February 2025

The Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved proposed rules to bring unused 5G-grade spectrum to market by taking the first step to reauction advanced wireless service (AWS)-3 spectrum licenses in the agency’s inventory. To lay the groundwork for this reauction, the FCC’s proposed rules would update the AWS-3 service rules to reflect legislative and regulatory developments since the spectrum was originally auctioned in 2014.

When President Joe Biden put $42 billion behind making high-speed internet accessible across the US, he committed to doing it the old-fashioned way—with miles upon miles of fiber-optic lines. That frustrated Elon Musk, who said his Starlink satellite-internet business could get rural areas online faster, at lower cost.

The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has launched the Broadband Equity Study Story Map, an interactive tool designed to visualize internet access disparities across the city. The Story Map combines data analysis with personal experiences from residents impacted by the digital divide, offering a comprehensive review of the challenges and opportunities for improving broadband access. The Broadband Equity Study Story Map aims to: