the City Of Huntington Park provide free Wi-Fi for all city residents.

Ziply to Acquire Fiber Assets of UPN
Company will add more than 7,000 miles of fiber in the Pacific Northwest

BEAD Director Optimistic About Participation, More Guidance Coming
Evan Feinman said to expect the first BEAD final proposal 'in about two weeks.'

Comcast and Indiana Partner on $55 Million High-Speed Internet Expansion
ARPA funds and private investment to connect 10,000+ rural homes and businesses

Hawaiian, NTIA Officials Announce New Broadband Funding
State will receive more than $72 million to boost connectivity

Biden Funded Factories and Infrastructure, But Trump Might Get to Cut the Ribbons
Trump, rather than Biden, could get to tell Americans that he built the country back better.

Elon Musk's PAC Spent an Estimated $200 Million to Help Elect Trump, AP Source Says
America PAC was aided by a March ruling from the Federal Election Commission.

NTIA Approves Digital Equity Funds for Two More States
Ohio to get $23 million and Alaska $5 million

Mercury Broadband Defaults on Hundreds of RDOF Locations
Largest default was in Michigan, with 640 Census Block Groups

S.C. Mayor Wants ISPs to Increase Network Redundancy
Says network outages, even for a few hours, are incredibly disruptive to modern economy.

Placerville, California, to Build City-Owned Open Access Fiber Network
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Placerville 'strikes gold' with $20 million broadband project.

State Control Over FCC’s Pole Regulations – a Blessing or a Curse?
Twenty-three states choose to regulate their own pole attachment processes.

Experts: BEAD Success Hinges on States Supplementing FCC Pole Rules
Local approaches may resolve cost and delay challenges, experts say.

NTIA Approves $37 Million in Digital Equity Funds for Two States
Georgia would get $22 million and Indiana $15 million

NTIA Approves $70 Million for California’s Digital Equity Plan
Funds will come from the NTIA's State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program

Georgia Releases Proposed BEAD Application Questions
Providers to be considered for awards must answer a comprehensive list of questions

GoNetspeed: Pole Regs in Massachusetts Threaten BEAD Success
Company says it can take years to access poles in the Bay State.

Cable One, Mercury Broadband Default on RDOF Locations
FCC decided not to provide blanket amnesty for RDOF defaults.

Survey: Rising Internet Bills Add to Consumer Frustration Amid Inflation
Despite industry claims of affordable broadband, consumers report financial strain and show support for mandated price caps.

State and Industry Leaders Offer BEAD Update
Panelists emphasized community, collaboration as essential to BEAD success

Colorado Warns: One Week Left to Apply for BEAD Funds
Application window for BEAD will close Oct. 28

USDA Announces $173 Million in Additional ReConnect Funding
ReConnect Program funding will flow to ten states.

Hawaii Introduces Statewide Internet Speed Mapping Initiative
Map would identify where federal funding is most needed

Wyoming Opens BEAD Grant Application Window
The BEAD application window will close Dec. 5, 2024

Kendall County, Illinois, Builds Its Own Fiber Network After Being Snubbed By Big ISPs
The fiber-plus-fixed wireless project is estimated to cost $67 million to connect more than 13,000 county locations.
OzarksGo Ending Cable TV Service Struck by 'Cyber Incident'
Effort to restore cable TV service will not continue.
DOJ Gains Guilty Pleas in FCC Lifeline Fraud Scheme
The company stole more than $100 million over several years

NTIA Awards Idaho $6.3 Million for Digital Inclusion Efforts
Funding will flow from the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program

Connecticut Announces $28 Million in Broadband Grants
Comcast is slated to receive the majority of the funding

NTIA Approves Initial BEAD Proposals for Alaska, Ohio
Alaska is to receive about $1 billion and Ohio about $793 million

'Cyber Incident' Forces Arkansas Fiber ISP to Shut Down Linear Video Service
Affected customers to receive free Internet, streaming service for a month
Still Monitoring Helene Recovery, FCC Readies for Milton
The agency activated its disaster reporting system Monday.

Ookla Names Connecticut, North Dakota As Top Performing Broadband States
Speed data showed that performance was far from equal across the board.

NTIA Approves Volume Two of Iowa’s BEAD Proposal
The approval enables Iowa to begin implementing its BEAD program
California Plan to Award $1.8 Billion in BEAD Funds Approved
CPUC also awarded $172 million to get fiber to 56,000 locations.

Two Alabama Cooperatives Win Grant Funding to Expand Fiber Service
The grant helps fund 2,347 miles of new fiber deployment, bringing broadband availability to more than 15,000 locations.

State Broadband Officers Prioritize Community in BEAD Deployment
Officials said that community outreach is essential to digital equity

Kansas Set to Open BEAD Grant Application Window for Internet Expansion
With $451.7 million from BEAD, the state expects to reach all unserved and underserved areas.

Litigation Heats Up Over FCC’s Inmate Call Rate Caps
Fourteen states and the largest prison telecom provider have escalated their legal fight against the FCC.

ISPs Helping Recovery from Deadly Hurricane Helene
With 21.7% of cell towers down in affected regions, emergency services struggle to respond in isolated areas

Would Trump Put BEAD on Hold? Unlikely, Experts Say
Some states are already fielding grant applications under the current rules.

Point Broadband Acquires Broadband Arm of Riviera Utilities
Point Broadband plans to upgrade RU’s network within a few months.

Harris’ Proposed Corporate Tax Hike Could Alter ISPs’ BEAD Plans
Under current law, BEAD grants are taxable income at federal level.

California Governor Vetoes Bill to Create First-in-Nation AI Safety Measures
'I do not believe this is the best approach to protecting the public from real threats posed by the technology.'

Illinois to Launch Next Phases of Connect Illinois, Waits on NTIA
Illinois says that the Connect Illinois program is the largest state broadband funding program in the U.S.

NTIA Approves Initial BEAD Proposals for Four More States
BEAD has $42.45 billion to fund broadband deployment projects.

Plumas-Sierra Telecom Nabs $67 Million In Middle Mile Grants Across 4 California Counties
The investment in the cooperative could be a game-changer for rural connectivity in the Golden State.

GOP State AGs Oppose FCC’s 60-Day Mobile Phone Unlocking Plan
State officials say FCC lacks legal authority to require unlocking.

GCI’s Ownership Up in the Air Amid Liberty-Charter Merger Talks
Charter's merger proposal excluded GCI from the deal.

BEAD Proposals Approved for North Dakota, Idaho, and American Samoa
The BEAD has $42.45 billion to advance broadband in the U.S.

What Broadband Leaders Need to Know About Recruiting New Workers
Beyond Teenagers: In addition to teenagers entering the workforce, we also need to serve adults who are ready to upskill.

Government Broadband Funds Should go to Open Networks: Panel
More than 15 states say they will prioritize open access networks with BEAD funding.

Exclusive Series: Big Money Moves Forward with Open Access
What was once largely a public-sector initiative is now attracting billions in private investment capital.
Exclusive Series: AT&T, T-Mobile Bet Big on Open Access
Once staunch opponents of open access, Tier 1 ISPs are now entering a space traditionally dominated by municipalities.
Exclusive Series: Municipal Broadband and Open Access
More than a third of the 700 communities served by municipal broadband do so with an open access network.

Crisis Over: Alaska City's Internet Returns
Subsea tear to GCI's fiber network occurred on Aug. 29.
CWA Leadership Authorizes Strike at AT&T West
More than 17,000 additional CWA workers are stiking against AT&T Southeast.

AT&T Announces Wholesale Agreements with 4 Open Access Fiber Providers
Big telecom carriers are racing to expand their fiber footprints.

Regulators, States, Private Sector Urge Solution to Child Safety Online
Two federal efforts aimed at protecting children online have stalled as Congress went on a six-week recess without a vote.

Tech Group Urges Rosenworcel to Drop AI-Disclosure Regulations
FCC rules would mandate disclosure of AI-generated political ads on radio and TV.
Lumen Defaults on 3,500 RDOF Locations
The company won a total of more than 77,000 homes and businesses in the RDOF reverse auction.

Alaska City Loses Internet, Cell Service for Days after Subsea Fiber Break
Sitka Police Department staying connected via Starlink satellite internet service.
In Auction Default, Indiana ISP Hands Back Broadband Locations to FCC
RTC is handing back nearly half of the locations won in the RDOF auction.
Expedited Federal Review Boosts Rollout of Broadband Initiatives
Permitting changes are accelerating the expansion of semiconductor fabs and solar developments.

Alpine County Open Access Fiber Among Big Winners In Latest California FFA Grants
On August 30, CPUC officials formally approved both a third and fourth round of FFA broadband funding.

California AI Safety Bill Faces Final Hurdle
The proposed law demands rigorous safeguards for AI systems that pose the highest risks.

SpaceX Leads as BEAD Opens Doors for LEO Satellite Technology
As SpaceX leads in orbital launches, the $42.5B BEAD program could further bolster its role in global broadband expansion.

SATT Seeks $1.8M RDOF Transfer to Avoid FCC Default Penalties
The FCC found the transfer in the public interest, provided South Central Connect submitted the necessary financial and legal documents.

Major Broadband Awards Handed Out in California, Ohio
California approved $237 million in grants; Ohio greenlit $94 million.

Chicago Diary: What I Saw at the Democratic National Convention
The struggle to balance corporate influence and grassroots demands was prominently felt at the DNC in Chicago.
Harris Accepts Democratic Nomination, Vows Support for Rule of Law and Common Sense
Artificial intelligence only tech or telecom issue mentioned by Harris in acceptance speech.

Rural Leaders See Their Hospitals Closing Without Robust Broadband
The Biden administration's broadband initiatives were described as crucial for saving rural hospitals.
In Chicago, Democratic Mayors Hail Biden’s Infrastructure Agenda
'If it weren't for these investments, you wouldn't be seeing economic comeback in cities across the country.'
Union Leaders Applaud Harris for Historic Broadband Investment and Job Creation
Union leaders lauded the BEAD program's pro-union and workforce protection provisions.

In Chicago, Democratic Mayors Urge Action to Preserve Affordable Internet
Mayors nationwide strategized to protect vulnerable communities from losing vital internet access.
Social Media Influencers to Take the Stage at Chicago Convention
Each night of the DNC will feature a speech by at least one influencer.

Broadband, CHIPS Act, Green Energy, Other Tech Issues in Democratic Platform
The platform links together investments in broadband infrastructure with policies promoting semiconductors and green energy.

Harris-Walz Announce Largest Digital Ad Buy In Presidential History
The campaign's $200 million digital ad buy reflects the growing influence of streaming and social media in shaping modern elections.

At DNC, Experts Sound Alarm on AI's Role in Election Misinformation
Even as deceptive content proliferates, social media companies have sharply downsized their election integrity departments.

Biden-Harris Infrastructure Coordinator Co-Chair of the Democratic National Convention
Biden's infrastructure czar among the four political leaders tapped to chair the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Florida School District Builds Internet Connectivity For Emergencies
The LTE systems will provide redundancy for school safety measures and connection for 911 calls.

GCI Calls for Reform of FCC's Alaska Broadband Fund
GCI suggested adjusting support to account for a rise in inflation

Analyzing BEAD Eligibility, Service and Competition Gaps in One Florida County
The report shows a county not only rich in eligible locations, but also opportunities for competing with incumbent providers.

California Proposes $91M Last Mile Broadband Awards
Pending approval, the money will go to 10 projects connecting 32,000 residents.

Internet Pioneer Says Interconnection Relevant to Last-Mile Access
Internet Exchange Points are distinct from data centers, and affect latency, cost and resiliency of a network.

NTIA Approves Colorado BEAD-Eligible Locations
The approval is a step in the process to bring $826 million to Colorado residents.

SiFi Announces T-Mobile Fiber Partnership
The partnership will expand fiber networks across five cities in four states.

Advice from Midwest State Broadband Heads on BEAD
Directors talk provider default prevention and fixed wireless technology.

State Broadband Directors Share Advice on Speeding up BEAD
‘I would encourage everyone… to really advocate to the NTIA for an expedited approval process,’ former broadband director said.

Former FCC Chairman Urges County-Level BEAD Project Areas
‘Searchlight urged [states] to think about an entire county as the relevant project area,' said former FCC chairman.

Final BEAD Proposals Will Be Quicker, NTIA Deputy Says
NTIA deputy says the agency has 'learned a lot' when it comes to approving state proposals.

Advice from Southwest State Broadband Heads on BEAD
Applications from WISPs would help inform extremely high-cost thresholds, they said.

SpaceX in Talks with NTIA to Deploy Starlink for BEAD
‘For me to participate in BEAD, I don’t want BEAD to say, “if something happens, I get your network,”’ SpaceX President says.

Georgia AG Wants FCC to Allow Cell Phone Jamming in Prisons
After seizing over 8,000 contraband phones, Georgia's AG wants the FCC to allow governments to block prison wireless communications.
Arizona Gets BEAD Volume Two Approval
It brings the total to 28 states, plus D.C. and three U.S. territories.

Charter, Hawaiian Telcom Included in $4 Billion Maui Fire Settlement
'There will certainly be additional updates from the Office of the Governor on this matter,' said the governor's office.
California is Closing its BEAD Challenge Process
California urges submissions for challenges.

Senate Passes Bills Aimed at Protecting Children Online
'Government mandates and censorship will not protect children online,' said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., one of the 'No' votes.

Oklahoma and 360 Broadband Launch $4.4M Project
The investment comes from a $3.5 million federal grant administered by the broadband office with ARPA funds.

Altafiber Not Sold on BEAD
The company hasn't yet found an area it's excited about, an altafiber executive said.

After NetChoice, Internet Companies Face Hard Work in Court
Because the states live on to fight for another day, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody also declared victory

California Proposes $143M Last Mile Broadband Awards
The program's fourth round of funding will connect 170,000 locations.

NTIA Releases Best Practices For Children Online
It included recommendations to federal agencies, online platforms and parents.

Surf Internet Secures $2.6 Indiana Connectivity Grant
The company was awarded $2.6 million of the $3.3 million from the program's 10th round of funding.

Intrepid, Tillman Fiber Secure Combined $1B Debt Financing
The money for fiber networks comes from French financial services company.

Broadband Breakfast on August 7, 2024 - Live from Mountain Connect 2024
The theme of this year's summit is "Beyond Bandwidth - The Power of Broadband Revolutionizing Access"

NTIA Approves Connecticut BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2
The state was allocated $144 million through the BEAD program.

Alaskan Provider Announces Starlink Collab
The low earth satellites will help connect hard to reach areas of the state.

Ookla Reports T-Mobile Fastest Mobile Provider
T-Mobile recorded median download speed of 234.82 Mbps.

Hawaii Receives BEAD Initial Proposal Approval
The state was allocated $194 million through BEAD.

Colorado Opens BEAD Public Comment Window
The public can review draft project area maps and program guidelines.

Idaho Opens BEAD Rebuttal Phase
Idaho Office of Broadband will provide 28 days for rebuttals to coverage challenges.

Verizon Fined for 911 Call Outage
The company will also be required to create a compliance plan.

Rogue Valley Secures $6.7M CHIPS Act Funds
The investment will enable the full production of semiconductors by 2025.

Former Kansas Broadband Chief Reflects on Controversial Exit
Piros de Carvalho’s departure comes at a time in which state broadband offices are being scrutinized as never before.

Maryland Announces BEAD Challenge Process
The challenge phase will begin on July 16.

California Opens BEAD Map Challenge Process
The state's challenge phase will last 30 days.

TruConnect Gets ETC Certification In Iowa in Four Months
The company’s affiliate has been waiting 11 years for the same approval from the FCC.

NTIA Approves Indiana's BEAD Plan, Opening Door for Spending $868 Million
NTIA approved the Hoosier state's Initial Proposal, Volume 2.

Missouri Opens BEAD Prequalification Process
The process will determine ISP capability to complete the proposed projects.

Surf Internet Expands Fiber In Partnership With Newton County, Indiana
The company will contribute $6.6 million to the new endeavor.

Illinois Program Establishes County Broadband Plans
The program helps rural communities develop a broadband plan for universal coverage.

Democratic Rep 'Deeply Concerned' about Rosenworcel’s Bulk Billing Proposal
Florida Congresswoman says the proposal would harm low-income Americans

LiveOak Fiber Secures $250M Network Investment
The company has constructed more than 1,000 miles of fiber in Southeast U.S.

NCTA Documentary Depicts Broadband Deployment Challenges
The documentary follows three ISP crews in hard-to-reach, rural areas of the U.S.

Why 'Non-deployment' Funds Are Important
I saw the logic of the way Arkansas organized its broadband event into a series on panels on ‘infrastructure’ and ‘non-deployment’.

$53.3M Grant For Alabama's Middle Mile Network
The money comes from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.

NTIA Official Says Agency is Using Maps to Provide Faster Permitting
NTIA official reveals ongoing efforts behind the scenes to expedite BEAD permitting processes.

Nevada the First State Awarded Digital Equity State Capacity Grant Money
Nevada is the first state to receive Digital Equity State Capacity Grant funds.

NTIA Accepted Digital Equity Plans for U.S. Territories
NTIA approved plans from American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Arkansas Calls for Increased Broadband Investment
The state cited $500 million in broadband investments, low tax rates, and proactive connectivity enhancements as reasons for Arkansas.

Experts Give Guidance on ISP BEAD Plans
ISPs should use state broadband coverage maps and financial forecasting to create BEAD plans.

Heartland Forward Launches Broadband Careers Site with Arkansas and Louisiana
Jobs board funded by Pew and supported by employers also aims to elevate training of broadband workers.

Arkansas Broadband Office on Lessons Learned Ahead of BEAD
The office has found a 'Goldilocks' solution for project areas and reimbursements, its deputy director said Tuesday.

West Virginia Has Worst Internet, Claims DesignRush
The state had the highest average number of complaints to the FCC about internet per 100,000 broadband serviceable locations.

New York Signs Social Media Algorithm Block for Minors
The bill requires social media platforms to cease using algorithms for children's online accounts.

Connected Complexity: The Journey to Modern Fiber Networks in Chicago
Many areas of Chicago rely on outdated and privately-owned telecommunication networks.

California Denies AT&T's Request to End Carrier of Last Resort Obligations
CPUC received over 5,000 public comments in opposition to AT&T's plan to replace landlines with cellular service.

Salt Lake City Has Fastest Internet Speeds, Says ISP Reports
The city has an average download speed of 6.5 Gbps, claims the report.

Arkansas Hosts BEAD Digital Opportunity Conference
The event will address various components of Arkansas's BEAD funding and vision for non-deployment opportunities.

Iowa Opens BEAD Rebuttal Window
Rebuttal submissions began June 14, initiating a 45-day window for ISPs to support or dispute challenges.

Affordability Mapping Essential for BEAD Deployments, Experts Say
Neglecting to map regions where both affordability and accessibility limit high-speed internet subscriptions could impair effectiveness.

The United States of BEAD
State-by-state broadband pages for every U.S. state and territory.

Delaware Enters BEAD Prequalification Phase
Delaware will review applications for capacity in the prequalification phase.

NTIA Approves Four State BEAD Volume Two
NTIA approved BEAD initial proposal volume two for Illinois, Oregon, Colorado, New Hampshire and Puerto Rico.

Brightspeed Fiber Awarded $5.6M from Indiana
The money will connect more than 120,000 Indiana addresses.

California Broadband Summit
Videos from all five panel discussions now available!

