July 2023

Mid-Atlantic provider Lumos turned up service in Burlington (NC), claiming it will be the first fiber provider for many of the city’s residents. Asad Ramzanali, Chief of Staff for the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, commended Lumos for its expansion across the state. For Lumos’ part, CEO Brian Stading stated the Burlington launch “represents our ongoing commitment to bridge the digital divide” and the operator will look forward “to working with our federal, state, and local partners to continue this expansion in the months and years to come.” Lumos serves more than 22

It’s been more than a year since the Federal Communications Commission sought comments regarding pole attachment rules. The FCC wanted to hear from telecoms and utility companies about how the cost of pole replacements should be allocated between the pole owner and the attachers, and what would be the best process to add more attachments to existing poles, among other issues. The FCC definitely got an earful. It’s received 4,180 comments to date. But the FCC has yet to issue new rules on pole attachments.

From my perch as the head of our Nation’s expert agency on communications, I can’t help but be an optimist about the future of AI. Every day I see how communications networks power our world. I know how their expansion and evolution can change commercial and civic life. I also know the power of those communications networks can grow exponentially when we can use AI to understand how to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our networks. Because the day is not far off when we will be able to use this technology to help self-configure, self-optimize, and self-heal facilities.