Reporting

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.

Municipal broadband providers, which play a vital role in bridging the digital divide, should have equitable access to federal funding regardless of state regulatory roadblocks, said Gigi Sohn, executive director of the American Association for Public Broadband.

There are currently 291,000 locations in Minnesota that are either unserved or underserved, which is about 12 percent of homes or businesses. The state would like to fill in those gaps by 2026. An infusion of $67 million in grants allocated during the last legislative session will put a dent in that need. Federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, totaling $652 million over five years, allocated to Minnesota will go even further to bringing high-speed internet to all Minnesotans. US Sen.

Ready or not, the Federal Communications Commission’s program to “rip and replace” suspect network technology is coming. And one trade association representing smaller carriers says there isn’t enough funding to do the job, and that means there could be ripping without replacing that puts some areas of the U.S.

The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority will soon have $1.16 billion in funds to upgrade internet service – and that effort is moving forward by collecting stories from community leaders across Pennsylvania, said Brandon Carson, the authority’s executive director. Carson met with local leaders, business operators and internet service providers from across Somerset, Cambria and Fayette (PA) counties during a “Broadband Through Community” meeting – one of 20 sessions planned statewide to gather feedback and insight about local internet needs and concerns.

Deployment cost estimates underlying winning Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) bids are no longer accurate, representatives for a coalition of RDOF winners told FCC officials on July 14. The representatives suggested several possible remedies, including providing additional funding and other ideas. In a letter summarizing the meeting, the coalition cited “massive and unprecedented increases in broadband deployment construction costs . . .

Astound Broadband is expanding its mobile offering, dubbed Astound Mobile, to about four million customers in 12 states the company currently serves.

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.

Lina Khan, the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, faced more than three hours of criticism and ridicule from Republicans in a House hearing, as emboldened critics increasingly put pressure on the agency for its crackdown on the growing power of tech giants. During the highly partisan hearing, Republicans accused Chair Khan, who has carried out an aggressive agenda of lawsuits and investigations against tech companies, of “harassing” businesses.

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