Kansas Announces $3.9M Digital Equity Grants
The money will fund public Wi-Fi and device distribution programs.

NTIA Fully Approves BEAD Plans from Colorado and New Hampshire
The states will have one year to award grants under the program.

Indiana Invests $81.5 Million in Grant Program
The fourth round of the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant program results in a total investment of $216 million.

What AI Policymakers Need to Be Thinking About in California and Beyond
Examples of harms from AI already exist, such as Californians being wrongfully denied unemployment insurance during the pandemic.

Why Barbara McQuade is So Worried About Disinformation
Disinformation is a threat to democracy, especially in local elections, she said: 'True patriotism is a commitment to truth.'

California Issues Last Mile Fund Draft Resolutions
Applicants for California's Last Mile Federal Funding Account can expect to receive feedback soon.

Panelists Debate Paid Peering, Net Neutrality at California Broadband Summit
Broadband industry groups challenged the rules in court last week.

Legislators, Providers Concerned about California Broadband Grant Timelines
The state is 'poised to begin' awarding stalled grants.

Broadband Infrastructure Providers Share California Regulatory Challenges
'The challenges are not new… We haven't really progressed to the point where we have solutions,' infrastructure provider says

California Middle-Mile Initiative Prioritizes Connecting Local Grant Applicants
The $3.8-billion program's director said 107 grant applicants intend to connect to its infrastructure.

Idaho Opens BEAD Challenge Process
The state was awarded $583 million from BEAD.

California Official Shares Challenges in Providing Affordability After ACP
“You can’t sugar coat it… Its absence will be felt here,” state official says

Mark Monroe Guides Ahead-of-Schedule Middle Mile Program
A proposed budget from the governor's office steps back from guaranteeing more money amid rising costs.

Why Broadband Matters in California... and Everywhere
Broadband is a utility that's a little bit like plumbing – just sexier.

Colorado Announces Additional CPF Winners
The money will enable 10 gigabit internet access for hundreds of Colorado residents.

At California Department of Technology, Scott Adams Seeks Broadband for All
The team at California Department of Technology leads strategic planning and coordination of broadband deployments in the state.

Rob Osborn Leads the Division of CPUC Responsible for Broadband Grants
Osborn is responsible for implementation of California broadband funding programs.

Hawaii Governor, PUC Block ISP Sandwich Isles from Shutting Down
SIC did not go forward with plans to shut off wireline phone and Internet service at 12:01 a.m. on June 1.
Hawaii ISP Sandwich Isles to Shut Down Voice, Internet Service on Saturday
Sandwich Isles Communications sent an email to Native Hawaiian customers on Thursday saying it was shutting down service on Saturday.
Colorado Cracks Down on AI Deceptions in Campaign Ads
Colorado Governor signs into law AI disinformation bill, days after similar FCC proposal

Colorado Signs Right to Repair Bill
The bill prohibits software that prevents independent repairs to digital products.

Alabama Grants $2.39 Million to WOW! for Fiber Expansion
The combined $3.41 million will target underserved areas of the state.

Colorado to Increase Locality Outreach in Summer Roadshow
State broadband officers will discuss broadband topics with local leaders in a state tour.

Hawaii Tells Sandwich Isles Customers to Find a New ISP Soon
State of Hawaii wants residents served by 'troubled' Sandwich Isles Communications to switch to Charter or Hawaiian Telcom.
New Project to Deploy Fiber to Military Bases Across U.S.
The company plans to deploy high-capacity dedicated networks for military installations.
Federal Miscount Could Cause Millions to Miss Out on Free Apartment Wi-Fi
One nonprofit is working to ensure millions living in affordable housing gain free internet access under a current government initiative.

Broadband Breakfast on June 12, 2024 – Digital Inclusion and Smart Cities
The smart cities dream hinges on ensuring universal internet access for all residents

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Proposes $2 Billion Cut In Broadband Projects
The proposal would represent a setback to the state's broadband ambitions.

States Gear Up for Subgrantee Selection in $42.5 Billion Federal Broadband Expansion
Arkansas and Tennessee now expect to service thousands fewer locations than originally anticipated through the BEAD program.
Reps. McMorris Rodgers, Pallone Offer Bill To Repeal Section 230
'Our bill gives Big Tech a choice: Work with Congress to ensure the Internet is a safe, healthy place for good, or lose Section 230 protections entirely,'
In California, Rural Providers Lay Out Broadband Obstacles to House Lawmakers
More that needs to be done for rural Americans, the California-based providers argued.

Commerce Department is Aiming to Approve All BEAD Plans by Fall
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said there will be more approvals handed down in the coming weeks.

Broadband People: New Director for Illiniois Office of Broadband
Devon Braunstein, the current assistant director, will be heading the office.

California Broadband Summit in June; Broadband Communities in Texas Now
California remains the nation's largest state by far. Yet Texas is mounting a very strong second, and with a growth rate is more than two-and-a-half times that of the Golden State.

Cable ISP WOW! Gets Offer to Go Private
DigitalBridge Investments, Crestview Partners team up on the bid

Kansas and West Virginia Receive BEAD Volume 2 Approval
The states will have one year to award subgrants with their allocations.

Fastwyre Broadband Announces Central Alabama Investments
The new initiative will enhance broadband access for rural Alabama

Altice USA To Surrender RDOF Awards In Three More States
The third-largest cable ISP in the country told the FCC Friday it intends to surrender awards in Kentucky, Arkansas and West Virginia.

Broadband Accessibility a Focal Point in Hearing on Telehealth
Participants consider broadband internet an integral part of expanding telehealth accessibility.

Big ISPs Want FCC To Block State USF Mandates
At issue now is whether the FCC has left the door open for states to require them to contribute to state USF programs.

BEAD Roundup: South Carolina and Washington State Open Challenge Portals
Idaho awarded $500,000 in grants to bolster community involvement in the state's BEAD implementation.

California Digital Discrimination Bill Moves Out of Committee
The bill to codify in state law the federal definition of digital discrimination advanced along partisan lines.

FCC Hits Pause On Bank Ratings Firm After Hearing Concerns, Complaints
For one year, FCC won't use Weiss ratings for banks' letters of credit of RDOF, CAF II winners.

Tarana and Mediacom Announce Partnership for Fixed Wireless in the South
Two companies have combined forces to bring high quality internet to the South.

Momentum Growing for June 5 California Broadband Summit at CalMatters Ideas Festival
The event will feature key officials from industry, government and civil society.

If ACP Goes Away, Wireless Carrier Wants Jump in Lifeline Support for Tribal Areas
Smith Bagley, Inc., is asking the FCC to provide more money to the Tribal Lifeline benefit.

White House Touts U.S. Semiconductor Factories by Chip Giant TSMC
The new deal should help bolster American semiconductor manufacturing capacity and supply chain independence.

Alabama's Approved BEAD Plan Excludes RDOF Waiver
The state had considered asking for a waiver to open up RDOF areas to BEAD funds.

Some Wireless Services Deemed ‘Underserved’ in 4 States, Expanding BEAD Locations
States advocating for some wireless services to be classified as 'underserved' were rewarded with a new modification by NTIA.
AT&T Investigating Internal Data Leak Affecting 73 Million
AT&T issued statement on data breach which affected 73 million current and former customers.

Conexon Connect Announces Completion Of 1,300 Mile Broadband Project
An ISP announces the completion of a new rural broadband project.

BEAD Roundup: Michigan and Missouri Begin Accepting Challenges
Vermont, Georgia, and Indiana are set to wrap up their challenge phase and process ISP rebuttals.

Altice USA Defaults on RDOF Blocks in Louisiana for BEAD Eligibility
Altice USA joins the growing list of near 100 companies that have failed to fulfill commitments made under RDOF.

Western States Face Uphill Battle in Broadband Deployment Despite BEAD
CTC Technology and Energy's Joanne Hovis also said broadband truly is a non-partisan issue.

Vermont to Start BEAD Challenge Process
Four other states are accepting challenges and three more are planning to begin the process soon.

Fixed Wireless Providers Warn About Higher Costs of Fiber Deployment
Broadband experts discussed how fiber costs could harm states' ability to build out their broadband networks

$500M California Fund for Public Broadband Infrastructure
The application window for the Loan Loss Reserve Program will be open from Tuesday, March 12, through Tuesday, April 9.

Flush With BEAD Cash, at Least 13 States Make Plans For ‘Nondeployment’ Funds
Several state offices expect to utilize nondeployment funds in conjunction with infrastructure deployment funds for BEAD.

Supreme Court Skeptical Of Texas, Florida Social Media Content Moderation Laws
Justices Roberts, Kavanaugh and Barrett seemed skeptical of the constitutionality of the Florida and Texas laws.

Alabama Announces $150 Million Broadband Expansion
The $150 million will be used to create the state’s Capital Projects Fund grants program.

California Residents Concerned About AT&T Request to Phase Out Landline Service
Nearly 4,000 California residents have expressed that their landline connection frequently acts as their sole means of communication.

Georgia House Votes to Exempt BEAD, ARPA Grants from State Taxes
The measure now heads to the Georgia Senate, passing the House by a vote of 162-1.

NTIA Allocates $42 Million to Drive Research and Development in Open RAN Technology
The R&D initiative aims to revolutionize 4G and 5G mobile networks by using cloud-based software to reduce deployment costs, provide operational simplicity, and simplify new feature rollouts.

Middle Mile Broadband in Alabama from American Rescue Act Funds
Alabama announces initiative to expand middle mile broadband for rural areas.

Dish Wireless Seeks FCC Help With Affordable Connectivity Transition
The company needs to be designed as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier to promote the Lifeline option, it said.

Indiana, Tennessee, Washington, and W.V. Receive BEAD Volume 1 Approval
The four states are now free to start ground-truthing government broadband data.

Illinois, Indiana and Georgia Announce Plans for BEAD Challenges
Illinois aims to kick off the challenge process on Monday, January 29, and Indiana plans a March 4 start

Colorado to Begin BEAD Challenge Process Next Week
The NTIA approved the state's plan on Wednesday, the state said.

$113 Million in Broadband Grants Aim to Empower Colorado’s Local Providers
All but one of the awardees are Colorado-based internet service providers.

Draft BEAD Plans Looking to Mark Some Fixed Wireless 'Underserved'
Ohio's move was blocked by the NTIA, but Vermont's and Georgia's survived edits from the agency.

House Passes 5G SALE Act, Will Reinstate Limited FCC Authority
The measure empowers the FCC to allocate spectrum licenses auctioned before March 9, 2023.

Google Loses to Epic Games, $120 Million Idaho Broadband, New Google Fiber Exec
Google has been found guilty in an antitrust trial brought on by video game company Epic Games.

Treasury Approves $22.5M Funding for Broadband Healthcare in Washington, D.C.
The Whitman-Walker’s Max Robinson Center will be able to serve an extra 10,000 residents with telehealth.

FCC and State AGs on Cybersecurity, FCC Approves Starlink, Verizon and Zebra on 5G
The FCC is partnering with state attorneys general to crack down on cybersecurity measures.

Florida’s BEAD Initial Proposal, Volume Two
The state may request a waiver to make RDOF areas eligible for BEAD.

Nvidia Navigates Export Rules, FCC on High-Cost, Kansas Awards Fiber Grants
Department of Commerce continues to combat the export of U.S. semiconductors to adversarial nations

Supply Chain Improvements, Bill for Broadband in Public Parks, FCC Grants Alert System Compliance Extension
The Biden administration announced Wednesday a list of new measures to promote supply chain resiliency.

FCC Fines TracFone, Rip and Replace Extensions, Kansas State Internet Exchange Point
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has entered into a settlement with TracFone for subsidy program violations.

Broadcom Finalizes VMware, $191M for Wilkes Rural Broadband, Kinetic Fiber in Georgia
Broadcom announces the closing of their $69 billion acquisition of VMware.

Alabama’s BEAD Initial Proposal, Volumes One and Two
The state is asking for a waiver to open up RDOF areas to BEAD applications.

Arkansas’s BEAD Initial Proposal, Volume Two
The state is planning to expand its fiber technician training program after funding infrastructure projects.

Florida Releases Volume One of BEAD Plans
The state will mark all DSL customers as ‘underserved’ in its Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment plan.

Silicon Valley Rep. Anna Eshoo Will Not Seek Reelection
The lawmaker’s Silicon Valley seat will be open for the first time in decades.

Alaska Releases BEAD Proposal, Volume Two
The state is looking to set locations outside its mapped community boundaries as extremely high-cost.

Iowa BEAD Initial Proposal, Volumes One and Two
The state is opting into speed tests, area and MDU challenges, and new financing guidelines.

Connect20 Summit: Data-Driven Approach Needed for Digital Navigation
The NTIA’s Internet Use Survey doesn’t delve deeply enough into why people choose not to adopt broadband.

Broadband Offices Tout State Initiative to Train Prisoners for Broadband Workforce
The industry has been working to train students and others to take on jobs in broadband-related fields.

Hawaii and Oregon Release Draft BEAD Proposals
Comments are due to Oregon’s broadband office on December 10, and to the University of Hawaii by December 9.

Ziply Fiber 50 Gig Plan, New Cox Enterprise Leadership, Vero Fiber in Colorado
Ziply Fiber is offering a new 50 Gig plan in several states including Montana, Oregon, Idaho and Washington.

FCC $18 Billion in Cost Model Funds, FTC Refunds Vonage Customers, Iowa Broadband
FCC approves $18 billion for rural broadband expansion under the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model.

Broadband Breakfast on November 15, 2023 – Social Media for Kids in Utah
The social media landscape is changing as lawmakers become more active in shaping digital communication

AGs File Social Media Harms Suit, AI Labeling Bill, Lumen Gets California Funds
33 State attorneys general sue Meta for allegedly capitalizing off of young users.

FTC Nominees Moved Forward, New Jersey Outlines BEAD Concerns, Fiber Utility Network CTO
Two Republicans nominees for the FTC have been pushed through by a subcommittee.

U.S. and Singapore to Strengthen AI and Tech Partnership
The nations held their first Critical Emerging Technology Dialogue in D.C. on Thursday.

WOW! in Florida, ZiplyFiber in Washington, VON Evolution Conference November 1-2
Broadband service provider WOW! is set to expand infrastructure in Florida

No to E-Rate Changes, Millions for Tribal Broadband, Oregon Grants, Arkansas Training Program
GOP lawmakers want new FCC commissioner to reject E-Rate expansion.

FTC and 17 States Sue Amazon, Gomez Sworn in at FCC, South Central Broadband
The FTC complaint alleges anti-discounting measures that deter sellers from offering lower prices.

Middle Mile Infrastructure Will be Key to Support BEAD Builds: Experts
Experts cited a lack of middle mile as the biggest obstacle to reaching many unserved areas.

State Broadband Officers Outline BEAD Implementation Efforts
Broadband heads from 5 states listed community outreach, mapping, and program deadlines as top priorities for BEAD.

Some States Confused about Changes to NTIA Model Challenge Process
The new guidelines specify that only subscribers of 100 * 20 Mbps service will have speed tests accepted.

States Flex Job Creation Following CHIPS Act Passage, Panelists Say
The three states showcased efforts at growing the semiconductor industry.

Broadband Breakfast Webcast of BEAD Implementation Summit Available for $35
Space is extremely limited for the in-person event; Zoom in instead with the Broadband Breakfast community.

Transition to Fiber is Essential for Reducing Telecom Emissions: Expert
Replacing copper infrastructure is Altafiber’s biggest climate priority.

Proposed Buy America Waiver Makes BEAD Projects Feasible, Say Fiber Manufacturers
Experts said the waiver will make it more practical for BEAD projects to comply with Buy America rules.

Fiber and Wireless Companies Agree States Should Incentivize Local Permitting Reform
State can offer grant application points and recognition for adhering to permitting guidance.

Iowa and Missouri Representatives Speak to Legislative Importance of Broadband
Representatives asked industry leaders to communicate their deployment concerns.

BEAD Letter of Credit Concerns, $4.3M in ACP Outreach Grants, FCC Waives Rules for Hawaii Wildfires
The letter follows calls to drop the credit rule that it said could shut out smaller ISPs from funding.

Maine Submitted its BEAD 5-Year Action Plan to the NTIA
Maine is one of the first states to submit its plan to the NTIA, following Delaware.

SiFi Network’s Placentia FiberCity First of Company’s Communities to Go Live
New SiFi FiberCity live with two more to be announced soon.

New Broadband Data Tool, Alabama’s $8M Broadband Funding, Sparklight Project, GCI’s $4.9M Investment
Tool assesses the resilience of broadband infrastructures in case of natural hazards.

Adtran’s Investment, White House Wants Texas Social Media Law Blocked, Anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act
Adtran will partner with local area schools for its high school apprenticeship program.

Karl Bode: After Decades of Talk, Palo Alto Drives Forward on Municipal Fiber Build
Palo Alto officials have been talking about building such a network since 1998.

State BEAD Challenge Process Requires Outreach Coordination
ISPs can’t be expected to understand all program rules and processes, event hears.

Executive Order to Limit Tech Investment, AI Competition, More ECF Funding
Limited foreign investment includes on technologies such as semiconductors and AI.

Texas Working with NTIA to Address Legislation that Limits Municipal Broadband, as States Tout P3s
Public-private partnerships have seen success in several states, officials said.

Colorado Broadband Officer Lays out BEAD Hurdles
In keynote luncheon fireside chat, Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., raised concerns about some BEAD requirements.

State Leaders Set Sights on Long-term Digital Equity Planning
Digital Equity projects will be an ongoing effort for many states.

Nokia Fiber Electronics Facility Likely to Alleviate ‘Buy America’ Concerns, Industry Says
Nokia will continue to invest in American manufacturing in the coming years, said CEO.

Complex Application Prompts Two-thirds of ACP Applicants to Quit: Experts
Eligible Americans are not getting through the entire ACP application process, event hears.

Broadband Breakfast on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 – Fiber Connect
States are ramping up to submit their five-year broadband plans.

Broadband Breakfast at 10a ET / 8a MT on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – Mountain Connect
This year, the spotlight is on infrastructure integration, collaboration, and technology innovation.

Virginia Set to Submit Initial Proposal for Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment
Virginia is waiting for data on the number of unserved and underserved locations in the state.

How Did NTIA’s Allocation of BEAD Funding Compare with Prior Predictions?
Cartesian predictions follow closely with BEAD allocation announcements on Monday.

Permitting, Purchase Restrictions Still Outstanding as BEAD Makes Way to States
Permitting delays could make the five-year deployment timeline difficult to meet, panelists said.

BEAD Funding Allocation Announcement Gets High Praise to Begin New Broadband Chapter
Texas is the highest awarded state, as 19 states set to receive more than $1 billion from BEAD.

White House to Announce State Broadband Deployment Allocations Monday Morning
State broadband officers are prepared to leverage BEAD money to connect all Americans to the internet.

Biden Meets AI Experts, Iowa Broadband Funding, Render and VETRO Form Partnership
Meeting comes as lawmakers zero-in on regulation of artificial intelligence.

Experts Advocate Federal Agency to Oversee Children Online Safety
Experts are concerned a patchwork of state laws would fail to address the problem of kids online safety.

AI Regulation Bill, Quantum Fiber in More Cities, Charter Awarded $60M in Florida Broadband
The AI Disclosure Act would require disclosures on all AI-generated content.

Mississippi Gets $151M for Broadband, FCC Commits $15M from ECF, FCC Proposes Fine Against SkySwitch
Mississippi will receive $151 million from Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund.

