Masha Abarinova

Great Plains Communications is undertaking significant network rollouts across the Midwest, announcing earlier in August 2023 that it will build fiber in 16 new urban and rural communities in Nebraska. CEO Todd Foje said these markets are all areas where Great Plains will upgrade its broadband services with fiber, with construction slated to start by late fall 2023. Some of the expansion markets are in the Omaha metro area, such as Gretna, La Vista, Papillion, and Ralston, while others are considered “small

Verizon was hit with a fresh pair of class action lawsuits from investors, who claim the operator misled the public about the environmental and health risks of lead-clad cables. The lawsuits were filed in a western Pennsylvania federal court by the Gross Law Firm and Levi & Korsinsky, both of which urged Verizon shareholders to register for the class action.

Missouri was among the lucky winners of the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, receiving the third highest allocation at $1.74 billion. But whether that amount will be more than enough or just right to cover all unserved and underserved locations is “the ultimate question,” said BJ Tanksley, director of Missouri’s Office of Broadband Development. “I think the thing about this is it also is a call to us, there’s just a lot of work to be done across the state.” Tanksley said that while Missouri “always predicted” it would receive a relatively high BEAD allotment, the stat

As a two-peninsula state, Michigan has broadband accessibility challenges others states may not have, said Eric Frederick, chief connectivity officer at the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI).

As states draft their initial proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is striving to help broadband offices tackle the cybersecurity aspect of the BEAD guidelines. Essentially, states must verify the vendors and suppliers to whom they award contracts have “adequate” cybersecurity and supply chain risk management (C/SCRM) plans.

Fastwyre Broadband is aiming to expand fiber access in Western Alaska, with the help of two new US Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants totaling nearly $70 million. The funds came from the USDA’s recent round of ReConnect Round Four awards, in which the agency dished out $714 million to cover 33 buildouts in 19 states. In Fastwyre’s case, it’s using the money to deliver fiber to around 3,000 people and 75 businesses in several communities across Alaska’s Nome Census Area.

The broadband industry of late has been buzzing with excitement after the White House revealed how much each state is getting from the $42.5 billion Broadband Access, Equity and Deployment (BEAD) program. Some states—like California, Texas and Missouri—bagged sizable BEAD allocations.

Mid-Atlantic provider Lumos turned up service in Burlington (NC), claiming it will be the first fiber provider for many of the city’s residents. Asad Ramzanali, Chief of Staff for the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, commended Lumos for its expansion across the state. For Lumos’ part, CEO Brian Stading stated the Burlington launch “represents our ongoing commitment to bridge the digital divide” and the operator will look forward “to working with our federal, state, and local partners to continue this expansion in the months and years to come.” Lumos serves more than 22

Vyve Broadband, a cable and fiber provider operating in 16 states, recently unveiled plans to purchase Oklahoma-based Community Cable & Broadband (CCB)—a move Chief Operating Officer Andy Parrott called a “tuck-in acquisition.” Parrot said Oklahoma is a key market for Vyve, as it has support and infrastructure that goes throughout the state.

Where might consumers be paying the most for cable and internet service? New data from doxo, a billing aggregator, points to East Coast states like New Hampshire, Vermont and Delaware. According to doxo’s analysis of the most and least expensive states for cable and internet, New Hampshire came out on top with an average monthly bill of $151 per month, which is paid by 83% of households in the state.