August 2023

Twitter gutted its policy team. Some of the band is getting back together

Over a dozen former executives who led Twitter’s public policy team are launching a new political advisory group, taking the practically unheard of step of reuniting en masse after the company, since-rebranded X, shed much of its own shop under Elon Musk. The newly minted Blue Owl Group, a nod to Twitter’s once-iconic bird logo, is stacked with longtime tech veterans looking to use the new perch to shape major debates about the internet, artificial intelligence and climate — while recapturing the company’s sensibilities. While the firm includes several veterans like Colin Crowell who left T

Minority Universities Receive Funding to Bring Broadband to Surrounding Areas

The National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program grants to Grambling State University, Southern University and A&M College, Southern University Law Center and Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO). The funding for this two-year program will provide a variety of broadband services for universities and their anchor communities.

Alabama Governor Ivey Announces New Statewide Brand for High-Speed Internet Expansion, Details Upcoming Programs to Support Expansion Projects

Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL) announced that more than $400 million in federal funding and over $1.4 billion from the US Department of Commerce Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program will be used to expand access to high-speed internet across Alabama. Governor Ivey also unveiled Be Linked Alabama as the name and hub representing the state’s continued efforts to expand access to high-speed internet. Be Linked Alabama represents the state’s united effort to expand access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet to all Alabamians.

5G coalition presses FCC to allow FWA in lower 12 GHz band

The 5G for 12 GHz Coalition is urging the Federal Communications Commission to take action by December 31, 2023, to expand the 12.2 GHz band for terrestrial fixed use, giving entities like Dish Network the ability to use the band for fixed wireless access (FWA). The 12.2 GHz band is currently allocated to Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), non-geostationary orbit fixed satellite service (NGSO FSS) and fixed service.

Colorado BEAD plan is ‘agnostic’ to fiber versus fixed wireless

Fixed wireless is "absolutely part of the equation” for Colorado’s Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding plans, according to Brandy Reitter, executive director of the state’s broadband office.

Best & Worst States for Broadband, 2023

Using a combination of public and proprietary data, BroadbandNow has created a comprehensive report on the quality of the internet in all 50 states and Washington (DC).