Scott Wallsten: A $10 Billion Broadband Black Hole?
We know little about how California and other states plan to distribute the money under the opaque arrangement.

Treasury Funds for Idaho and Delaware, FCC Funds $24 Million for Schools, Musk Tweets New CEO
Treasury announced funding awards through the Capital Projects Fund for broadband and community development projects.

Starlink Likes FCC Direction on 12 GHz, Verizon & Comcast Urge ACP Funding, FCC Head on ACP Tour
The sharing of the 12 GHz band between satellite and mobile services has been the subject of contention for years.

Counties Can Help Providers Enter Markets, Say County Leaders
County governments can coordinate with ISPs to connect their communities, panel hears.

Colorado Law for Muni Broadband Networks, VETRO and COS Collaborate, South African Open Access
Because of now-defunct Colorado law, a total of 122 communities had to opt out of state-level broadband restrictions.

Senators Question BEAD Rules, Apple Wins Antitrust Case, Florida Fights Targeted Advertising
Senators are concerned about BEAD’s fiber preference and Buy America rules.

Brieana Reed-Harmel: Capital Construction of a Municipal Broadband Utility 101
The author led the city of Loveland, Colorado, through the assessment and feasibility study of publicly-owned broadband.

Kelly Wert: States Seek to Fund Broadband Upgrades in Affordable Rental Housing
Efforts in multiple states aim to address connectivity challenges for low-income residents.

FCC Commits $2.5 Million from Emergency Connectivity Fund
The FCC inches closer to exhausting the $7.17 billion fund.

Final ACP Outreach Partners, Pennsylvania’s Broadband Program,10 Gigabit Internet In Northwest
The FCC has been trying to get as many eligible Americans on the ACP as possible through outreach.

CHIPS Act Rules Against China, Idaho State Broadband Funds, FCC Combats Hidden Fees
Commerce Department’s new proposal would limit CHIPS Act recipients from investing in other countries

FCC Added Just Over 1 Million Net New Locations in Broadband Map Fabric Slated For Spring Release: Chairwoman
Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the second version of map fabric ‘largely completed.’

Children’s Online Safety Bills Criticized for Compliance Burden, Plus Speech and Privacy Risks
States are considering measures ranging from age verification to a “duty of care.”

Raul Katz: Can Investments in Robust Broadband Help States Limit the Downside of Recession?
If managed effectively, the BEAD program could play a key role in allowing our economy to weather the storms ahead.

‘Buy America’ Waivers Possible, But Very Difficult to Obtain, Says NTIA Chief
The bar ‘is not impossibly high, but it is high,’ Alan Davidson said.

AT&T Floats BEAD in USF Areas, Counties Concerned About FCC Map, Alabama’s $25M for Broadband
AT&T suggested the FCC look into relieving USF by considering other public funding in ACAM areas.

Broadband Breakfast on March 8: A Status Update on Tribal Broadband
Tribal leaders say they need to gather data to ensure that Tribal nations receive funding necessary for broadband.

Third-Party Consultants Can Coordinate Broadband Deployment, Say Panelists
Awardees of NTIA’s BIP recommend hiring third-party technical consultants.

Three More States Receive $350 Million from Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund
Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema praised the program for ‘delivering real solutions to Arizonans.’

Robocallers Disconnected, Connecting Minority Communities Grants, No Licenses for Huawei
The FCC said that MV Realty used the PhoneBurner dialing platform, and ordered Twilio to disconnect the companies.

Must Internet Platforms Host Objectionable Content? Appeals Courts Consider ‘Must Carry’ Rules
Court decisions on Texas and Florida “must-carry” laws disagreed on whether online platforms should be regulated as common carriers.

Meta Restores Trump’s Accounts, Alaska Uses AI for Mapping, Public Interest Model for Spectrum Policy
Former President Trump will face heightened penalties for future, repeated violations of Facebook’s and Meta’s policies.

Supreme Court Seeks Biden Administration’s Input on Texas and Florida Social Media Laws
The court has not yet agreed to hear the cases, but multiple justices have commented on their importance.

Businesses Should Prepare for More State-Specific Privacy Laws, Attorneys Say
“The privacy landscape in the U.S. is likely to become more complicated before it gets any easier.”

FCC Breach Notifications, More 6 GHz Testing?, Alaskan Middle Mile Options
FCC looks to strip time to notify and expand definition of breach for telecom reporting.

State Broadband Offices Face Major Challenges With Limited Resources
State officials are responsible for the disbursal of federal broadband infrastructure funds, but many offices are understaffed.

Municipal Networks and Incumbent Providers Will Compete for Grant Funding in 2023
The cost of remote fiber deployment can be a deterrent, necessitating creative community solutions.

More Planning Grants, Variance in Updated Broadband Connectivity, Elon Musk Stepping Down as Twitter CEO
New planning grants were awarded to twelve states and two tribal entities.

‘Rip and Replace’ Problems, Texas Social Media Law, Twitter Flip-Flops on Promotions
The RWA told the FCC its members are struggling to get loans to fulfil Rip and Replace obligations.

Surveying the Affordable Connectivity Fund, New Tribal Funding, Another Chinese Company Banned
The combination of federal benefits is currently prohibited in the state of California.

Anchor Institutions Spreading Connectivity, SHLB Web Audience Hears
Since November, library cardholders can check out Wi-Fi hotspots for home use.

NTIA Awards More Planning Grants, 10 GHz Band for Fixed Wireless, WISPA Warning on Digital Discrimination Inquiry
The NTIA approved eight more planning grants Monday.

E-Rate Bidding Portal Dilemma, Sustainable Funding for Indigenous Broadband, NYC Kills Internet Plan
Iowa’s education department said it faces breaking either FCC or state rules if E-Rate portal approved.

FCC December Agenda, Biden to Visit TSMC plant, Weak Economy Presents Cyber Problem
The December meeting includes digital discrimination prevention, phone service accessibility, and satellite application processes.

Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Utah to Receive Nearly $1 Billion in American Rescue Plan Funds
The states will use their funding through the Capital Projects Fund to connect more than 180,000 homes and businesses.

States Face Roadblocks in Challenge Processes, FCC Tries to Facilitate
The BEAD timeline looms large for many who worry that two months is insufficient time to correct the map.

Florida, Mississippi, S.D. and Utah Awarded Broadband Planning Grants
‘This award will provide access to those communities who have for too long went without affordable internet connectivity.’

Local Leadership and Coordination Key to Proper Federal Fund Allocation, Conference Hears
Local communities understand their own needs, said Arkansas’s Glen Howie.

Report Urges States, Local Governments Follow Federal Rules on Prohibited Equipment Purchases
Only a handful of states have crafted their purchasing decisions after federal rules banning certain companies’ equipment.

Midterm Control of Congress Remains Uncertain, But States Got Answers to Broadband Votes
Alabama, Colorado, New Mexico, New York, Kansas and Pennsylvania had broadband-related measures on the ballot.

New ACP Outreach Programs, Digital Equity Off-Campus Study, Another ISP Acquisition
At least $70 million will be committed to get Americans signed up to the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Pause on Twitter Verification, ISP Acquired, Public Safety Network New Board Member
The New York Times reported that Twitter is pausing its pay-for-verification system until after midterm elections.

Alabama, New Mexico Voters Eye Constitutional Amendments for Broadband Funding
Two states will allow midterm voters to chime in on state funds for broadband deployment.

Verizon Rejects Claims of Redlining, $759 Million from ReConnect, Utopia Fiber Survey
ISP is rebutting claims of the Associated Press and The Markup story on internet deals in non-white neighborhoods

Noted Classical Liberal Legal Scholar Countenances Regulation of Social Media
Georgetown University professor Randy Barnett said that the ability to post on social media might be a civil right.

Broadband ‘Funding is Sufficient to Achieve the Program’s Availability Goal,’ Says Cable Industry Study
Study says California and Texas will be the biggest BEAD winners, with grants of more than $3 billion each.

Rosenworcel Backs Foreign ID Bill, Parler To Be Acquired, T-Mobile Best Mobile Wireless Speeds
‘Consumers deserve to trust that public airwaves aren’t being leased without their knowledge to foreign governments.’

Musk Buys Some Time with Twitter, NTIA on Home Internet Connections, Fiber in Alaska
Musk asked to nix the October 17 trial date, which would to allow more time for his financing banks.

Tech Against Texas Social Media, Alabama Middle Mile Grant, IP3 Awards Bestowed
Two information technology industry groups are trying to stall implementation of Texas’ social media law.

Public–Private Partnership Model ‘Most Effective Way’ to Address Digital Divide: AT&T Rep
The company’s president of broadband access and adoption initiatives lauded AT&T’s public-private partnerships.

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chair Takes FCC to Task for Communication With Tribes
‘You need to get a little better about talking to and listening to native communities,” the chairman told the FCC.

Kenosha Gets Fiber, Judiciary Committee Advances Journalism Bill, Rosenworcel Touts Women in Tech
SiFi Networks will construct an all-fiber network for 40,000 households in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

62% of Americans Have Access to High-Speed 5G, Says New BroadbandNow Map
The company says its map is based on millions of M-Lab speed tests conducted over a six-month period.

Led by Wyden, Democrats Call on NTIA to Reform Privacy Standards for .US Domains
The Democratic legislator called on NTIA end the automatic disclosure of .US web domain users’ personal information.

Digital Asset Regulation, Texas Social Media Law Upheld, WISPA Endorses California Tech Neutral Bill
The White House released a “comprehensive framework” for the regulation of digital assets.

California Social Media Law, Rosenworcel Deep in Space, Changes at I3 Connectivity Explorer
The California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom will limit the online collection of children’s data.

Broadband Mapping Masterclass on September 27, 2022
Learn how your ISP and community can avoid the broadband mapping trainwreck.

A White House Event, Biden Administration Seeks Regulation of Big Tech
Participants voiced concerns over alleged abuses by big tech companies.

FCC’s Fabric Challenge Process Important Part of Getting Map Right, Agency Says
Despite confidence in its mapping fabric, an FCC panel said the challenge process is important.

Broadband Breakfast on September 14, 2022 – How Can Cities Take Advantage of Federal Broadband Funding?
There is an increasing worry that cities may be left out of the wealth of resources for broadband infrastructure spending.

FCC Commits Additional $800 Million From Rural Digital Opportunity Fund
The authorization comes three weeks after the commission denied funding to Starlink and LTD Broadband.

FCC Testing Wireless Alerts, 6 GHz Concerns, California Privacy Bill for Minors
The FCC will test the location accuracy of wireless tests over two days in September.

Five More States to Receive Money from Capital Projects Fund
Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Nebraska and North Dakota are the latest recipients.

Fiber Broadband Association Brings Regional Fiber Connect Shows on Road
Regional Fiber Connect conferences are bringing the industry’s technology and community leadership together.

Advocacy Groups Applaud FCC Releasing Mobile Data Collection Information
‘These letters show that…carrier geolocation data practices are all over the map.’

Broadband Breakfast on August 24, 2022 – Summer of Broadband: Illinois
On August 24, Broadband Breakfast Editor and Publisher Drew Clark will return to the Land of Lincoln.

FCC Encouraged to Limit Data Collection on Affordable Connectivity Program, Others Want More
One trade group warns about providers leaving the program if data collection too onerous.

States are Making Their Own Broadband Maps to Challenge the FCC’s Data
With FCC maps promised soon, some states are preparing to possibly challenge them by making their own.

Indiana Fosters Relationships in Preparation for Federal Broadband Funds
The state partners with educational institutions and service providers to maximize public funding.

Facebook Leads Use in U.S., AT&T Bringing More Fiber to Indiana Cities, USDLA Holds Conference
78% of the US population still uses Facebook regularly

Treasury Department Announces $357 Million in Additional Capital Projects Fund Awards
Kansas, Maine, Maryland and Minnesota are among the awardees.

Arizona City Council Approves Fiber Licensing Agreements
The city aims to connect all homes and businesses to fiber.

Broadband Breakfast on July 20, 2022 – Summer of Broadband: Indiana
Broadband Breakfast Live Online continues its ‘Summer of Broadband’ series with this special program involving Indiana’s broadband leaders.

Kate Forscey: Biden’s Broadband Plan Begs the Question, If We Build it, Will Consumers Really Come?
One of the biggest problems with getting broadband access to all Americans is not just deployment but adoption.

States Broadband Offices Outline Plans for Billions in Broadband Funds
Officials from Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine and New Mexico outline how they are preparing for broadband funding.

NTIA’s Effort to Dispense Broadband Funds to Municipalities Is Not Without Obstacles
The NTIA’s notice of funding opportunity stops short of explicitly endorsing municipal broadband as the preferred model.

Partnerships Likely to Be Deciding Factor in State Distribution of BEAD Funds, Say Experts
State and federal broadband policy experts agreed that partnerships would be instrumental to spending $42.5 billion in broadband funds.

Demanding Requirements on NTIA’s BEAD Program May Depress Broadband Participation
What are the downsides of having too many grant requirements?

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser Takes Aim at Big Tech and Big Telecom
What should state leaders be doing to procure a safer, healthier information environment?

Community Crowdsourcing Efforts Essential to Accessing Federal Broadband Funding
In the absence of reliable federal broadband mapping data, communities are taking matters into their own hands.

NTIA Doing All it Can to ‘Pressure’ States to Allow Municipal Broadband for Infrastructure Builds
Agency head Alan Davidson says communities “play a huge role” in build deployment.

Broadband Breakfast on May 25, 2022 – Broadband Breakfast Live Online from Mountain Connect in Colorado
Join conference attendees in conversation on key connectivity issues.

Mountain Connect Features NTIA’s Alan Davidson, 2 Colorado Senators and State Attorney General
A star-studded cast will take the stage next week as part of the dozens of events slated to take place.

34 States Signal Intent to Participate in NTIA’s Main Broadband Program
National Telecommunications and Information Administration announces news on its ‘Internet for All’ web portal for three IIJA programs.

Judge Opinion on Crypto Transfer, Internet Society Joins Partner2Connect, Cable One Invests $950 Million for 10G
The opinion stated that the Department of Justice can prosecute someone who sent millions in crypto to a sanctioned state.

BroadbandNow Publishes State Data Resource, FTC Cracks Down on Frontier, NordVPN and India
BroadbandNow’s latest state research gives users a clearer picture on where each state stands on broadband.

Consumers Should Be Better Informed on Factors Throttling Download Speeds
Consumers should know what they are purchasing and what they are getting with internet speeds.

FCC Mapping Data Open, Google-Waze Challenged in Court, Florida Co-op and Conexon Connect Team Up
Fixed wireless providers will be given an opportunity to view data about their served regions ahead of fabric roll-out.

NTIA Approves $1.2M in Grants for Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
The NTIA awarded four grants worth $1.2 million.

With More States Passing Privacy Legislation, Pressure for Federal Preemption Law Grows
Emerging state-level privacy bills have common threads with existing ones in California, Colorado and Virginia.

Verizon Early Access to Spectrum, Senate Encouraged to Pass Prison Phone Bill, $56M in Delaware Broadband
Verizon said accelerated access to C-band spectrum will allow it to get 5G to customers faster.

FCC Bans Chinese Telecom, NY Affordable Broadband Enrollment, Indiana Gov. Rejects Broadband Restrictions
Pacific Networks Corp. and its subsidy ComNet LLC were terminated in an FCC vote Wednesday.

Broadband Breakfast Interview With LightBox’s Bill Price on How States Can Get Better Maps
Bill Price discussed the work of LightBox in ensuring that states receive funding to close the digital divide.

State of the Union, 5G Connections Continue to Rise, Georgia and America Pledge Telecom Collaboration
President Joe Biden commented on closing the digital divide in his first State of the Union address.

Russia-backed RT Gets Blocked, NTIA Adds to Ranks, Open Access in California
Kremlin-backed media network RT has been blocked by broadcasters and big technology companies.

Broadband Breakfast on April 20, 2022 — Broadband Mapping and Data: In-Home Connections
How much of low bandwidth performance can be attributed to poor Wi-Fi transmission or slow computing speeds in the home?

Senators Want Map Work, Letter on Cybersecurity, D.C. Court Upholds FCC Antenna Rule
Sixteen senators signed a letter encouraging cooperation between the NTIA and the FCC on broadband maps.

Windstream’s Georgia Investment, Meta’s Mega Losses, Starlink Premium
Kinetic, a Windstream business, is plowing millions for broadband expansion in Georgia.

Attorneys General Suing Google Over Location Data Collection
The D.C. attorney general is leading other state AGs alleging Google mislead consumers into believing they could disable location tracking.

American Innovation and Choice Online Act Advances to Senate Floor With Bipartisan Alliance
Klobuchar was able to rally Democrats and Republicans to support her bill, but its future depends upon a shaky alliance.

Airlines’ 5G Warning, 3.45 GHz Winners, Bongino YouTube Suspension
Airlines claim the need to cancel a many flights because of interference between altimeters and 5G transmitters.

Broadband Breakfast on February 16, 2022 — State Broadband Officials and the Broadband Infrastructure Surge
State officials will play a crucial role in IIJA implementation.

Congress Must Avoid ‘Overly Prescriptive’ Incident Reporting To Avoid Missing Larger Cyberattacks
Too many reports could burden federal officials, said the executive director of the Alliance for Digital Innovation.

Rosenworcel Stands Firm on Net Neutrality in Face of Lawmakers Urging Status Quo
The FCC chairwoman responded to a letter by members of Congress resisting calls to back down on net neutrality.

New York Lawmaker’s Social Media Bill, Google Data Settlement Upheld, Netherlands Antitrust for Apple
NY’s Brad Hoylman introduced legislation that would attempt to control how social media handles users’ speech.

NTIA National Broadband Availability Map Expands to New States and Territories
Nevada, Louisiana, American Samoa and Puerto Rico will join.

Broadband Experts Agree on Multiple Datasets, Disagree on Level of Granularity for Maps
Three broadband experts on a Broadband Breakfast live event discussed data collection and specificity of mapping.

FCC Announces $43 Million in COVID-19 Telehealth Subsidies
The Federal Communication said the awards will help connect patients to critical health services during a new wave of Covid-19.

Feds Likely to Maintain Oversight of Infrastructure Bill Fund Disbursement
NTIA is likely to continue to oversee the $42.5 billion for broadband from the IIJA.

Public-Private Partnerships Will Help Bridge Digital Divide, Industry Leaders Say
The Panasonic Foundation said Investing in public-private partnerships will create better outcomes for communities.

Render Networks and Irby Ahead of Schedule on Arkansas Fiber Build
The build is also underbudget, they said.

Biden Acts on Surveillance, Florida Broadband Maps, Free State Wants Constitutional Spectrum
The administration’s efforts are mostly directed at curtailing the Chinese government.

Federal Court Blocks Social Media Law, Illinois Broadband Initiative, Fiber Leads for Telecom Giants
A Texas court blocked enforcement of a social media that would prevent companies from removing extreme speech.

Colorado and Virginia Lead In Consumer Privacy Legislation, Still Need Federal Law, Conference Hears
Both states join California as the only ones with comprehensive privacy laws, but experts say a federal bill should fill the regulatory void.

Huawei Responds to Sanctions, Fiber Satisfaction Study, Fiber Project in California
The Chinese telecom manufacturer is looking at licensing its designs to another company amid cratering profits.

Another $700 Million for 26 States Through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund
Over 400,000 locations across the U.S. will get broadband in this funding wave.

Ting Continues Fiber Expansion, A North Carolina Broadband Story, Broadband’s Impact in Alaska
Ting Internet said it will continue expanding its fiber infrastructure throughout the rest of the year.

