May 2024

The Bipartisan Case for the Affordable Connectivity Program

Today’s interconnected world makes it hard to imagine a day or more without internet access, but that may soon be the reality for millions of Americans when funding for a critical federal program runs out.

A Techie and a Trekkie: Meet Washington’s New Broadband Director

When Aaron Wheeler, Washington state broadband office director joined the office, he inherited a process and plans put in place by retiring broadband director Mark Vasconi, and he’s not about to slow the state’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) process down. While some states are more deliberate and trying to slow down the process of Volume 2 approval to delay the 365-day “shot clock” kicking in, Wheeler explain

T-Mobile to Acquire UScellular Wireless Operations and Deliver Exceptional Value, a Superior 5G Experience and Unparalleled Benefits to Millions of Customers

T-Mobile has agreed to acquire substantially all of UScellular’s wireless operations. This includes UScellular’s wireless customers and stores, as well as certain specified spectrum assets. Upon closing, T-Mobile’s leading 5G network will expand to provide millions of UScellular customers, particularly those in underserved rural areas, a superior connectivity experience, moving from a roaming experience outside of the UScellular coverage area to full nationwide access on the country’s largest and fastest 5G network.

The Trajectory for Fixed Wireless Access

Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon’s consumer business, recently said that Verizon expects to have 4 to 5 million fixed-wireless access (FWA) customers at the end of 2024, up from 3.4 million at the end of the first quarter of 2023. Financial analysts at TD Cowen who predict that Verizon will add 888,000 new net subscribers in 2024 while T-Mobile will add 1.3 million more customers to add to the 4.8 million customers at the end of 2023. FWA broadband has majorly disrupted the broadband industry.

Restoring an open internet requires softer China policy

A common reaction among tech policy and internet freedom advocates to the upcoming ban of TikTok in the US is to reject it as a step back from the traditional US internet policy of openness, free speech, and innovation.