The Federal Communications Commission voted to boost efforts by schools and libraries to loan out portable Wi-Fi hotspots, programs that mostly began before the COVID-19 pandemic but accelerated at its height. By a 3-2 vote, commissioners OK’d the use of E-Rate funds to support the initiatives. The E-Rate program helps schools and libraries obtain discounted telecoms equipment and internet access, but because the hotspot devices used in these initiatives are taken off-premises, the FCC had to approve new rules. Library and school programs that loan out hotspots are not new, but they grew rapidly during the pandemic when schools closed and learning went online. 

Nokia says that it will self-certify a number of products as being manufactured in the United States and okay to use in the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The self-certifications are mandated by the requirements of the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act. Nokia says it is the first vendor to have completed self-certification. The Nokia press release links to a webpage that lists 21 products that it has certified. The FX and MF OLT modular product lines, the SF-8M sealed OLT, and the XS-220X-A ONT were highlighted in the press release. Products that are self-certified are added to a page on the Department of Commerce’s website. Certification requires an officer of the company to attest to compliance. False self-certification can lead to fines or imprisonment. 

Since Congress established the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, the media, government officials, and the public want to know how much funding will be available, which technologies will be deployed, and how the program will be administered. Often lost in the shuffle, however, are important steps Congress took to address long-standing challenges to equitable broadband access to ensure that funds received by state broadband offices are used to advance the BEAD program’s goals. Among the steps are stricter requirements for state broadband officials to follow when distributing federal funds to internet service providers (ISPs) and when collecting data for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, including measures for tackling affordability concerns. These reporting requirements underscore the need for state broadband offices to have accurate pricing data to help inform their implementation of BEAD and other federal programs and policies. But no definitive source for what consumers pay for broadband service exists. This has led some researchers and advocates to rely on imprecise Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sources when assessing year-over-year changes to broadband pricing in each state.

As part of his commitment to connect every home and business in Kentucky to high-speed internet, Gov. Andy Beshear announced today that the state has opened the Broadband Grants Management Portal for user registration. Registering is the first step in applying for funds from Kentucky’s $1.1 billion allocation from the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Internet service providers, local governments and nonprofits are all eligible. “Every Kentuckian deserves access to high-speed internet, because it’s a necessity for work, school, health care and so much more,” Gov. Beshear said. “We are making sure everybody gets connected—and that they can get reliable service at an affordable price.” The second step—the pre-qualification phase—will open Aug. 14 and close at 6 p.m. EDT on Sept. 13. Managerial, technical and operational information from prospective applicants will be collected during this step. The third step will be the submission of applications for BEAD funding, which is expected to open in November.

On August 12, Rep Jerry Nadler (D-NY) wrote to Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH) to request that the House Judiciary Committee investigate political censorship on X. Five secretaries of state recently sounded the alarm that Grok, an artificial intelligence chatbot on X, has been sharing inaccurate information about the 2024 election. Rep Nadler wrote "I am concerned that X will not take this matter seriously absent this Committee’s attention. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon described X’s response as 'the equivalent of a shoulder shrug. Dismissive and detached.' With less than 90 days remaining until the election, we no longer have the luxury of time to wait for X to do right thing on its own accord. With such little time, we should not be in a position where secretaries of states—who serve on the front lines of our elections—feel that they have no other choice but to beg a recalcitrant company owner to take immediate action vis-à-vis an open letter shared with the press."