Martha Escutia and Sunne Wright McPeak: Help Make the Planet Greener by Getting Online
We cannot ignore broadband as a key factor in maintaining environmental, social and economic progress.

Catherine McNally: The Digital Divide is an Equality Issue
To work toward equal access, more affordable options must be created, including community-based solutions.

Federal Communications Commission Dispenses $544 Million in Rural Broadband Funds
Funds targeted towards internet providers in areas with poor digital access across 19 states.

SiFi Networks Announces $2 Billion Plan to Put 30 Cities On Their Network
SiFi Networks uses private capital, at no cost to taxpayers, to fund its open access model.

Facebook Pauses Instagram for Kids, $1.2B from Emergency Connectivity Fund, Ransomware Attacks
Facebook pauses photo-sharing app for kids, FCC announces $1.2B in first wave of ECF, ransomware attacks on the rise.

Tech Sues Texas over Social Media Law, $80 Billion Investment, Broadband and Growth
A coalition of groups argue the Texas law violates the Constitution, US Telecom on investment and Connected Nation on impact.

Sustainability and Scalability are Crucial For State Broadband Projects, Say State Experts
Partnerships for broadband need to emphasize community engagement to improve connectivity

Pandemic Possible Inflection Point in States’ Move Away from Restrictions on Community Networks
The number of states restricting municipal broadband networks has dropped during the pandemic.

Sen. Michael Bennet: Broadband Infrastructure Legislation Follows Colorado Model
Senate-passed legislation for broadband investment inspired by Colorado’s experience, says senator.

Republicans Request Documents on Democrats, Ookla Global Speeds Rising, Arkansas and Windstream Partner
Republicans counter Democrats on document request, Ookla says global speeds rising, Windstream and Arkansas to expand fiber.

How Five States Tackled Broadband Expansion During the Pandemic
Broadband Breakfast revisits what some state legislatures did to narrow broadband gaps.

Building Fiber Infrastructure Back Better: The Journey Taken by Tuttle, Oklahoma
When their connection to the World Wide Web was cut, Tuttle’s local leaders got to work.

Antitrust Experts Zero In on Big Tech and Consumer Welfare Standard at Aspen Forum
At Aspen forum, a red-hot focus on Big Tech, antitrust and consumer welfare.

Technology Problems Can Be Solved if Policy-Makers Listen to One Another, Says Colorado’s Phil Weiser
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser urges a version of the Golden Rule: ‘What would someone else say?’

Op-Ed Chastises App Bill, Arizona Seeks Broadband Guidance, Verizon Expands 5G
American Enterprise Institute fellow says app bill could harm, Arizona looking at broadband speeds, Verizon 5G expansion.

Mountain Connect Conference Kicks Off In Person Despite Virus Fears
Mountain Connect looks to determine if the industry still has the stomach for in-person interactions as infections rise.

FCC Says 4M on Emergency Broadband Benefit, Ritter Puts $12M in Arkansas, New STL Cabling Product
$3.2-billion program has 4 million households, Ritter to connect 100% in river valley, STL efficient cables.

New York Drops $15 Internet, Lumen Gets Army Contract, Illinois Signs Telehealth Bill
New York drops $15 internet after interim court decision, Lumen gets army contract for broadband, Illinois allows telehealth for all.

Fiber Broadband Association Kicks Off Fiber Connect 2021
The FBA doled out numerous awards during its first general session of the event.

Infrastructure Bill With Higher Speeds, 5G Apple Phones, California Broadband, FTC Bill
Leaked infra proposal has base 100 Mbps speeds, Apple’s phones getting 5G, Newsom signs broadband bill, FTC money recovery bill.

FCC OKs Rip and Replace, Rural Broadband Bill, Franchise Fees Case, Calif. Broadband Bill
Huawei scoffs at FCC rip and replace, rural broadband bill moves in committee, franchise fees appeal, Calif. broadband bill integral.

Institutions Must Continue Riding Telehealth Growth Momentum for Post-Pandemic Care
Governments and health providers have an opportunity to carry the momentum of 2020 for telehealth’s future.

Florida Social Media Law Halted, Ohio GOP Drops Muni Broadband Ban, Online Privacy Protections For Children
Judge rules against Florida social media law, Ohio GOP cuts muni broadband ban, Democrats want increased child privacy protections.

FCC’s Starks on Speeds, Starlink’s Heat Problems, Louisiana Awaits $180M Broadband Signing
Geoffrey Starks says speeds are outdated, Starlink users complain of heat-impacted services, Louisiana waiting on $180 million for broadband.

Florida Sued Over Social Media Bill, Verizon Wants Affordability Priority, Facebook Halts Manufactured Virus Ban
Tech orgs sue Florida for social media bill, Verizon wants focus on affordability, Facebook allows man-made virus posts.

E-Commerce Liability Cases Could Open Floodgates For Lawsuits, Panelists Agree
Amazon is entangled in local legal cases that could set off lawsuits for third-party products sold on its platform.

AT&T Phasing Out 3G, Iowa Expands Broadband Funding, NY Mayor Drags Kids Back To School
AT&T will no longer support 3G networks by 2022, Iowa’s broadband bill, Mayor de Blasio ending distance learning.

Biden Lowers Broadband Spend, Republican Infrastructure Plan, Gigabit Opportunity Zones, Ige Under Fire
Biden willing to go $65B on broadband, Republican infrastructure plan, gigabit opportunity zone bill, David Ige’s telecom past.

Expert Touts Fiber As Only Method Of Deployment That Can Address Modern Broadband Needs
Ernesto Falcon of the EFF says expansion of fiber is the only way California keeps up with demand for broadband.

SpaceX And Google Cloud Deal, Updated NTIA Broadband Map, More Alaska Residents Getting 2 Gig Internet
SpaceX signs Google cloud deal, NTIA adds states to maps, 77 percent of Alaskans getting 2 gig internet by 2022.

AT&T To Spin Out WarnerMedia, California’s $7B For Broadband, FCC Licences For Tribes, TPRC Virtual For Now
AT&T spins out WarnerMedia, California putting $7B in broadband, tribal lands get licences, and TPRC events virtual for now.

Vermont Looks To Expand Coverage, California Moves On Passive Infrastructure, AT&T Gets DoT Contract, Cisco Buys Sedona
Vermont looks to expand broadband, California looks at passive infrastructure, AT&T gets DoT contract, and Cisco to buy Sedona.

Alabama Dispenses $17M In Broadband Funds, New Broadband Mapping Insight, Pipeline Attack
Ivey announces $17 million to deploy broadband, Microsoft data for broadband map, and “Robin Hood” group involved in pipeline attack.

FCC Acts to Expand Access to Spectrum Sharing in American Territories
Chairwoman Rosenworcel has been a longtime supporter of spectrum sharing, and these actions advance that aspect of her agenda.

OneWeb Air Force Contract, Municipal Broadband Support, N.C. Bill To Force Electric Co-ops To Pay More
Air Force signs with OneWeb, few Americans want muni build ban, N.C. bill wants electrical co-ops paying for ISP-ready poles.

The Case Against Deregulation, Repealing Section 230, Looking Back At AT&T’s Breakup
Why deregulation isn’t pro-competition, the case for repealing Section 230, and the breakup of AT&T.

Popularity Of Telework And Telehealth Presents Unique Opportunities For A Post-Pandemic World
A survey released earlier this month illustrates opportunities for remote work and care.

Broadband As Civic Infrastructure, Telehealth Under Net Neutrality, Worre Studios Builds Virtual Arena
April 7, 2021 – The German Marshall Fund is calling for broadband to be considered part of the civic infrastructure to draw more public and private partnerships and funding to connect more citizens. Equity issues in communications policy have only worsened during the coronavirus pandemic, and redefi

National Plan Required For Consumer Privacy, Congresswoman says
April 1, 2021 — A Congresswoman from Washington State, who introduced federal legislation that would be the first national consumer privacy law if adopted, says the federal government is being outpaced by some states that are implementing their own consumer privacy legislation. “There is a significa

Pandemic Creating Long-Term City Solutions to Technology Challenges: Route Fifty Town Hall
March 24, 2021 – Partnerships between cities and tech companies have not only allowed municipalities to acquire technology to get online quickly during the pandemic, but it’s also helped city staff absorb technological training to address challenges in the future, a virtual town hall heard Tuesday.

California Push for Inclusion, Former AT&T Lawyer Alleges E-Rate Overcharges, Virginia Funds Broadband
March 24, 2021 – The University of Southern California and the California Emerging Technology Fund announced a partnership on Monday to determine internet access in California based on demographics and location. The two organizations hope to identify the impact a lack of broadband causes for those w

Panelists and Telecommunications Policy Research Conference Urge Focus on Equitable 5G Rollout
March 13, 2021 – Regulatory policies to accommodate 5G and other network infrastructure must be equitable to accommodate different service levels and providers, Donna Bethea Murphy, senior vice president of Inmarsat, said in February at the TPRC. When trying to set goals on building and deploying br

Interview: Biarri Network’s Paul Sulisz on Broadband Opportunities and Challenges
March 4, 2021 – The broadband industry is better off getting ahead of network builds instead of waiting for government subsidies, CEO of Biarri Networks Paul Sulisz said in an interview with Broadband Breakfast. That would involve focusing on getting the right people connected with the right leaders

Tilson CEO Says States Should Determine Where to Deploy Federal Broadband Funds
March 2, 2021 – Federal block grants are an effective way of deploying broadband quickly, and the federal government needs to hear local stories to understand that, said the CEO of network builder Tilson. Joshua Broder said at an Incompas event on February 9 that the historic debate about whether fe

California Net Neutrality, Georgia Broadband Maps, New House Antitrust Bill
February 24, 2021 – A California judge has rejected an attempt by internet service providers to prevent the state from enforcing its net neutrality rules, paving the way for its enforcement. Judge John Mendez, in the Eastern District of California, issued the ruling Tuesday. The law provides Califor

Commissioner Geoffrey Starks Says FCC Eyes Emergency Broadband Benefit Program as a Priority Item
February 16, 2021 – Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said the $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit program is currently a top priority for the regulatory agency. The FCC has 60 days to determine how best to allocate the money from the program intended to reach “more disconnect

Biden Justice Department Withdraws Net Neutrality Suit, Section 230 Changes, Community Digital Infrastructure
February 9, 2021 – The Justice Department on Monday withdrew its lawsuit against California for proposing net neutrality laws in the wake of a 2017 vote by the Federal Communications Commission that repealed those rules. The move signals a shift in how the White House and the new FCC could approach

U.S. and EU Privacy and Intellectual Property Landscape Complicate Data Use Requirements
February 7, 2021 – Differences in the intellectual property and privacy landscape between Europe and the United States account are among the forces complicating the regulatory landscape around commercial data, partners at Covington’s Second Annual Technology Forum said on January 27. Further, becaus

Sen. Ed Markey Demands Answers from Facebook, Telia Carrier Reports, Google Maps Shows Vaccine Sites
January 27, 2021—Senator Edward Markey, D-Massachusetts, a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, sent a letter Tuesday to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The letter pressed Zuckerberg to explain why Facebook continues to allow controversial political groups to be recommended t

Slaughter Named FTC Chair, Combatting Disinformation with Community Media, Kimmelman Departs Public Knowledge
January 22, 2021—President Joe Biden designated Rebecca Slaughter as acting chair of the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday. Slaughter has served as an FTC Commissioner since May 2018. As a commissioner, Slaughter championed aggressive use of the FTC’s authorities to combat the abuse of consumers’

In One of Last Acts as FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai Tries to Fix Broadband Maps
The new rules are aimed at finalizing broadband mapping rules for the agency.

Removing Roadblocks on Bridge Over Digital Divide: Explaining the Affordable, Accessible Internet for All Act
While the bulk of the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All (AAIA) Act proposes to invest $100 billion to expand broadband access in unserved and underserved parts of the country, the legislation also looks to build an essential bridge across the digital divide that goes beyond new infrastructure.

Pelosi Narrowly Reelected, NYSE Boots Chinese Companies, Google Workers Unionize, Broadband Emergency Measures
January 4, 2021 – Nancy Pelosi was narrowly reelected Sunday as House speaker. Her victory means that after two years acting as President Donald Trump’s most outspoken antagonist, Pelosi will now be responsible for trying to shepherd through Congress as much of President-elect Joe Biden’s policy age

Senate Judiciary Committee Teases, and Then Pulls, Bills Dramatically Narrowing Section 230 Protections
January 2, 2021 — When the Senate reconvenes on Sunday at 11:45 a.m., the body will gavel in for the first session of the 117th Congress. All bills not passed as of Friday, January 1, 2021 – the last day Congress was in session – will die. One of those bills is the Eliminating Abusive […]

New Entrants in the Multifamily Broadband Space Create Policy Turnabouts and Clashes on Infrastructure
January 2, 2021 – Expect issues of broadband and multifamily housing to gain renewed attention in 2021. Watch for some strange alliances and interesting policy turnarounds. The subject matter is complicated because of both policy challenges and infrastructure issues associated with the inside wiring

Google Sued for Anti-Competitive Advertising, Trump Sued Over Section 230, Georgia Broadband Investment
A lawsuit filed Wednesday by a coalition of ten Republican state attorneys general, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, accuses Google of making an “unlawful agreement” with Facebook, that gave special privileges to the social media giant, in exchange for promising not to support a competing a

Brent Skorup and Michael Kotrous: Modernize High-Cost Support with Rural Broadband Vouchers
Remote work and learning during the pandemic compelled some lawmakers to get creative in expanding broadband availability. In Delaware and Alabama, state officials earmarked parts of their CARES Act funding to create broadband vouchers—monthly service rebates—for households with school-age children.

In A Debate Over Municipal Rights-Of-Way, Industry and Public Representatives Attempt to Find A Path Forward
December 15, 2020 — In a spirited debate about one of the central policy issues surrounding the deployment of 5G and small cell deployment, Wednesday’s Broadband Breakfast Live Online featured both municipalities and wireless industry officials each expressing concerns and grievances. To realize the

Differences in Approach to Open Access Showcased in Discussion About Lit and Dark Municipal Fiber
December 6, 2020 — Panelists involved in open access networks across the United States got into a fiery debate over the best model to follow when constructing an open access network. The exchange occurred during Thursday’s episode of Connect This!, a series sponsored by the Institute for Local Self-

Senate Commerce Committee Advances FCC Nominee Nathan Simington to Floor Debate
December 2, 2020 — This Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on Wednesday morning voted 14-12 to advance Federal Communications Commission nominee Nathan Simington to the Senate chamber floor. While the full Senate will still have to consider his nomination, the committee’s part

FTC’s Zoom Deal and Democrats, Vertical Bridge Buys Eco-site, Bill Would Extend CARES Act to 2021
The Federal Trade Commission’s two Democrats laid out a plan to increase the institution’s data security and privacy enforcement in response to an objection to a recent non-monetary settlement with Zoom. Earlier this month, Zoom revealed a new agreement in an effort to settle claims that it misled u

In Discussing ‘Broadband and the Biden Administration,’ Trump and Obama Transition Workers Praise Auctions
November 22, 2020 – In the event that the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden seeks substantial funding for broadband infrastructure, there is a strong likelihood that such monies would be channeled through a reverse-auction mechanism, said panelists at the Broadband Breakfast Live

Apple Pays $113 Million Over Battery Slowdowns, Caution on Cellular Generator Requests, Douglas Fast Net Leverages ADTRAN
Apple agreed to pay $113 million to settle an investigation by 34 states and the District of Columbia over the company’s practice of slowing down the performance of older iPhones when their batteries degrade. The settlement may be a step towards more transparency in the company’s operations. Million

National Telecommunications and Information Webinar Focuses on Broadband Boost to Local Economies
November 19, 2020 – While the business case for rural broadband has been debated, panelists at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s monthly webinar on Wednesday concluded that rural broadband enhances local economies. Mid-Atlantic Broadband was able to establish an open a

GOP Senators Call Platforms ‘Publishers’ and Want to Strip Section 230 Protections, and Dems Aren’t Fans Either
November 17, 2020 – In the second major showdown between the CEOs of Twitter and Facebook and senators within less than three weeks, Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and John Kennedy of Louisiana said the social media platforms needed to be treated as common publish

Four Failures of the FCC’s Broadband Policy, According to University of Virginia Professor
November 12, 2020 — The failure to connect the rural-urban digital divide in the United States is not one of technology, but of markets, politics, and policy, argued Christopher Ali, associate professor in the Media Studies Department at the University of Virginia, during a virtual presentation whic

Voters Back Community Internet, ATIS Boosts Next G Alliance, A New State-Federal Broadband Partnership
Voters in Chicago and Denver have shown overwhelming support for local broadband projects. Roughly 90 percent of voters in Chicago approved a referendum question that asked: “Should the city of Chicago act to ensure that all the city’s community areas have access to broadband Internet?” This could a

Apple Gets a Foot in Joe Biden’s Door. What Will It Mean for Silicon Valley?
One question looming over the final vote-count is the 2020 Election: How will big tech fare during the next presidential administration?

