Jon Brodkin

A proposed state law in California would force Internet service providers to offer $15 monthly plans to people with low incomes. The bill is similar to a New York law that took effect in January 2025 but has a higher minimum speed requirement: The proposed $15 plans for low-income California residents would have to come with download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 20Mbps.

The Federal Communications Commission is making it easier for telcos to turn off old copper phone and DSL networks with four changes that relax requirements related to copper shutoffs. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr—who is also pushing a "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative to get rid of as many rules as possible—said that agency rules have prevented providers from upgrading to faster networks.

Commissioner Geoffrey Starks will resign from the Federal Communications Commission this spring.

The Supreme Court has once again rejected a telecommunications industry challenge to New York's $15 broadband law. The court first refused the hear the case in December, which meant that an appeals court ruling upholding the law was not disturbed.

New York's law requiring Internet service providers to offer broadband for $15 or $20 a month has spurred legislative efforts in other states to guarantee affordable service for people with low incomes.

When New York's law requiring $15 or $20 broadband plans for people with low incomes took effect, Optimum customer William O'Brien tried to sign up for the cheap Internet service. Since O'Brien is in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, he qualifies for one of the affordable plans that Internet service providers must offer New Yorkers who meet income eligibility requirements. Despite qualifying for a low-income plan under the law's criteria, O'Brien's request was denied by Optimum.

Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX) has been demanding an overhaul of a $42.45 billion broadband deployment program, and now his telecommunications policy director has been chosen to lead the federal agency in charge of the grant money.

The New York law requiring Internet providers to offer cheap plans to people with low incomes will take effect on January 15 following a multi-year court battle in which the state defeated broadband industry lobby groups. A US appeals court upheld the law in April 2024, reversing the ruling of a district judge who blocked it in 2021.

President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, wants the FCC to crack down on news broadcasters that he perceives as being unfair to Trump or Republicans in general. Carr's stated goals would appear to mark a major shift in the FCC's approach to broadcasters.

Cable broadband companies continue to insist that data caps are good for people with low incomes, pushing back against comments filed by consumer advocacy groups. NCTA—The Internet & Television Association urged the Federal Communications Commission to avoid regulating the monthly data limits and overage charges that cable firms such as Comcast and Cox impose on many Internet plans.