Fierce
Is Starlink’s new affordable broadband plan a gamechanger?
SpaceX’s Starlink is dipping its toes into the affordable broadband market, with the launch of its “Residential Lite” service in 15 U.S. states. While it’s cheaper than Starlink’s standard residential plan, the move is hardly a gamechanger for rural broadband connectivity.
I’m sad that BEAD may eliminate its preference for fiber
It looks like Elon Musk’s Starlink service is going to get a big boost from the U.S. government. States will be able to award more Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program funds to satellite-internet providers like Starlink, as well as to more fixed wireless access (FWA) providers, rather than mainly to companies that lay fiber-optic cables. Personally, I think it will be a shame to squander this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reach as many homes as possible with fiber via the $42.5 billion in BEAD funds.
Sen John Curtis touches on the ‘fundamental flaw’ of BEAD
The trade group ACA Connects kicked off its annual summit with what’s on the forefront of everyone’s mind right now – the state of the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. Changes to BEAD are imminent, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick plans to eliminate the program’s fiber preference. But Sen John Curtis (R-UT) didn’t talk about that in the opening keynote.
Broadband infrastructure provider Trueline goes out of business
The broadband construction firm Trueline Infrastructure Solutions was supposed to bring competition to the market, but instead the company has gone out of business. Trueline sent an email to its approximately 300 employees, terminating their employment immediately. The email said, “As many of you are aware, Trueline has been facing unprecedented changes in the market, compounded by increasing competitive pressures.
Senate pushes for tax free BEAD grants: Why it matters
As we patiently wait for news on the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the U.S. Senate is pushing for legislation that could make it less costly for rural ISPs to apply for BEAD. Or so the industry hopes. Sens Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Mark Warner (D-VA) led a bill that would amend the Internal Revenue Service code so federal broadband deployment funding would not be considered taxable income.
Here’s what's happened since Brendan Carr took over the FCC
Brendan Carr, newly minted chair of the Federal Communications Commission, has been plenty busy making his mark in the telecommunications regulatory landscape. Here's a look at the most notable events that have transpired during Carr's first 30 days—and what we can expect in the months to come:
Carriers prepare for battle to fill US spectrum pipeline
If everything goes their way, U.S. wireless carriers could see somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 MHz of spectrum flowing into the spectrum pipeline over the next four years. Based on previous transactions, that spectrum could be worth a cool $160 billion.
How telehealth could offset the cost of the Affordable Connectivity Program
We’re creeping closer to the one-year mark since the federal government axed the Affordable Connectivity Program due to lack of funding, which left over 23 million low-income households without affordable internet. But folks didn’t just lose the $30/month subsidy and a reliable broadband connection.
Pew recommends NTIA make public all BEAD waivers for consistency across states
The Pew Charitable Trusts is recommending that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration make public all past waivers issued regarding the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.