Biden Launches Transition Team Website, Twitter Flags 6 Trump Tweets, Judge Can’t Block TikTok Restrictions
Presidential candidate Joe Biden and Vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris launched a placeholder transition team website, BuildBackBetter.com, in a sign anticipating victory in the ongoing election. “The American people will determine who will serve as the next President of the United States,”

Jim Baller Joins Keller and Heckman, Dish Network and Intel Go Open RAN, Mobilite Builds 5G at Tropicana Field
The three name attorneys at the firm of Baller Stokes and Lide have joined the Washington, D.C., office of Keller and Heckman as partners, effective Monday. The resulting telecommunications group at the new firm will be more than three times the size of Baller Stokes and Lide, said Jim Baller, Sean

Senate Dems Want to Stop Broadband Disconnects, TikTok Influencers Beat Trump, Centennial of Radio Broadcasting
In a letter sent on Friday to 21 of the largest utility companies, Senate Democrats called on telecommunications giants to voluntarily halt all utility shutoffs for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. Nine lawmakers, led by Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, directed thei

Google, Facebook and Twitter Defend Themselves as GOP Slams Big Tech and Dems Mock Hearing
October 30, 2020 – Tech platform companies Google, Facebook, and Twitter said they not in favor of redefining the phrase, “otherwise objectionable,” that has become a key source of controversy in the political firestorm surrounding Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The CEOs of the three

5G in China, BroadbandNow’s Q3 2020 Report, FiOS Subscriber Growth Reaches 5-Year High
There has been a huge amount of hype in the United States about being in a race with the Chinese over the deployment of 5G. But after seeing a recent South Korean news article, from the ChosunILBO, concluding that the Chinese 5G experiment might end up an economic bust, Doug Dawson, in a blog post [

No Change on Chevron, Suit Says Apple Rigged iOS 13, Will 6G End the Smart Phone?
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, when asked if he had changed his position on the issue of Chevron deference said he had never, to his knowledge, taken a position on the Supreme Court decision. Pai was speaking at a Technology Policy Institute event on Thursday, the day after Tho

AT&T Phases Out DSL Lines, National Association of Counties on Broadband, Broadband Costs Lower
A recent AT&T statement announced that the company will be phasing out DSL services, which provide internet access over cable technology from the 1990s to over 653,000 AT&T customers. The statement released by the company read, “We’re beginning to phase out outdated services like DSL and new orders

Google’s John Burchett Explains New Approach to Fiber-Building in West Des Moines
October 20, 2020 – There are many viable options for deploying fiber that should be explored, stressed John Burchett, head of public policy and community affairs at Google Fiber, as part of Fiber Broadband Association’s “Connecting Consumers” event series on Wednesday. After four years of pausing on

California Wrestles With Efforts to Use Broadband for Distance Learning, Healthcare, and Digital Divide
October 16, 2020 — With or without federal action on broadband, California politicians have been active in taking steps to use broadband to drive distance learning and telehealth, and seeking to do more to close the state’s digital divide. For example, a mid-August order by California Governor Gavin

Children Are Being ‘Locked Out of Their Classrooms’ Without E-Rate Action, Says Jessica Rosenworsel
October 15, 2020 — Millions of Americans remain unconnected today, even as broadband connectivity remains vital to countless aspects of our daily lives, including health, work, and education. At a “fireside chat” hosted by ALLvanza, a Latino advancement group, panelists asserted that tackling the di

Starry and Microsoft in Los Angeles, Comcast Clocks a Gigabit Upload, Nobel Prize for Spectrum Auction
Starry Home Internet announced a partnership with Microsoft on Tuesday aimed at accelerating the availability of its low-cost program Starry Connect in public housing communities across the country. The program will kick off this month in Los Angeles, California, and it promises to bring Starry Conn

FCC Goes All in for 5G, Pentagon Spends $600 Million on 5G Experiments, Additional Funds For Distance Learning
The top official of the Federal Communications Commission on Monday provided an update on the agency’s approach to 5G deployment at the America’s Spectrum Management conference. Since 2018, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said, the agency has worked to free up spectrum in all bands. Three recent auctions free

Powered by Utility Fiber, Public-Private Partners in Springfield, Missouri, Now Offer Gigabit Services to Residents
October 12, 2020 — How should one go about building a gigabit city? Act quickly, be strategic and work in partnership with the private sector. That was the conclusion of panelists speaking about a fiber internet build in Springfield, Missouri, included as part of the Broadband Communities Virtual Su

COS Systems Acquired by Pivot Partners, Google Fiber Gets Back to Work, Traverse City Launches Ultra-Fast Network
COS Systems, a software provider specializing in open access networks, has been acquired by Pivot Partners, a Swedish private equity firm. Though their early work in the Swedish market, COS System has been rapidly expanding in North America. See “COS Systems Brings Swedish Knack for Tech to Open Acc

SiFi Network’s FiberCity Now Live in Fullerton, Ajit Pai Addresses Telehealth, Georgia Uses Ookla Speed Data
The city of Fullerton, California, has turned on the first section of what will be a citywide open access network, or “FiberCity,” built by SiFi Networks. Our friends at MuniNetworks summarize and explain the approach that SiFi has taken: A privately built, financed, and operated open access network

State and Regional Broadband Initiatives Are Critical to Expanding Internet Access
September 24, 2020 — Many states have taken action to speed the deployment of broadband to unserved and underserved regions by developing statewide broadband programs that typically include funding commitments, legislative initiatives, and provide access to other inventive resources. “States play a

TikTok Ban Delayed as Wal-Mart Enters, FCC Says California Not Prepared for Auction, Wireless Facilities in Rights-of-Way
President Donald Trump on Saturday approved a deal between TikTok and ByteDance, its software developer, and Oracle on Saturday. As a result, the administration pushed off the ban on TikTok downloads from U.S. app stores that it had announced on Friday. As a result, the effective date of the ban was

Nathan Simington is Trump’s New Man for FCC, New Speed Test, Challenges for State Net Neutrality
September 16, 2020—President Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated Nathan A. Simington to replace Federal Communications Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, whose confirmation appeared certain until Trump unexpectedly pulled his re-nomination. Simington is the representative to the government advisory commit

With Robocall Complaints Down, Who Can STIR Up Action to Restore Public’s SHAKEN Trust?
September 11, 2020 – Given the way that robocalls “implicate a wide jurisdiction,” Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai stressed the need for collaboration to end the crisis of unwanted calls and specifically lauded the so-called STIR/SHAKEN protocol for phone number verification. Iro

America’s Race for Universal Telehealth May Rely on Making Medicare Payments Permanent
August 31, 2020 – Kimberly Sanders was recovering from a heroin addiction when the coronavirus struck. She had been homeless before and struggled to commute long distances for treatments. But because of her failure to attend several appointments, her previous doctors stopped seeing her. Years later,

Next Level Networks’ Pilot Community Fiber in Los Altos Hills Experiences Growing Service Demands
August 30, 2020 — In a neighborhood outside of Silicon Valley, amongst what native Scott Vanderlip described as “a community full of tech geeks,” residents struggled to access reliable, affordable internet, despite being able to see the headquarter buildings of some of the largest tech companies fro

Vulnerabilities in Online Voting, Data Privacy Legislation, Google’s 6 GHz Wi-Fi Tests
Many stakeholders in the communications sector made it clear that the internet should not be the tool used to collect ballots for the 2020 presidential election, according to an article in Law360. Virtual voting is fraught with vulnerabilities and would jeopardize the entire election. In fact, the U

COVID-19 Disinformation and Contact Tracing Discussed at DNC, Rural Cloud Initiative, NTIA Internet Use Survey
The Democratic National Convention prime-time convention kicked off Monday night. Much of the production was driven by testimonies from Americans. The way in which their hardships have been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic were detailed. Kristin Urquiza, the daughter of an Arizona man who lost hi

Election Analysts Predict Democrats Will Win Presidency, House and Senate, Based on Primary Data
August 14, 2020 — Based on data gathered from primary elections, experts at a Thursday webinar hosted by CQ Roll Call predicted that Democrats would strengthen their hold on the House and flip the majority in the Senate, and that Joe Biden would win the 2020 presidential election. Americans are curr

Americans Skeptical About Tech, Funding For Broadband Maps, Court Classifies Uber and Lyft Drivers as Employees
Americans are skeptical that technological growth is an issue that will positively impact national policy, James Pethokoukis wrote in an American Enterprise Institute blog post on Tuesday. He argued that neither right-leaning nor left-leaning politicians and constituents are willing to embrace the r

Telemedicine is Increasingly Important, But Comes With Challenges, Say Route Fifty Panelists
August 11, 2020 — Telemedicine is crucial for treating patients during the coronavirus pandemics, but carries limitations, agreed participants in two Route Fifty webinars on Tuesday. Dr. Judd Hollander, associate dean of strategic health initiatives at Thomas Jefferson University, said that there ar

Ownership Models Are Evolving to Serve the Unserved, Say Panelists at Digital Infrastructure Investment
August 11, 2020 — As America prioritizes closing the digital divide, critical last-mile digital infrastructure ownership models are expanding and differentiating to serve the unserved. Different towns across America are in different situations in terms of the availability of existing digital infrast

South Florida Fiber-Optic Network, Rural Broadband in New York, Copyright Office’s Sesquicentennial, Internet Honorees
As part of an effort in Longboat Key, Florida to move electrical infrastructure underground, the town is also building a city-wide fiber-optic network, which holds the potential to foster 100 percent internet connectivity within the town, GovTech reported. The project was born out of an ongoing conc

Trump Pulls O’Rielly Nomination, Algorithm Governance Framework, San Jose Hotspots, New Broadband Association Members
The White House announced Monday, in a notice sent to the Senate, that it was withdrawing the nomination of Mike O’Rielly to Federal Communications Commission for a third term. The notice did not provide reasoning for the action, WKZO reported. The incidence was widely unexpected, coming after O’Rie

States Must Increase Accessibility of Both In-Person and Remote Voting, Say Brookings Panelists
July 15, 2020 — The November election will be extremely vulnerable to widespread voter suppression, making it increasingly important for states to have robust plans for both absentee and in-person voting, said Brookings Institution panelists Wednesday. On what was formerly scheduled to be the third

Tech Companies Delay Reopening, Facial Recognition Lawsuit, Facebook Privacy Policies
Tech companies are hesitant to reopen their offices, Axios reported. Many companies have announced that employees will be able to telework through the end of the year, although several had previously planned to allow some employees to resume in-office work before that. Snapchat announced Tuesday tha

Georgia’s State-led Mapping Initiative, D.C. Has Fastest Mobile Speeds, Coalition to Fight Digital Divide
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp recently publicized Georgia’s Broadband Availability Map, a new tool that aims to bring more transparency about which Georgia households do not have access to high-speed internet. The Georgia Broadband Deployment Initiative team embarked on the public-private data collaborati

Stricter Content Moderation, Legislation for Broadband Initiatives, Recommendations for Absentee Voting
This week, social media platforms started to make long called-for changes to their content policies, reported The New York Times. Reddit banned the platform’s largest subreddit supporting President Donald Trump, known as r/The_Donald, which critics claimed fostered bigotry. Twitch has temporarily su

Broadband Roundup: FiberCity, Bipartisan Support for Modifying Section 230, Boston Dumps Facial Recognition
June 25, 2020 — The United States’ largest privately-funded citywide open access network is now connected to fiber, announced SiFi Networks on Tuesday. The company has implemented the open access network in the first area of Fullerton, California, and will continue to expand. The objective is to con

Broadband Roundup: Transatlantic Working Group Calls for Transparency, Andrew Yang Launches Project, CENIC CEO to Speak
The Transatlantic High Level Working Group on Content Moderation and Freedom of Expression, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, published a report on Monday urging democracies to adopt a flexible regulatory framework to curb online hate speech and manipulated disinformation. The group c

Maintaining Student Privacy Amid Coronavirus Challenging, Says Center for Democracy and Technology
June 18, 2020 — The coronavirus pandemic and the resulting shift to primarily-online learning have placed students’ privacy in jeopardy, said participants in a Thursday webinar hosted by the Center for Democracy and Technology. The shift to online schooling in the wake of the pandemic has left mil

Future of Broadband is Bright in Tennessee and Colorado, Say State Rural Development Reps
June 17, 2020 — There are many opportunities for the deployment of broadband technologies, representatives for the states of Tennessee and Colorado said in a webinar Wednesday. Teresa Ferguson, director of federal broadband engagement for the state of Colorado, said that there are numerous opportuni

TechFreedom Asks Supreme Court to Review Section 230 Case
June 12, 2020 — Left unchecked, a recent court decision on Section 230 might lead to the internet suffering what a 2008 ruling called “death by ten thousand duck-bites,” according to TechFreedom Senior Fellow Berin Szóka. “Unless the Supreme Court reverses this decision, schools, libraries, and the

Interoperability an Effective Measure Against Big Tech Monopolies, Says Lincoln Network
June 11, 2020 — Interoperability is a practical safeguard against big tech oligopolies, said participants in a Lincoln Network forum Wednesday. Participants argued that besides sweeping government intervention, the best way to break up large, too-powerful social media companies like Facebook is

Open Access Network Builders Discuss Ownership Models for Next Generation Broadband Infrastructure
Who will construct, finance own and operate digital infrastructure needs of the future?

Public Knowledge’s Internet Superfund is a Vaccine Against Toxic Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories Run Rampant
June 4, 2020 — In a video that quickly went viral, discredited medical researcher Judy Mikovits claimed that the novel coronavirus was intentionally unleashed upon the world by Bill Gates’ elite cabal and that wearing masks can worsen COVID-19 symptoms, among other conspiracies. Facebook, YouTube an

Panelists Strategize on Improving Telehealth and Call for Consumer Empowerment
June 3, 2020 — “In a matter of three weeks, telehealth has advanced three years,” said Maryann Copenhaver, vice president of business partnerships at Mercy Virtual, on a webinar Thursday about the future of telehealth. Panelists on the webinar, which was hosted by Dell Technology, agreed that the CO

Broadband Roundup: Section 230 Fears, T-Mobile Claims 5G Rollout, Ajit Pai Challenges Twitter
President Donald Trump’s executive order potentially restricting protections for social media platforms like Twitter is a mistake, wrote Daniel Lyons, visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. The order would make tech companies liable for the content that is posted on their websites if

Gary Bolton: Under the Stress of COVID-19, the Networks That Held Fast Were Symmetrical Fiber Broadband
During this pandemic, broadband networks across the world have been put to the ultimate stress test, expected to support an overnight transition to work-from-home for most businesses, multiple video users from households for two income knowledge worker families plus distance learning sessions for ch

Broadband is Vital to the Future of Sports, Says Owner of Washington Capitals and Wizards
May 29, 2020 — Believe it or not, even the midst of a pandemic, the sports industry is still producing record viewership numbers. According to Ted Leonsis, former executive at AOL and the CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wiza

Armed With Broadband, Libraries Are Resuscitating Communities Ravaged by COVID-19
No offense to Melvil Dewey, but what does his system of decimals have on the algorithmic horsepower of the Google search engine?

Coronavirus Roundup: SiFi Networks Scores $450 Million, Universal Broadband in California Town, COVID-Negative Certifications
Investments of up to $450 million will help to bring high-speed fiber connectivity to millions across the country, said fiber company SiFi Networks. The company announced Tuesday that it had recently secured the funding and will use it to expand infrastructure and hire specialists in several new cit

Coronavirus Roundup: House Passes HEROES Act, USDA Investment in Iowa, Pai Discourages T-Band Auction
The House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act, a coronavirus response bill, with a bipartisan 208 to 199 vote Friday. The $3 trillion legislation invests in testing, tracing and treatment, provides strong support for workers on the front lines with funding for state and local governments and ha

The Rise, Reign, and Self-Repair of Zoom
May 8, 2020 – Eric Yuan came up with the idea for Zoom as a student while taking 10-hour train rides to visit his girlfriend in China. In 2011 he left Cisco Webex to found Zoom in San Jose, California, with the mission “to make video communications frictionless.” Zoom earned a billion-dollar valuati

Fiber Optics Generally a Better Option Than Wireless, Even in Rural Areas, Says Municipal Broadband Advocate
May 5, 2020 – As internet connectivity grows increasingly essential, fiber optics may prove to be a better option than wireless internet connection, the Institute for Local Self Reliance’s Christopher Mitchell said Tuesday at a webinar hosted by the nonprofit Merit Network. Mitchell, who directs th

Lincoln Network Panelists Say Washington Needs the Bigger Vision Silicon Valley Provides
May 2, 2020 – “Silicon Valley needs to become more political,” said Mark Lutter, founder and executive director of the Charter Cities Institute, at a webinar hosted by the Lincoln Network on Thursday. The discussion, “A Time to Build?” was focused on legendary entrepreneur Marc Andreessen’s recent a

Next Century Cities Discuss Dissatisfaction with Broadband Providers in Webinar With FCC Officials
May 1, 2020— A spokesman for Federal Communication Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Thursday highlighting the agency’s grant of hundreds of million of dollars for telemedicine projects on a Thursday webinar hosted by Next Century Cities. “The commission has been insanely busy,” said the spokesman, Ev

Most Panelists at FCC Working Group on Digital Inclusion Say Libraries Are Crucial in Closing the Homework Gap
April 29, 2020— Members of the Federal Communication Commission’s working group on digital empowerment and inclusion highlighted the role that libraries can play in closing the so-called “homework gap” on a webinar hosted by the agency on Tuesday. The homework gap, a term often used by fiery FCC Com

Coronavirus Roundup: Georgia’s On the Mind of Public Access and Broadband Equity Advocates, Libra and Digital Dollar
On Monday the United States Supreme Court determined that Georgia’s state-codified annotation system of law is not eligible for copyright protection. Public interest groups criticial of a “copyright maximalist” position applauded the decision, Georgia v. Public Resource.Org. “Today’s decision is a r

Rural Assembly Paints Dire Picture About Lack of Broadband, Impact of Coronavirus in Indian Country
The webinar painted a grim picture of the state of broadband in rural and Tribal life

Coronavirus Roundup: BroadbandNow and NCTA Each Track Internet Speeds, Alianza on Robocalls
The BroadbandNow database company released its fifth report tracking home internet speeds. The data comes from the 200 most populous cities in the country, as well as hundreds of rural communities. The key findings indicate that rural areas are being hit the hardest by the impact of the coronavirus

Coronavirus Roundup: Aji Pai on Pandemic, T-Mobile Approval, Navajo Nation Temporary Spectrum
In an online speech Friday by Federal Communications Chairman Ajit Pai before the Interamerican Development Bank and The International Institute Of Communications Online Workshop, Pai encapsulated his thoughts on ”Regulation in Times of Pandemics: Lessons for the Future.” Below is an edited version

CostQuest and The CommLaw Group Join to Host Fine-Grained Webinar on Rural Digital Opportunity Fund
TYSONS, Virginia, and CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 14, 2020 – Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC, The CommLaw Group, and CostQuest Associates have announced a free webinar, “How to Prepare and Effectively Bid in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction,” on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at 12 Noon ET. The webinar will

FCC’s Jessica Rosenworcel Calls for Wi-Fi School Buses, and Brookings Panelists Agree Now is the Time
April 10, 2020 – Participants in a Brookings Institution meeting on Zoom expressed interest in an off-hand comment FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel made about deploying Wi-Fi-enabled buses to provide hot-spots for rural students. Nicol Turner Lee, a fellow at Brookings’ Center for Technology Inn

Coronavirus May Have Changed Everything, But Not the Human Capacity For Good
BOCA RATON, Florida, April 6, 2020 – Walking along Massachusetts Ave in Washington, D.C. to an event in which I promised my editor I would sit far away from other attendees, I could not have foreseen how swiftly my life would change – along with the rest of the country. Within days I was ordered […]

Although Privacy is on a Back Burner, California May Outdo Its Own State Law in November
April 1, 2020 –States have put privacy legislation on a back burner during the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, even the well-known California Consumer Privacy Act may be superseded by a new referendum, the California Privacy Rights Act, to be placed on the state’s ballot in November. Passed

States Swap Best Broadband Practices in Follow-Up To Pew Charitable Trust Report
WASHINGTON, March 26, 2020— Representatives of states and municipalities discussed strategies to increase broadband availability and affordability in their regions on a Tuesday webinar hosted by the Schools Health and Library Broadband Coalition and moderated by Pew Charitable Trusts. Anna Read, off

Coronavirus Roundup: Gaps in Stimulus Package, AT&T on Wi-Fi Traffic, Market-Based Solutions to Digital Divide
March 23, 2020 – Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld takes issue with the Federal Communications Commission’s Keep Americans Connected Pledge—it does not help Americans who do not have broadband and 60 days of no late fees might not be long enough. Feld argues that broadband access is

Broadband Breakfast Live Online on Monday, March 23, 2020 – Free and Low Cost Internet Plans During Coronavirus
Broadband Breakfast Live Online on Monday, March 23, 12 Noon ET – “Free and Low Cost Internet Plans During the Coronavirus Crisis” – What should ISPs do to ensure connectivity for all? Follow upcoming Live Online events, see Broadband Breakfast Live Online Will Stream Daily in March on ‘Broadband an

Journalists Practice Social Distancing on Zoom in Future Tense Event on Coronavirus and Civil Liberties
March 20, 2020 – Slate Staff Writer Mark Joseph Stern led a discussion on how coronavirus could affect civil liberties through a quarantine-friendly platform. Future Tense hosted the “Social Distancing Social” on Thursday through Zoom, a practice that they will continue for the next few weeks. Coron

Commerce Department’s NTIA Details Its New-Found Progress in Broadband Mapping Technology
WASHINGTON, March 20, 2020—The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunication and Information Administration is moving forward with various forms of broadband mapping, agency officials said on a Wednesday webinar. Even without having federal funding to do a comprehensive national broadband map, as

Coronavirus Roundup: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Takes Steps on Spectrum, Lifeline and Broadcasting During Pandemic
The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau on Tuesday granted U.S. Cellular, a wireless telecommunications network, to use additional spectrum to help meet increased customer demand for mobile broadband during the coronavirus pandemic. The order will allow the company

Lariat.net Offers Free Broadband for Telehealth Providers, Coronavirus Cancels ACA Conference, Everyday Tech Benefits
Lariat.net, a wireless internet service provider in Laramie, Wyoming, announced that it will offer free internet service to telehealth providers helping those with the novel coronavirus. Although no one has been confirmed as being infected in Wyoming so far, Lariat said it is preparing for a wide-sp

Tech Industry Pushes Back Against EARNIT, Microsoft on Digital Divide, Satellite Analyzer-in-the-cloud
The Computer and Communications Industry Association and four other internet trade groups sent a letter Thursday to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., to protest aspects of the proposed Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interact

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Ponders Emergency Communications Measures Against Fires and Suicides
WASHINGTON, March 7, 2020 – At a February 27 hearing, representatives of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee took testimony on the need for reliable emergency telecom for first responders through measures like the RESILIENT Networks Act and the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act. Santa Ro

‘Leave No Child Offline,’ Pleads FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Brendan Carr and Rep. Mike Doyle
WASHINGTON, March 4, 2020 – House Energy and Commerce subcommittee chairman Mike Doyle, D-Penn., Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr all took turns addressing the homework gap and bad broadband maps at the Incompas policy summit Tuesday. “I play

Congress Revises Broadband DATA Act, New Jersey Has Best Internet, Bills Targeting Big Tech
The House of Representatives passed a revised version of the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) act on Tuesday to the applause of many broadband advocacy groups. If signed into law, the DATA act would establish more rigorous rules for the Federal Communication Commis

America is Either ‘In Very Good Shape’ or Has ‘Big Catch-Up’ in 5G Race with China
WASHINGTON, February 26, 2020 – Depending on who you asked in the Dirksen Senate Building, America is either “in very good shape” or has “a big catch-up to do” in the so-called 5G race against China. Speaking at an event hosted by the American Consumer Institute, speakers also had different thoughts

Broadband Roundup: Tesla Cars Ain’t Driverless, Suspicious Bernie Sanders Facebook Posts, ReConnect Awards
According to a Forbes article by Alan Ohnsman, U.S. safety investigators are calling for greater regulation of Teslas following the release of several investigative reports detailing several Tesla crashes due to the cars faulty autopilot mode. In March 2018 in Mountain View, California, Walter Huang

NTIA Broadband Webinar With Pew, Georgia and Tennessee Officials Discuss Solutions to Digital Divides
WASHINGTON, February 20, 2020— State broadband officials play a crucial role in addressing the digital divide, and officials from Georgia and Tennessee presented their best practices on the topic during a Wednesday webinar hosted by the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Informati

Broadband Roundup: Zuckerberg and EU Discuss Rules for Facebook, Trumps Supports Oracle, Nevada Caucus Anxieties
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg proposed a “third status for Facebook that would fall between telecom provider and publisher, while expressing skepticism at the idea of one single EU regulator” in meetings this week with European leaders, reports Politico. Politico reports that EU officials regarded Zu

EU Grills Facebook on Third-Party Apps, Google CEO ‘Maps’ the Future, Broadband Now Checks FCC Data
The European Union requested documents from Facebook to determine whether Facebook partially awarded users data to special third-party applications, The Wall Street Journal reports. This action comes in the wake of a $5 billion fine levied against the social media juggernaut by the Federal Trade Com

Broadband’s Role in Iowa Caucus Debacle, Facebook as an Actual Community, Makan Delrahim Recusal on Google
The results from the Democratic Caucus in Iowa remained delayed, and the technology snafu is being blamed on an app designed to tabulate results that was made by Shadow, Inc., according to multiple press reports. The New York Times cites a person familiar with the app as saying that concerns about p

Panelists Call Federal Privacy Legislation Necessary and Express Optimism Toward That Goal
WASHINGTON, January 29, 2020 – Federal privacy legislation is necessary to ensure standardization of legal treatment, technology experts said Tuesday at the 2020 State of the Net conference. On a panel on “Privacy and Preemption” at the annual tech policy gathering, speakers acknowledged the role of

Broadband Advocates at Next Century Cities Emphasize Importance of Building Community Networks
WASHINGTON, January 23, 2020 – Broadband advocates emphasized the importance of building community networks – wired and wireless – in speaking at a Next Centuries Cities event here on Thursday. MuralNet CEO Mariel Triggs, who works on community broadband deployments, commended the Federal Communicat

New America Highlights the Broadband Prices Available on Ammon, Idaho’s Open Access Network
The Open Technology Institute of New America on Wednesday released a blog post focusing on Ammon, Idaho, and highlighted how the open access broadband networks there better meets customers’ needs and expectations that most vertically-integrated broadband networks. In comparing broadband prices globa

Telephony Industry Rises to the Challenge of Robocalls, With Legislation, Regulation and Enforcement Close Behind
WASHINGTON, December 13, 2019 – The industry group that is hammering out technical standards governing an anti-robocall framework announced Thursday that that the STIR/SHAKEN framework will launch on Monday, December 16, 2019. The launch of STIR/SHAKEN calling verification service won’t be final wor

Connectivity and Mobility Are Key Pillars of Metropolitan Development, Say Congresswomen at Smart City Event
WASHINGTON, December 11, 2019 – Connectivity, mobility, sustainability and the workforce are the main pillars of smart city development, said Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., at an Axios panel Tuesday. Cities must have reliable sources of energy to maximize efficiency, she said, which makes infrastructur

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Announces Public Auction of C-Band, Connecticut Peels Back Broadband Barriers
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced Monday that the FCC will hold a public auction of mid-band wireless spectrum to fuel the deployment of 5G. The agency plans to auction 280 MHz of the block of spectrum, Pai said, while preserving about 200 MHz that will continue to be use

Broadband Roundup: Bill Aims to Make Social Media Interoperable, Colorado Drops T-Mobile Lawsuit, Indian Country Very Unconnected
Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., on Tuesday introduced the Augmenting Compatibility and Competition by Enabling Service Switching Act, Public Knowledge reports. The bill would provide interoperability for social media users, promoting competition and ena

Broadband Roundup: Comcast vs. Google, Sprint’s Open 5G Network, Ransomware Rises
Comcast is emerging as an antitrust foe against big tech companies such as Google, according to US News and World Report. Last month, Comcast’s video ads division FreeWheel accused Google of using privacy concerns as a pretext to limit FreeWheel’s ability to resell ads of its customers YouTube chann

Who’s On First? Congress Upset With Wasteful and Petty Antitrust Squabbles Between Justice and FTC
WASHINGTON, September 17, 2019 – Congress on Tuesday put a spotlight on federal antitrust investigators scrutinizing Google and Facebook, as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee honed in on whether the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission were wasting efforts by investigating the

Broadband Roundup: CBRS on a Roll, Innovation Fund in Rural California, Another Verizon 5G Announcement
The CBRS Alliance announced on Monday that the Federal Communications Commission has approved commercial deployment in the 3.5 GHz CBRS Band. Known as the “Innovation Band,” it is valued at $15.6 billion and opens the door to a huge market opportunity for operators, enterprises, industrial players,

Broadband Roundup: Two Separate State Antitrust investigations of Google and Facebook, and Broadband Mapping
Two separate bi-partisan groups of state attorneys general on Friday confirmed that they are launching antitrust investigations into tech giant companies Google and Facebook. New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, on Friday announced that she and eight other state attorneys general wil

Cable Industry Touts Energy Efficiency, Next Century Highlights Open Access Fiber, Aspen Forum Set
Nearly 100 percent of internet modems, routers, and other equipment sold to residential broadband subscribers in 2018 met the energy-efficiency standards of the Voluntary Agreement for Ongoing Improvement to the Energy Efficiency of Small Network Equipment, according to a new report from auditor D+R

Seeking to Quell ‘Evil Contagion’ of ‘White Supremacy,’ President Trump May Ignite New Battle Over Online Hate Speech
WASHINGTON, August 5, 2019 — President Donald Trump on Monday morning attempted to strike a tone of unity by denouncing the white, anti-Hispanic man who “shot and murdered 20 people, and injured 26 others, including precious little children.” In speaking about the two significant mass shootings over

USF Cap, New Pew Map, State Support for Electric Co-Ops, IP3 Awards
The Universal Service Fund should be subject to a budget cap, argued Technology Policy Institute Senior Fellows Sarah Oh and Scott Wallsten in a filing to the Federal Communications Commission. “A budget cap will create incentives for the entire USF community to assess the program, experiment with n

Drew Clark: Broadband Maps Are a Mess, So Now Let’s Focus on Actually Improving Them
The Founder of Broadband Census and Breakfast Breakfast, and the former executive director of the Partnership for a Connected Illinois – one of the State Broadband Initiatives that actually created the National Broadband Map – comments on a growing controversy.

California Business and Its Privacy Act, Trump and Silicon Companies, C-Band Spat
California businesses and legislators are pushing to change the California Consumer Privacy Act, San Francisco Chronicle reports. Dirk Lorenz, owner of Fremont Flowers, said that the law will affect not only big tech firms, but small businesses as well. “It’s going to cost a good deal of money,” he

Electronic Frontier Foundation Lawsuit Against Mobile Data Collection, and Fort Collins Fiber Network
The Electronic Frontier Foundation announced Tuesday that it is filing a class action lawsuit on behalf of AT&T customers in California to stop the telecom giant and two data location aggregators from allowing third parties to access wireless customers’ real-time locations without authorization. The

Industry Panel of Observers Argues for Federal Privacy Rules That Preempt State Laws
WASHINGTON, July 15, 2019 – An industry-focused panel of observers of privacy issues argued that a federal approach the topic needs to preempt state-based data protection. At the Monday event hosted by CompTia, these officials went so far as to suggest that federal privacy rules would be more protec

FCC Overturns SF Broadband Ordinance, IBM Seeks Section 230 Changes, AT&T Blocks Robocalls
At Wednesday’s Federal Communications Commission meeting, the agency voted to preempt part of a San Francisco ordinance that promotes broadband competition in apartment buildings and other multi-tenant structures. Ars Technica summarized how FCC Chairman Ajit Pai‘s plan partially overturns San Franc

Amie Stepanovich at Silicon Flatirons, Amazon Stores Voice Recordings, and Dish Network’s Spectrum Assets
Silicon Flatirons announced Amie Stepanovich as the new executive director of the technology policy think tank based at the University of Colorado Law School. A noted cybersecurity and privacy law and policy expert, she plans to build upon Silicon Flatirons’ legacy of interdisciplinary conferences a

Consumer Groups Oppose Project Libra, Comcast on Shapefile Mapping, Windstream Goes Wireless
The Hill reports that dozens of consumer advocacy groups have called for congressional committees and regulatory agencies to impose a moratorium on Facebook’s cryptocurrency project. Among the 33 groups include Public Citizen, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the Economic Policy Institute

Rural Telecommunications Congress Webcast Series Begins with Focus on Collaboration on Colorado’s Western Slopes
MONTROSE, Colorado, July 2, 2019- Policymakers and providers agree that collaboration is vital to sustaining high-quality broadband in rural communities. However, there is still work that needs to be done to deploy high-speed symmetrical broadband, panelists said Tuesday at a rural broadband webcast

Rick Boucher: Data Privacy Rules Should Create Consistency, Not Chaos
Following a string of data breaches that touched tens of millions of consumers, and revelations of user data exploitation by popular social media platforms, there’s a broad national consensus: It’s time for internet users to have guarantees about privacy and data protection. Legislation is long over

California Report: Income Most Significant Factor in Low Broadband Adoption
Income is the most significant factor contributing to low broadband adoption rates, according to an analysis (PDF) released this month by the California Public Utilities Commission. Only about half of households in census tracts with a median annual income level of less than $20,000 have in-home bro

Controversy Around 24 Gigahertz, Plus Rural Calls and Networks
The Federal Communications Commission’s recent auction of the 24 GigaHertz (GHz) spectrum has been criticized by both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. One of the concerns raised by NOAA and NASA is the potential for interferen

Why States and the Federal Government Alike Are Honing in on Broadband Data and Broadband Access
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: This OpEd last week highlights the importance of broadband data and mapping, the variety of efforts underway to address inadequacies in our informational base, plus the broadband coordination currently going on in the federal government, and among many of the state gover

Next Century Cities Highlights State Action for Broadband, Co-Sponsors Broadband Conference in Idaho
Next Century Cities this week highlights broadband programs in five states, in advance of the “West Central Mountains High Speed Internet Conference” on May 17 in McCall, Idaho. The Friday event is being co-sponsored by the West Central Mountains Economic Development Council and Next Century Cities.

Time to Focus on California Legislation That Affects Infrastructure Access to Rights-of-Way and Conduit, says EFF
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: California, and many other states, have muscled their way onto the national broadband stage. They’ve done this through legislation that would either require net neutrality protections that the Federal Communications Commission removed in December 2017, or use state purch

Broadband Speed and Pricing Data Shows Gaping Digital Divide in Rural America
April 9, 2019 – There is exists a gaping digital divide between Rural America and the rest of the country, in which 146 million people (45 percent of the population) do not have access to a low-price plan for residential broadband. That is according to research released last week by BroadbandNow, wh

How Bad is Life for Google? They Advertise in Conservative Magazines That Attack Them
WASHINGTON, December 11, 2018 – This is how bad it’s gotten for Google in Washington: The company is taking out ads on the back of the conservative National Review while, and the same time, the story suggests gaslighting the company. The ad picks a conservative-friendly theme: “Now you can search ‘j

Regional Broadband Conference in Connecticut on Thursday, November 8
NEW BRITAIN, Conn., November 2, 2018 – Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz is pleased to announce a broadband conference entitled, Connected New England: A Regional Broadband Convening at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Connecticut, (300 Capitol Ave.), Room 2C, on November 8, 2018, from

Columbia Journalism Review Weighs in, from Iowa, About the Increasing Digital Divide
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: The journalism publication CJR weighs into the below-the-radar-battle over rural broadband, highlighting the now-here prospect of a gaping digital divide between the urban and the rural areas of our country. Iowa: Rural broadband, and the unknown costs of the digital div

On Broadband, California Again Leads the Way in Helping Promote Rural Broadband
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: There’s no question that California courts controversy, in technology and telecommunications as well as many other spaces. However, putting aside the drama over net neutrality, this bill removing restrictions on the public option will aid rural broadband. In particular,

In a Sunday Filing, Justice Department Takes Aim at California Net Neutrality Bill
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: California is merely the largest of the large number of states that have attempted to take a “federalist” approach to the “interstate commerce” of network neutrality. This sets up the first of many political flashpoints over the issue. Feds launch lawyers at California n

Broadband Deployment Updates from Virginia, Kansas, Ohio and Indiana
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: It is great to see this kind of round-up of an array of broadband activities happening throughout the country. It is a reminder that broadband remains a potent economic development issue throughout the country, if not in Washington. Kudos to Smart and Resilient Cities fo

European and Chinese Pressures are Squeezing Silicon Valley, Threatening a Global ‘Splinternet’
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2018 – The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation is raising the danger of the “splinternet” syndrome, as top tech companies prioritize international standards over American ones, warned experts at a June 28 event of the Federalist Society. Officials from Google, Mic

Public-Private Partnerships, Local Involvement Central to Colorado Broadband Success
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2018 – Colorado broadband officials stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in extending broadband access to unserved Americans in rural areas, and expressed doubts that the so-called fifth-generation wireless standard dubbed 5G will be the answer to closing the di

How Delaware is Promoting Better Broadband State-wide, Including in Rural Areas
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: This great piece from a news site devoted to state, county and municipal government tackles what one state is doing in order to advance better broadband throughout its state. All states include a rural component (more or less), and Delaware shows that state-wide broadban

Applications for Municipalities and States to Join Key FCC Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Due Monday
WASHINGTON, March 7, 2018 – Local government officials seeking to offer a corrective tonic on broadband deployment to the Federal Communications Commission may consider applying for the expanded Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. Nominations for the more-than-10-year-old group are due on Monday,

Trump Administrations Unveils Details of Infrastructure Incentives, Including Spending on Rural Broadband
WASHINGTON, February 12, 2018 – President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled details of his plan to spur $1.5 trillion in new investment to revitalize the nation’s crumbling infrastructure with a combination of $200 billion worth of matching funds and block grants to be funded from to-be-determined bud

Lexington, Home to the Kentucky Wired Middle-Mile Project, Seeks Municipal Fiber
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: The power of municipal broadband isn’t going away. While competition benefits everyone, it’s undeniable that as the custodians of their rights of way, local government will play a role in the telecommunications infrastructure developments of the future. Charter gets comp

There Was Little to Show for Digital Broadband During the ‘Infrastructure Week’ at the White House
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2017 — Despite myriad public events and a soundbyte-friendly title of “Infrastructure Week,” last week the White House was light on infrastructure and nearly empty of plans to build out 21st century digital infrastructure of fiber or wireless broadband. “There’s not going to be

Average U.S. Broadband Speed Continue to Rise, to 18.7 Mbps, in Akamai Report
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: United States broadband speeds are continuing to rise, according to Akamai’s periodic “state of the internet” report. The more urban “states,” including Rhode Island, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, conventionally do better in these rankings than less-dense state

