1. Monthly archive
  2. February 2024

February 2024

Biden’s vow of affordable internet for all is threatened by the looming expiration of subsidies

President Joe Biden traveled in January to North Carolina to promote his goal of affordable internet access for all Americans, but the promise for 23 million families across the US is on shaky ground. That’s because the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides $30 a month for qualifying families in most places and $75 on tribal lands, will run out of money by the end of April if Congress doesn’t extend it further. The program is key to the Biden administration’s plans to make the internet available to everyone, which the president has touted repeatedly as he has ramped up his r

Mears Broadband spins off to support surge in broadband builds

Mears Broadband, a fiber network construction contractor, has launched as a standalone company just in time to support the flood of broadband deployment slated for later in 2024. For the last five years, Mears Broadband was a division of Mears Group, a subsidiary of Quanta Services that provides construction services for fiber broadband projects. CEO Trent Edwards explained the untethering will allow Mears Broadband to make decisions without impacting the 13 other companies within Mears Group.

In mobile, ACP's downfall would weigh heavier on MVNOs and wholesale

Mobile operators will feel a financial twinge if the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is shut down this spring, but the cut won't cause extreme bleeding when it comes to subscribers, revenues and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization).

ACA Connects, Fiber Broadband Association, NTCA Encourage NTIA to Retain Congressional Priority for Fiber Projects in BEAD Proposals

ACA Connects–America’s Communications Association, the Fiber Broadband Association, and NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, and the Fiber Broadband Association encouraged the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to “stand its ground” in prioritizing fiber projects and maximizing the deployment of fiber networks as Congress intended under the Broadband Access, Equity, and Deployment (BEAD) program amid calls for the agency to reject or weaken initial proposals submitted by some states and territories. In 

Reps Clyde and Carter Challenge FCC’s “Digital Discrimination” Rule

Reps Andrew Clyde (R-GA) and Buddy Carter (R-GA) led 65 House Republicans in introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval to overturn the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) new "digital discrimination" rule. On November 15, 2023, the FCC finalized a new rule to “prevent digital discrimination of access to broadband services.” The rule hands the Biden Administration’s bureaucratic state effective control of all internet services and infrastructure in the US—giving the FCC unchecked unconstitutional authority to implement regulations restricting every as

Old Saybrook Residents Connected to GoNetspeed’s 100 Percent Fiber Internet

GoNetspeed announced that 100 percent fiber internet is now available to Old Saybrook residents located in initial construction areas.

Governor Ron DeSantis Delivers $223 Million to Expand Rural Broadband Access

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) awarded nearly $223 million to expand broadband internet access to Floridians, including small and rural communities. This funding includes $135 million in state funding through the Broadband Opportunity Program and $86 million in federal funds through the Multipurpose Community Facilities Program. Awards through the Broadband Opportunity Program will support 54 projects in 33 Florida counties for broadband internet expansion that will provide internet to over 27,000 unserved residential, educational, agricultural, business and community locations.

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