The Institute for Local Self-Reliance estimates that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will run out of money in 2024. However, a bipartisan coalition of 45 lawmakers are simultaneously pushing for the ACP to be funded by other appropriation measures currently in Congress. With widespread Congressional and industry support, it seems likely the ACP will be renewed—albeit probably after the September 30 deadline. But it also seems increasingly likely that renewal may come at the cost of one or several other federal broadband programs. Groups like the NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association–disagree, noting that the ACP and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Lifeline programs provide useful and decidedly different functions. 

Virginia Tech bested the Federal Communications Commission in mapping the commonwealth’s broadband needs. The prize: an additional $250 million in federal money to help fill those high-speed internet voids. The Virginia Tech’s Center for Geospatial Information Technology calculated that the FCC had undercounted by 180,000 underserved locations and challenged the numbers. The FCC conceded about 80,000 locations that are now eligible for support from the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act’s (IIJA) Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is convening the first AI Insight Forum on Sept 13, bringing together some of the top people in AI to discuss the risks and opportunities posed by advances in this technology and how Congress might write legislation to address them. Sen. Schumer said he’s planning for “an open discussion about how Congress can act on AI: where to start, what questions to ask, and how to build a foundation for SAFE AI innovation.” The SAFE framework is not a legislative proposal but rather a set of priorities. Those priorities include promoting innovation, supporting the American tech industry, understanding the labor ramifications of AI, and mitigating security risks.

Midco is a midwestern service provider that offers broadband via hybrid fiber coax (HFC), fiber-to-the-home, and fixed wireless access (FWA). The company serves 490,000 homes and businesses in 400 communities in Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Midco is doing greenfield fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) builds in new communities and to large multi-dwelling units. But in brownfields, it’s doing a mix, adding fiber deeper into neighborhoods, but also upgrading its cable plant. “The good thing is DOCSIS 3.1 has a long runway to continue to improve speeds,” said Midco COO Ben Dold. “Right now, our near term is to continue to bring fiber deeper and push DOCSIS 3.1 further as we evaluate.”