An Examination of the Wealth Disparities in Neighborhoods Served by AT&T’s Fiber Deployment
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: A new report from the Haas Institute raises the question that’s been lurking behind the important-to-significant fiber rollouts over the past decade by Verizon, Google and AT&T: Are these providers cherry-picking their neighborhoods? This report drills deeply into AT&T’s
California Broadband Politics Concerning Building Conduits in State Rights-of-Way
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: By taking this action, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has likely avoided the fate of a bill that would require the agency to add conduit to infrastructure projects. See Steve Blum’s perspective below, and on the link. || Caltrans buries dig once c
Next Century City Hosts FCC Commissioner Clyburn, Republican Congressman Biggs, and Local Leaders at Broadband Summit in Arizona
MESA, ARIZONA – Next Century Cities will host a regional broadband summit, Digital Southwest, in Mesa, Arizona from 9:00am to 5:00pm MST next Tuesday, April 18, 2017 in partnership with the City of Mesa.To watch the full event live, go to: https://livestream.com/internetsociety/digitalsw/. The Regio
How Rio Blanco Shows That a ‘Shared Network’ Can Make Sense in Rural Colorado
Broadband Breakfast Insight: A great article detailing the way that a rural community, even in a sparsely-populated region of Colorado, is able to make an open-access network work for the communities and residents of the region. -> Rio Blanco County Stays Relevant With Broadband, from Broadband Comm
Watching the Rio Blanco Open Access Broadband Project in Colorado
Broadband Breakfast Insight: The Rio Blanco project in Colorado is one of the most interesting open access networks in the United States. This development is worth watching because of how it show how communities can build their own networks from the ground up.-> Broadband project still on track, but
At Inaugural AnchorNETs Conference in Silicon Valley, The Broadband Talk is About Public-Private Partnerships
MOUNTAIN VIEW, November 24, 2015 – Community broadband institutions are a key building block to accelerate deployment of high-capacity internet service, said speakers and panelists at the inaugural Anchornets conference here last week. Such community institutions also play a vital role in facilitat
Community Broadband Center Leaders to Gather in Silicon Valley for AnchorNETS and NTIA Event on November 16-17
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California – Local broadband institutions seeking to leverage high-speed connectivity for the benefit of their broader communities will benefit from attending the inaugural AnchorNETS conference [http://www.anchornets.com/] here on November 16 and 17. Sponsored by the Schools, Health
Illinois CIO Hardik Bhatt Addresses Need for ‘Smart City’ Technology to Run State Government
CHICAGO, Illinois, October 6, 2015 – State government need to use “Smart Cities” information technology to leapfrog to leadership among competing states, said Hardik Bhatt, chief information officer for the state of Illinois, speaking on Wednesday at the City Club here. Bhatt, the former CIO for th
Kentucky Deploys State-Wide Fiber Network Through Public Private Partnership with Macquarie Capital
LEXINGTON, Kentucky, September 21, 2015 – The lieutenant governor of Kentucky, a bevy of state officials and their private sector counterparts here celebrated the finalization of the deal to build a $324 million broadband infrastructure project. The project, KentuckyWired, is a public-private partn
Broadband Conferences This Week in Three Time Zones to Consider National, Regional, State Initiatives
June 8, 2015 – Broadband conference this week in three time zones will consider the next stages of nation-, region- and state-wide broadband initiatives. The conferences, in the Mountain, Central and Eastern Time zones, begin on Monday and Tuesday in Vail, Colorado with the “Mountain Connect” progr
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler Pokes Finger in Eye of Telecom Incumbents at Broadband Communities in Austin
AUSTIN, April 14, 2015 – The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission came to Broadband Communities Summit here to metaphorically poke his finger in the eye of the biggest incumbent communications companies. He cited this city as Exhibit A for his mantra of “competition, competition, compe
White House and Wheeler Together, Cable Industry Group, and Commentary on NTIA Broadband Report
WASHINGTON, October 20, 2014 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said that he and President Barack Obama agree in their opposition to paid prioritization, Multichannel News reported. Obama stated his objection to the practice during his remarks at an innovation forum in Californ
Connecticut Gigabit Venture Seeks to Build Open Access Broadband Network With Municipal Tools
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., September 23, 2014 – Connecticut officials planning a Gigabit Network in their state aim to take advantage of three core state broadband assets: An extensive state fiber network, streamlined processes governing rights-of-way, and a single administrative point of contact for infra
Important Resources for Broadband and Planning
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., September 16, 2014 – Below are several links of interest to professionals involved in broadband planning: PLANNING RESOURCES “Partnership for a Connected Illinois and Internet Expansion in Illinois 1996 to 2011,” By Drew Clark and Layton Olson, Spring 2012, American Planning Asso
Broadband Roundup: FCC to Police Dispute Between Netflix and Verizon, Michael Powell Defends FCC Chief
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2014 – In the midst of Netflix’s quarrels with Verizon Communications, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said in a statement Friday that the commission will investigate slowdowns in traffic to ascertain whether there’s harm to consumers. “To be clear, what w
Internet Protocol Transition a Critical Step To Ensuring Public Safety, Say Senate Hearing Witnesses
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2014 – Even the quickest and best-designed networks can succumb to Mother Nature when a hurricane or tornado strikes a community. And when thousands of people dial 911 at the same time, modern-day networks simply aren’t equipped to handle traffic of such tremendous scale. That w
Alaska
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Alaska.

Virginia
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Virginia.
Alabama
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Alabama

American Samoa
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in American Samoa.

Arizona
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Arizona.

Arkansas
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Arkansas.

California
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in California.

Colorado
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Colorado.

Connecticut
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Connecticut.

District of Columbia
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in the District of Columbia.

Delaware
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Delaware.

Florida
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Florida.

Georgia
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Georgia.

Guam
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Guam.

Hawaii
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Hawaii.

Idaho
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Idaho.

Illinois
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Illinois.

Indiana
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Indiana.

Iowa
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Iowa.

Kansas
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Kansas.

Kentucky
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Kentucky.

Louisiana
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Louisiana.

Maine
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Maine.

Maryland
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Maryland.

Massachusetts
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Massachusetts.

Michigan
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Michigan.

Minnesota
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Minnesota.

Mississippi
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Mississippi.

Missouri
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Missouri.

Nebraska
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Nebraska.

Nevada
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Nevada.

New Hampshire
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in New Hampshire.

New Jersey
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in New Jersey.

New Mexico
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in New Mexico.

New York
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in New York.

North Carolina
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in North Carolina.

Montana
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Montana.

Vermont
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Vermont.
North Dakota
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in North Dakota.
Ohio
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Ohio.
Oklahoma
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Oklahoma.
Oregon
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Oregon.
Pennsylvania
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Pennsylvania.

Rhode Island
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Rhode Island.
Texas
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Texas.
Utah
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Utah.
Washington
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Washington.
West Virginia
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in West Virginia.
Wisconsin
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Wisconsin.
Wyoming
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Wyoming.

Puerto Rico
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Puerto Rico.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Northern Mariana Islands
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in the Northern Mariana Islands.

South Carolina
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in South Carolina.
South Dakota
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in South Dakota.

Tennessee
Get a snapshot view of broadband initiatives in Tennessee.

Press Release: Alaska to Receive Federal Funds for Rural Wireless Improvement Efforts
In light of new developments in the Universal Service Fund, this press release about the Tribal Mobility Fund caught our eye…. March 5, 2014 – The Federal Communications Commission announced that Alaska’s largest telecommunication provider, General Communication, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNCMA), is eligible to
Colorado Governor Emphasizes Broadband in State of the State Speech
DENVER, January 9, 2014 – Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper referred to the significant of high-speed internet, or broadband access, in his state of the state speech on the floor of the Colorado Capitol on Thursday, as reported by the Denver Post. Moving forward, our priorities are clear: We are going
Discussion About Needs and Issues in FirstNet at Broadband Breakfast Club Virtual Event
October 15, 2013 – The Broadband Breakfast Club posted the video of its virtual discussion, “How Will FirstNet Improve Public Safety Communications?” featuring William Vallee, State Broadband Policy Coordinator, Office of Consumer Counsel, State of Connecticut; Brett Kilbourn, Vice President of Gove
Panelists Named for FirstNet Webinar on Tuesday, October 15, at 11 a.m. ET: Britt, Kilbourne, Vallee
October 11, 2013 – The Broadband Breakfast Club’s second virtual event, a FREE webinar on the topic of “How Will FirstNet Improve Public Safety Communications?” to take place on Tuesday, October 15, at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT., will feature Michael Britt, Program Manager, State of Arizona CIO’s Strate
Obama Administration Continues Follow-through on Broadband Infrastructure Executive Order
WASHINGTON, September 18, 2013 – Demonstrating a thoroughness in following through on its broadband policy initiatives, the Obama administration on Monday highlighted the launch of several new broadband tracking tools. These tools including interactive asset maps, a web-based dashboard focusing on a
AT&T CEO Urges Few Rules on Wireless Carriers’ Ability to Bid in Spectrum Auctions; Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor Agrees
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2013 – Concerns over spectrum policy and data privacy dominated the conversation between AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson and Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., at a Wednesday panel on “Accelerating the Mobile Technology Revolution” at the Brookings Institution. Stephenson praised
Americans With Access to Broadband Jumped Over Past Two Years, Says Commerce Department’s NTIA
WASHINGTON, May 20, 2013 – The percentage of Americans with access to broadband speeds of at least 3 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 768 Kilobits per second (Kbps) upload grew from 95 percent in 2010 to 98 percent in 2012, according to a report issued by the National Telecommunications and I
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival Seeks to Break New Broadband Ground with Social Media Lineup Announcement
March 17, 2013 – How a music festival connects to their audience is paramount to having a successful event. In recent years, several festivals – including the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival – have turned to aggressive viral campaigns to keep people talking about a festival before and after the mus
Internet Innovation Alliance Strikes Positive Note About Broadband and Apps Economy in 2013
WASHINGTON, January 24, 2013 – Broadband is about more than internet connection speeds, but now is everywhere, and affecting the way that consumers interacting with constantly-connected devices, according to a guide released by the Internet Innovation Alliance. The IIA guide highlights the usage of
ID InSight Says NTIA Mapping Data Is Highly Accurate
WASHINGTON June 20, 2011 – The market research firm ID InSight released an analysis of the data collected by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for the national broadband map, which shows a high level of accuracy in data collection. “Through our initial analysis of the m
California State Assembly Passes Online Sales Tax Bill
WASHINGTON June 7, 2011- The California State Assembly passed a bill last week that would require online retailers such as Amazon to collect state sales taxes on all goods the site sells within the state. The bill is similar to those that a number of other states and the U.S. Congress are currently
Commerce Department Announces 35 Broadband Grants in 22 States
WASHINGTON, September 13, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced 35 new Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grants, for a total of $482.4 million distributed across 22 states and the Virgin Islands. This set of grants focused on sustainable broadband adoption and infrastructure
Hawaii Wins $35.9 Million in BTOP Funds
WASHINGTON, September 13, 2010 – Hawaii has won broadband grants worth $35.9 million. The funds largely will be distributed to the University of Hawaii system.
Verizon Seeks to Offer an LTE Network in Alaska
WASHINGTON, August 30, 2010 – A recent filing by Verizon to the Federal Communications Commission shows that the firm may set up a long-term evolution network in Alaska. The filing was an application for the acquisition of the 700 megahertz band from Triad
California Rolls Out Telehealth Network
WASHINGTON, August 23, 2010 – The state of California last week officially launched its Telehealth Network [http://www.caltelehealth.org], which is funded by $30 million in federal, state and private money.
Opelika Votes to Create Municipal Network
WASHINGTON August 11, 2010- The Alabama town of Opelika has decided to set up its own cable television and internet network.
T-Mobile Sued for Limiting ‘Unlimited’ Data Plan
WASHINGTON August 9, 2010 – T-Mobile is being sued in California for putting limits on their unlimited data plan. The firm advertises the plan as having an unlimited amount of web and email but in actuality puts limits on its users.
The main plaintiff states that T-Mobile sent him the following
TDS Wins 39 of 46 DSL Projects
WASHINGTON August 5, 2010- Wednesday’s announcement by the Department of Agriculture included 44 DSL projects, of which 39 were given to a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems (TDS).
GTA Teleguam Blasts Competitor
WASHINGTON, August 3, 2010- Guam area telecom company GTA Teleguam has claimed that IT&E’s grant request is frivolous since there are no unserved areas in Gaum.
Hawaii Rejects Smart-Grid Technology
WASHINGTON, August 2, 2010 – Regulators in the state of Hawaii have recently rejected a $115 million smart grid expansion project.
US Falls Behind According to Akamai State of the Internet Report
WASHINGTON July 27, 2010 – Akamai has just released data from its annual State of the Internet Report and the US is falling behind. South Korea has the fastest average maximum speed of 33Mbps, followed by Japan with 26Mbps, Romania with 25Mbos, the US ranks 8th with a speed of 16mbps.
Kansas Governor Establishes a Broadband Advisory Task Force
WASHINGTON July 19, 2010 – Governor Mark Parkinson has established a 24 member advisory group to work with Connect Kansas to implement various broadband initiatives. The new group, called the Kansas Broadband Advisory Task Force, will develop a set of recommendations to help support statewide availa
Cruizo Works With Three California Counties to Build Fiber Network
WASHINGTON, July 14, 2010 – Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties want $43 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration fund for high-speed internet.
Digital Bridge Wins $4.3 Million BTOP Grant
WASHINGTON, June 8, 2010 – Digital Bridge is the latest broadband stimulus award winner. The wireless broadband provider is one of the few WiMax providers in the nation. The Virginia-based firm was established in 2005 and launched its first network two years later. Currently, Digital Bridge maintain
Hawaii Announces New Mapping Partners
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 – Early last year, Hawaii’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs was given a $1.9 million grant for its mapping initative. Rather than conduct all of the mapping internally, the DCA has chosen to partner with the New America Foundation, the University of Hawaii and Br
Alaska Picks Connected Nation for Mapping
WASHINGTON, June 4, 2010 – Alaska has chosen to change its designated mapping entity. The state has decided that rather than having the Denali Commission, an independent federal agency which is tasked with providing utilities within the state, conduct the mapping they have contracted Connected Natio
Chattanooga to Get 150 Mbps Fiber Network
WASHINGTON, June 4, 2010 – Chattanooga, Tennessee will now have the fastest home broadband speeds in the nation through a municipal fiber optic network. The network is maintained through a subsidiary, EPB Fiber Optics, of the city’s municipal electric provider EPB. The network boasts speeds of up to
NTIA to Host Advanced Radio Technologies Symposium
WASHINGTON, June 1, 2010 – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration will host the 11th annual International Symposium on Advanced Radio Technologies next month in Colorado.
FCC Workshop on Media Ownership: Picture Still Fuzzy
STANFORD, Calif., May 25, 2010 — The digital television transition and the emergence of broadband networks have opened up intriguing new kinds of distribution channels for programming, but at a media ownership workshop held in Stanford late last week it was unclear how any of this affects the qualit
Let Consumers See Clearwire’s Network: They’ve Got a Map For That
By now, the omnipresent television commercials have drummed Verizon’s 3G message into all our heads: big red map good, splotchy blue map bad. But nascent national WiMAX provider Clearwire has taken the “maps” battle to a whole new level, in a way that potential wireless users might find more useful
Go Smart, Go Green; Former Mayor Urges Broadband Innovation for Cities
DALLAS, April 29, 2010 – Broadband is a powerful solution to community ills, former two-term mayor Fort Wayne, Indiana, Graham Richard said Tuesday at a packed keynote luncheon at the 2010 Broadband Properties Summit here. His address presented a model for community involvement in the proliferation
Rural Broadband Forum: Connecting Rural Leaders For Broadband
DALLAS, April 28, 2010 – Day Two at the 2010 Broadband Properties Summit here began with a discussion by broadband experts about how to connect rural leaders into the broadband equation. Moderated by Bill Shuffstall, extension educator at Pennsylvania State University, forum speakers included Mark
Commerce Announces Final Grant Awards from First Funding Round
WASHINGTON, April 27, 2010 – The Commerce Department has announced nine broadband investments totaling more than $114 million in grants, in more than a dozen states. The announcement marks the final grant awards from the first round of BTOP applications.
Virginia Gov. McDonnell Signs Telemedicine Reimbursement Legislation
The Federal Communications Commission’s national broadband plan seeks to promote telemedicine, but the national health care bill recently-passed by Congress fails to include support for it. However, last week Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) signed SB 675, a health insurance bill that mandates covera
Four States Win $28.6 Million Broadband Grant
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2010 – The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Friday announced an investment in broadband growth to help boost economic growth, create jobs and improve education and public safety in portions of Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Tex
Guam, Northern Mariana Islands Receive $8 Million Grant
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2010 – The Commerce Department announced an $8 million broadband investment in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Broadband Plan Commentary: Ball State University
Testing prototypes. Assisting another university with a campus-wide wireless network. Delving into telecommunications policies. Investigating broadband’s impact on the economy. All are examples of Ball State University’s pioneering work with wireless broadband Internet access.
Commerce Department Announces 10 Broadband Investments Worth $63 Million
WASHINGTON, March 26, 2010 – The Commerce Department on Thursday announced 10 investments in broadband growth across the nation that total approximately $63 million.
Eight States Win Broadband Funds From Agriculture Department
WASHINGTON, March 23, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Tuesday announced broadband infrastructure projects to give rural residents in eight states access to better economic and educational opportunities.
American Samoa, Virginia Receive Mapping Money
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2010 – The Commerce Department earlier this month announced it has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Virginia and American Samoa under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant P

