Carl Weinschenk

The ConnectALL Deployment Program in New York has released their Request for Applications for priority, reliable, and alternative technology solutions for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. The RFA seeks proposals for about $644 million in funding.

The Indiana Connectivity Program has awarded almost $1.7 million in new funding to bring connectivity to 371 addresses in the thirteenth round of funding. The total investments in the projects reached almost $7.8 million for the funding round. In all, the precise investment totals for the round and its 371 locations are $1,660,949 in state funds and $7,768,342 in total investment, according to the program.

A study conducted on behalf of Amdocs finds that consumers value reliability, affordability, and uninterrupted access—and suggests that providers may benefit by offering all three via mixed-technology networks. Highlights of the study include: 

• Cable has the highest level of internet access (39 percent), followed by fiber (31 percent) and FWA (9 percent). The study found that 3 percent of consumers do not have a dedicated internet connection at home.

• 60 percent of respondents say their home internet is very reliable, and cite cost as the biggest issue.

At least two states—Maine and Minnesota—have contacted the U.S. Department of Commerce concerning the changes that may be made to the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. Minnesota’s suggestions about BEAD came via a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick from Bree Maki, the Executive Director of the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development.

T-Mobile has won a BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division Fast-Track SWIFT challenge brought by Verizon, related to T-Mobile’s claim to be the “first and only” U.S. wireless provider to work with Starlink to provide satellite-powered text messaging. Fast-Track SWIFT challenges enable NAD to review single-issue advertising issues.  In this case, a statement, made at T-Mobile’s website and in a LinkedIn post, said that  “T-Mobile is the first and only U.S.

T-Mobile demonstrations using a commercial Samsung Galaxy S25 and a non-commercial mobile test device achieved a 6.3 Gbps “record-breaking” downlink speed in a recent trial. The Galaxy S25 test featured Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80 5G Modem-RF System running text software on T-Mobile’s 5G network. It reached a download speed of 4.3 Gbps in real-world conditions. The second test featured Qualcomm’s X85 5G Modem-RF on a mobile test device.

To date, telecommunications networks using light to transmit data relied on fiber to carry and direct that light. X—a division of Google, not the social media platform—says that the next iteration of its Taara chip harnesses the light without the need for fiber. The post says that Taara transmits at speeds of 20 Gbps up to a distance of 20 kilometers. The connection is made when beams of light from two units create a link. To date, the system—and the current chip, called Lightbridge—relies upon a system of mirrors, sensors, precision optics, and smart software to create the links.

Three states have provided updates in the long process of granting funds under the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. 

The California Department of Technology (CDT) has issued a periodic update on its middle-mile and last-mile initiatives. The report says that almost 3,100 miles of Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI) have “gone to installation” through the CDT’s joint build, indefeasible right-of-use/lease partnerships, and Caltrans constructions. The total is nearly half of the roughly 8,000 miles that will be deployed Caltrans says that it is continuing to make progress in moving from pre-construction to installation of almost 800 miles of network.

Twenty-five organizations sent a letter this week to new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr in opposition to prospective changes to the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) framework. The companies say that the changes would upend the goals for which CBRS was developed. The letter urges the FCC to not pursue proposals to increase power levels for CBRS devices and relax emissions limits.