Chicago Sets its Sights on Ultra-Modern Web Site With Enhanced E-Government
CHICAGO, March 12, 2010 – When the City of Chicago has tried its hand at computerized technology of recent, it hasn’t exactly been a hit with citizens. Those fancy electronic signs on public transit platforms? They tell you everything except the time the next trains will arrive, a la London’s Under
Top This, Topeka: All First-Born Children to Be Named ‘Google’
When the city of Duluth, Minnesota, did not receive funding from their broadband stimulus application to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program application, they turned to Google. A few weeks ago, Google announced their own effort
California Communities Win Broadband Grant
WASHINGTON, March 1, 2010 – The Commerce Department last week announced a $7.25 million investment to boost economic opportunities in some low-income communities in California.
Partnership for a Connected Illinois Announces Drew Clark as Executive Director; Founder of BroadbandCensus.com to Lead State Broadband Data and Deployment Effort
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, and WASHINGTON, February 25, 2010 – The Partnership for a Connected Illinois, a non-profit organization that includes partnerships with Southern Illinois University, Man-Tra-Con, and Connected Nation, on Thursday announced Drew Clark as its new Executive Director. On Wednesda
NTIA Awards $12 Million to Two Illinois Counties
WASHINGTON, February 22, 2010 – Illinois’ DeKalb County and portions of the state’s LaSalle County have won nearly $12 million to improve and expand their broadband service from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
Commerce Unveils 10 Grants Worth $357 Million
WASHINGTON, February 19, 2010 – Commerce Secretary Gary Locke yesterday announced 10 grants totaling $357 million to help spread high-speed Internet access across the country.
Two New Nominees for Advanced Telecom Partnership
WASHINGTON, February 9, 2010 – The president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners has nominated Carlito Caliboso of Hawaii and Robert Clayton of Missouri to become members of a group interested in advanced telecommunications deployment on local, state and federal levels.
The Journey of a Million Miles Begins With Basic Broadband Research
PHILADELPHIA, Penn., February 3, 2010 – Investment in broadband infrastructure, most believe, is essential to our nation’s future economic health. In an information economy, the race is to the swift: those who can quickly access more, better information will innovate, communicate, and transact at a
NTIA Chief Larry Strickling Urges BTOP Rejects to Reapply, Reapply, Reapply!
DENVER, January 29, 2010 – Ditch the discouragement, review successful applications and reapply, reapply, reapply, was the message at the Denver workshop on Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grants. “Don’t fret over round one, there’s more money in round two,” said Larry Strickling, head o
Rural Utilities Service Unveils $310 Million in Stimulus Funds for 14 Projects
WASHINGTON, January 26, 2010 – The Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities Service is doling out $310 million in broadband stimulus funds, department Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday. The monies will be spread throughout 14 projects seeking to bring speedy Internet connections to rural commu
Study: Broadband Providers Target Areas of Expected Economic Growth
WASHINGTON, January 15, 2010 – Researchers looking at California to determine whether broadband boosts local economic development found it’s tough to determine since broadband providers tend to target areas of expected high economic growth.
Commerce Sec. Locke Announces $7.5 Million in Broadband Grants to Los Angeles
January 13, 2010 – Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, speaking Wednesday at the South Los Angeles WorkSource Center, announced the funding of a number of recovery projects, including $7.5 million to the city of Los Angeles for broadband. The grant will be used to expand Los Angeles’ computer access netw
Commerce Department Awards 10 More Broadband Mapping Grants; Total Funding is $97 Million
WASHINGTON, January 13, 2010 – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Tuesday announced that it has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahom
FCC: Broadband Critical For Often Undervalued Small Business Market
WASHINGTON, January 4, 2010 – At a field hearing at the University of Chicago on December 21, 2009, the Federal Communications Commission voiced its commitment to provide broadband opportunities to small businesses – in spite of the feeling that small businesses are sometimes forgotten. “When discu
NTIA Awards 5 More Broadband Mapping Grants; Total to 41 States is $78 Million
WASHINGTON, December 31, 2009 – The Commerce Department agency responsible for the mapping component of the broadband stimulus program announced, on the last day of the year, that it had funded five more states’ broadband data programs. With the announcement – of funding for broadband data and mapp
Sen. Durbin Joins Lawmakers Cheering On State Broadband Grants
WASHINGTON, December 29, 2009 – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin, D-Ill., last week joined the bandwagon of lawmakers voicing support for the government grants currently being awarded to support broadband deployment and map broadband penetration across the country.
State Preferred Broadband Stimulus Projects Sweep Day 1
After reviewing the letters from the states to the NTIA, BroadbandBreakfast.com has learned that all of the broadband stimulus projects awarded today were specifically recommended to the NTIA by the states, with the exception of the Rivada Sea Lion project in Alaska and Bretton Woods Telephone Compa
First Broadband Stimulus Funds to Middle Mile Projects, Libraries and Rural Last-Mile
WASHINGTON, December 17, 2009 – The broadband stimulus projects identified in a White House report [https://broadbandbreakfast.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/NEC-Broadband-Report.pdf] issued Wednesday, and embargoed for release Thursday, include the following:
Broadband Stimulus Rush Begins with $182 Million Dispensed Today in Dawsonville, Ga.; Less Than 3 Percent of Total Funds
WASHINGTON, December 17, 2009 – The White House announced that $182 million in federal funding for broadband stimulus funding will be dispensed Thursday by Vice President Joe Biden at Impulse Manufacturing in the rural town of Dawsonville, Ga. The initial grants are the first of a $2 billion disbur
Broadband Stimulus Grants Expected on Thursday
WASHINGTON, December 16, 2009 – The White House Office of Vice President Joe Biden is planning on traveling to Dawsonville, Georgia, on Thursday, to make an announcement on the stimulus act Congress approved in February. He will discuss how the recovery act investments are “improving communities and
Broadband Speeds Matter Just as Much as Internet Access, Say New Yorkers
NEW YORK, December 13, 2009 – Broadband speeds matter just as much as does internet access, in order to ensure educational, economic and social opportunities for individuals of all incomes and ethnic backgrounds, participants in a community broadband hearing here agreed on Friday. Policy officials,
Report Using Census Block Data Finds Broadband Adoption Rate of 72.9 Percent
WASHINGTON, December 7, 2009 – A new report [https://broadbandbreakfast.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Take-Rate-Brief.pdf] using an innovative approach to broadband data finds that the percentage of households in the United States that have adopted high-speed internet services is 72.9 percent. The
Verizon Wireless Launches New Anti-AT&T Ad, Suits Dropped
Verizon Wireless started running a new advertisement this week in the “There’s a Map for That” campaign that has caused competitor AT&T much angst. The ad [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xup4tGGstgM] features Santa Clause’ reindeer prepping for the big night with the one using AT&T’s third generatio
Gates Foundation Looks To Expand Upon Prior Grant to Libraries Offering Broadband
WASHINGTON, December 1, 2009 – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said Tuesday it will provide close to $3.4 million in grants to improve Internet connections for libraries in five states. The foundation is also partnering with 14 other states to assist efforts by libraries to secure some of the $7
NTIA Announces Award for Six More Broadband Mapping Projects
WASHINGTON, November 30, 2009 – The U.S. government announced Monday that it has awarded millions of dollars to five state entities and one nonprofit organization – Connected Nation – that proposed projects to help collect better data on broadband availability across the country. The Department of
New Leadership at National Association of Consumer Advocates for Utilities
WASHINGTON, November 19, 2009 – The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates announced new leadership, which was elected at the group’s annual meeting from November 15 to 18 in Chicago. Mary Healey of Connecticut was elected president of the organization
The Scoop on NARUC: From Washington to Main Street, Broadband Questions Remain
CHICAGO, November 18, 2009 – One striking sentiment dominated this week’s convention of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners: The federal government remains on nearly as steep a learning curve on crafting the future of broadband as many state agencies, and the best work ahead
Federal Broadband Stimulus Funds to Come in as Soon as Three Weeks
CHICAGO, November 17, 2009 – As the 121st meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners kicked off Tuesday, the usual presentations on energy efficiency, commodities and electrical grid jiggering couldn’t match the drama and dilemma surrounding a topic that didn’t even exis
Google Voice Controversy with AT&T Freshens Up Access Charges Battle
WASHINGTON, November 13, 2009 – Access charges are well above the actual costs to connect telephone calls, despite the efforts made by the Federal Communications Commission, said Andy Regitsky of Regitsky and Associates, in a webinar presentation on “Access Charges and Network costs – A Guide to FCC
Seven More States Awarded Broadband Data and Mapping Grants By NTIA; Total is 15
WASHINGTON, November 9, 2009 – On Friday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced seven new state recipients of the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. These grants fund state efforts to map broadband availability and speeds. Each state was asked to p
Governors of Illinois and Kansas Winnow State Broadband Stimulus Applications
October 20, 2009 – The states of Illinois and Kansas on Tuesday released their recommendations for the first round of broadband stimulus funding, with Illinois winnowing 140 applicants for broadband projects to a list of 31 proposed projects, and Kansas narrowing its pool of 85 applicants to 22.
Alabama, Arizona and Missouri Governments Offer Picks for Broadband Dollars
October 16, 2009 – The states of Alabama, Arizona and Missouri released their lists of recommendations for broadband stimulus grants to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Friday, October 16, and they each took very different approaches to the selection process.
Connected Nation Denied Spot on List of First Broadband Data and Mapping Grants
WASHINGTON, October 12, 2009 – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration last week awarded the first four broadband data and mapping grants to organizations that are not Connected Nation.
NARUC Unveil Web Portal for 'Best Practices' on State Broadband Deployment
WASHINGTON, October 9, 2009 – An advisory board to the Federal Communications Commission consisting of state utility regulators has developed a new web portal for tracking and referencing broadband expansion projects nation-wide.
Week in Review: Application Roundup
WASHINGTON, August 31, 2009 – Although the NTIA and RUS are expected to release the names of the applicants for broadband stimulus funding later this week, the names of many of the applicants are emerging through press releases and through reporting by a wide variety of organizations.
Telecom Experts Offer Last-Minute Advice to Broadband Stimulus Applicants
WASHINGTON, August 12, 2009 – With just two days away from the deadline to apply for federal funds to cultivate broadband projects across the nation, telecommunications experts offered their advice on the future of the grants process.
Citizens Must Embrace and Benefit from Technology Revolution, FCC Told
WASHINGTON, August 7, 2009 – The technology revolution will fundamentally change and improve the way that citizens and government interact, but that change must embrace everyone to accomplish its goals, public officials and policy experts agreed Thursday.
Illinois Unveils Plan to Supplement State's Applicants for Federal Broadband Stimulus Grants
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2009 — Illinois has unveiled a plan to provide supplemental grants for state projects applying for the first round of federal broadband initiative money. Anyone wishing to grab stimulus funding, however, must hurry. Applications are due August 5. Awardees will be notified of the
ZeroDivide Looks for Broadband Grant Partnerships
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2009 – ZeroDivide, an investor in community enterprises leveraging technology to help underserved communities, is looking for non-profit partners to apply for broadband monies that are part of the national economic stimulus plan.
Massachusetts Broadband Institute and State Transportation Office to Build Fiber Across State
July 30, 2009 – Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced Tuesday a partnership between the Massachusetts Broadband Institute and the Executive Office of Transportation to bring broadband to unserved and underserved communities in western parts of the state.
Universal Service Fund Should Focus on the Low-Income, Agree Broadband Experts
WASHINGTON, July 21, 2009 – A panel of broadband experts agreed Monday that the Universal Service Fund should direct more of its funding to low-income areas and away from exclusively focusing on rural high-cost areas, where funds are not being spent efficiently.
Connecting Broadband Networks and Applications in NTIA Proposals
LAKE FOREST, Ill., July 19, 2009 – The NTIA’s BTOP program tracks the old NTIA Technology Opportunities Program. There are going to be maximum awards for those applications which attempt to solve multiple policy objectives, on the “biggest bang for the stimulus buck” theory. And states are going to
The Quiet of Summer
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2009 – As the promised June 30 deadline for the federal government’s broadband stimulus rules approaches, the three agencies responsible for aspects of broadband stimulus are directly engaged in detailed questions about how high-speed internet service is being defined.
Further Updates to the BroadbandCensus.com List of NTIA Comments
WASHINGTON, May 27, 2009 – The BroadbandCensus.com List of NTIA Comments has been updated to include summaries of comments from the American Legislative Exchange Council, American Library Association, American Public Power Association, American Tower, ApexCoVantage, Apple, Inc., Arizona, Association
Updates Made to the BroadbandCensus.com List of NTIA Comments
WASHINGTON, May 25, 2009 – The BroadbandCensus.com List of NTIA Comments [http://broadbandcensus.com/2009/04/the-broadbandcensuscom-list-of-ntia-comments/] has been updated to include summaries of additional comments filed with the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Ad
California's Lessons Could be Model for Broadband Stimulus, Experts Say
SAN MATEO, Calif., May 11, 2009 – States looking for answers to many questions on how to implement the broadband stimulus program should look to California, said a group of experts Monday during a panel at the Tech Policy Summit on the “state of the state.”
NTIA Details Contacts With Legislators, States, Mapping Companies and Others
WASHINGTON, April 27, 2009 – Officials at the agency responsible for crafting the federal government’s broadband stimulus policies held 36 meetings meeting over the past two months – 17 with federal legislators, 11 with private companies and non-profit groups, and eight with state and city officials
Virginia, Pennsylvania Discuss State Maps of Broadband Availability
WASHINGTON, April 22, 2009 – With the fast-moving broadband stimulus package almost certain to stretch the capabilities of federal agencies such as the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, state governments and agencies say they can help expedite the proc
Graham Richard, Former Mayor of Fort Wayne, at April Broadband Breakfast Club
WASHINGTON, April 13, 2009 – Graham Richard, the former mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has agreed to join the panel discussion for the April meeting of the Broadband Breakfast Club, which takes place on Tuesday, April 14, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Old Ebbitt Grill.
April Broadband Breakfast Club on the Role of States in Stimulus Spending
[http://www.eventbrite.com/img/button/register_blue.gif]http://broadbandbreakfast.eventbrite.com/ WASHINGTON, April 8, 2009 – With the fast-moving broadband stimulus package almost certain to stretch the capabilities of federal agencies such as the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications a
Legislators See 'Underserved' Definition as First Step for Broadband Stimulus
WASHINGTON, April 5, 2009 – Proper oversight of the $7.2 billion Broadband Technology Opportunities Program can only take place if key terms are defined properly, a panel of agency officials and policy experts told a congressional committee on Thursday.
State and Local Regulators Say 'Relevance' Needed For Successful Broadband Adoption
WASHINGTON, April 4, 2009 – Making broadband applications more relevant in underserved and unserved communities could be a better use of stimulus funds than building infrastructure, a group of state and local regulatory officials Friday at a cable industry show here.
NARUC Ratchets Up Call for State Involvement in Disbursement of Broadband Stimulus Funds
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2009 – The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners on Thursday ratcheted up their call for greater state involvement in disbursement and use of the $7.2 billion broadband stimulus funds with a letter to top Commerce and Agriculture Department officials.
States Likely to Have Extensive, Expanding Role in Communications Landscape
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2009 – The role of states in the communications landscape were discussed in a Wednesday panel of state public utility commissioners at the Cable Show here.
Advocates Seek Accountability in Expenditure of Broadband Stimulus Funds
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2009 – At the final day of a six-day public forum about the federal government’s $7.2 billion broadband stimulus funding on Tuesday morning, the discussion made a sharp turn toward a focus on oversight and post-award compliance.
In Arizona, Urging Broadband Stimulus Spending For the Benefit of All
March 19, 2009 – Arizonans and native Americans at a public forum in Flagstaff, Ariz., urged a broadband buildout that puts connectivity of disadvantaged groups at the heart of the federal stimulus spending.
States Seek Best Strategies on Obtaining Broadband Stimulus Funds Close-to-Home
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2009 – As the Obama administration on Monday begins poring over the nitty-gritty details about how they will be spending $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus funds, individual states are grappling to find their own best strategies to tap the funds.
Should the Data in Broadband Maps Be Transparent and Public?
WASHINGTON, February 18, 2009 – Art Brodsky, communications director at Public Knowledge, has just posted a second piece about Connected Nation. For more than a year, BroadbandCensus.com has been presenting an alternative to the proprietary-information model of Connected Nation.
Resolution on FCC Reform Divides NARUC Committee; Universal Service Fund Changes Less Controversial
WASHINGTON, February 15, 2009 – State regulatory commissioners are split on how strongly to express longstanding grievances with Federal Communications Commission processes. A resolution on reform of FCC management and practices dominated the agenda as the National Association of Regulatory Utility
State Regulators Could Ask FCC to Fund Broadband for Low Income Households
WASHINGTON, February 14, 2009 – State utility commissioners are considering a resolution to “strongly encourage” Federal Communications Commission implementation of a pilot program to make broadband internet access service eligible for subsidies drawn from the Universal Service Fund.
Illinois Proposal for Transparent Town Halls
CHICAGO, January 12, 2009 – Broadband As a Tool for Transparent Town Halls for Responsible Infrastructure Investments of $700 Billion: A proposal of the Community Life Initiative.
Broadband Stimulus Package Should Include Funding for State Data, Says Massachusetts
WASHINGTON, January 2, 2009 – Congress and the incoming administration of President Obama should include broadband-related investment in the pending legislation designed to promote economic stimulus, and the federal government needs to begin with better data about broadband availability, said Massac
Gates Foundation Grants $7 Million to Connected Nation and American Library Association
WASHINGTON, December 19 – Connected Nation and the American Library Association will receive a $7 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in a broadband initiative designed to improve internet connections in public libraries, the foundation said Thursday.
States Seeking Better Broadband Nationwide Turn and Make a Local Focus
November 11 – State telecommunications officials concerned about the universal deployment and use of high-speed internet services joined together at a San Jose conference on Thursday to compare notes, plot strategy and encourage programs and activities that will lead to better broadband.
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s Incredible Silicon Valley Wi-Fi Adventure
SAN JOSE, November 6 – It was Kevin Martin’s day to suck up praise from Silicon Valley.
The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission – for about two more months – came to the Wireless Communications Association’s annual conference here on Thursday to be feted by many Googlers, including company co-founder
Broadband Census Executive Director to Speak at Federal Communications Commission Summit
WASHINGTON, November 3 – Drew Clark, Editor and Executive Director of BroadbandCensus.com, will speak in Silicon Valley on Thursday, November 6, at the summit on broadband data sponsored by the Federal Communications Commission and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.
Verizon Communications' Fiber-Optic Service Looks Primed to Enter District of Columbia
WASHINGTON, November 3 – Despite protests outside, a hearing inside the John A. Wilson building, the seat of the District of Columbia government, showed positive signs that a franchise for Verizon FiOS is imminent in the nation’s capital.
Beset by Large Rural Areas, Arizona Aims to Blend Broadband Data Sources
October 15 – Arizona is on the road to a state broadband policy, but officials recognize that “the opportunity for states to use ubiquitous broadband deployment as a competitive differentiator is quickly passing.” The officials are determined to go beyond market forces in their quest for broadband b
Regulators, Officials Debate Need for National Broadband Policy, Fund
WASHINGTON, September 26 – A national broadband infrastructure fund should include the involvement of state regulators and focus not only on the extension of broadband service into unserved areas, but also on the adoption rate of broadband service by consumers, according to California Public Utiliti
Broadband Census State-by-State Articles on Broadband Deployment and Data
WASHINGTON, September 22 – BroadbandCensus.com unveiled a new web site — BroadbandCensus.com/conference [http://broadbandcensus.com/conference] — for the “Broadband Census for America” Conference on Friday, September 26, 2008. Additionally, as part of its participation in One Web Day, BroadbandCens
Agenda for Broadband Census for America Conference on September 26, 2008
WASHINGTON, September 8, 2008 – Many of the nation’s foremost broadband policy-makers and experts will analyze and discuss best practices for improving the collection and sharing of public data about high-speed internet access at the Broadband Census for America Conference in Washington, D.C., on Fr
Illinois Plants 'Johnny Appleseed' Projects Promoting Broadband in State
September 3 – In describing efforts to improve broadband in Illinois, Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn uses this analogy: “We have to be the modern-day, 21st century Johnny Appleseeds, planting good technology projects all over the state.”
Colorado Innovation Council Seeks to Make Good on State's Promise of Better Broadband
August 28 – The state of Colorado likes to see itself as an emerging technology hub. But the dark cloud hanging over the future of Colorado’s technological progress may be its low ranking in broadband availability throughout parts of the heavily rural state.
Aspen Review: Questions Posed by the Expanding Participation of a Many-to-Many Age
August 21 – It’s worthwhile to step back and examine the so-called digital revolution with an eye towards the future of innovation after the Progress and Freedom Foundation’s summit in Aspen, Colorado. What were the essential questions asked by the summit discussants? What are possible answers?
BroadbandCensus.com Joins with One Web Day: Learn About Your Internet Options and Take the Census
WASHINGTON, August 19 – BroadbandCensus.com is pleased to support One Web Day on September 22, 2008. We join with One Web Day in helping you learn about your internet options and take the broadband census. Doing so will allow all of us to better understand the true state of broadband competition in
CWA Publishes State-by-State Download Speeds. How About Carrier-by-Carrier Speeds?
August 15 – The Communications Workers of America’s Speed Matters blog this week published its state-by-state report on download speeds in the United States. According to the report, the median download speed for the nation was 2.3 Megabits per second, and the report provides state-by-state totals.
Modern-Day Alaskan Broadband Benefits from Satellite Earth Station Competition
August 10 – Today’s technologically advanced Alaska is a far cry from Jack London’s frontier in The Call of the Wild. Yet while dog-sledding remains a common form of transportation, the image of the disconnected wilderness man is today more myth than reality.
Federal Communications Commission Data on Broadband in Alaska
August 10 – According to its semi-annual report released in March 2008, the Federal Communications Commission states that there are no ZIP codes in Alaska that are without a broadband provider, as of June 30, 2007, yet the map provided by the FCC portrays large swaths of parts of Alaska as “zero del
Hawaii Broadband Task Force Aims to Tackle Problems of Speed, Competition
August 9 – In an attempt to increase speeds, lower prices and enhance consumer choices, the Hawaii legislature last year created a Hawaiian Broadband Task Force to study problems associated with high-speed internet access.
Federal Communications Commission Data on Hawaii Broadband
August 9 – According to the Federal Communications Commission’s semi-annual report that was released in March 2008, about 76 percent of Hawaii’s ZIP codes have five to nine high-speed Internet providers as of June 30, 2007.
Federal Communications Commission Data on Idaho Broadband
August 8 – The Federal Communications Commission states in its bi-annual report, which was released in March 2008, that a quarter of Idaho’s ZIP codes have five or more broadband providers as of June 30, 2007.
With Large Underserved Areas, Idaho Seeks to Establish Statewide Educational Network
August 8 – The state of Idaho took a step toward a broadband strategy with the March 2008 passage of H. 543, a bill that establishes a statewide broadband network.
Europe and Asia are 'Cleaning Our Clock' on Broadband, Says Report Author
WASHINGTON, July 10 – The lack of a cohesive national broadband policy in the United States is hampering the nation’s ability to deploy high-speed broadband, attorney James Baller said Thursday at the Alliance for Community Media conference here.