Fierce
Charter, Cable One plot price increases amid layoffs
Charter and Cable One are planning to raise internet prices this summer—news that comes after both companies announced a batch of layoffs. Charter plans to raise the internet base price on all plans by $3 monthly (or $4 for legacy plans). Those rates will take effect in July. As for Cable One, it is increasing Sparklight high-speed internet rates by $5 per month effective July 1.
Broadband is the newest trade work for the ‘toolbelt generation’
Plumbing, welding, electrician work—these may be a few of the best-known trades needed to keep our modern world afloat. But there is a new infrastructure in place that has quickly become as common and important to everyday life: the internet. Despite how simple accessing the internet via your mobile phone may seem, a vast physical infrastructure is needed to sustain it.
Visionary eyes fiber frenzy in American West
Wyoming-based Visionary Broadband’s got quite the resume in both the fiber and wireless space. Visionary won nearly $27 million in ARPA grant awards to provide fiber broadband in remote areas of Wyoming. It’s also got a foothold in Colorado, Montana and Washington state. State grants have helped Visionary recently gain seven new markets, said CEO Brian Worthen. Those include three markets in Colorado, two in Montana and two in Wyoming.
Ziply eyes Montana as new frontier for its fiber
Ziply Fiber has set its sights on Montana for its next expansion. The operator unveiled plans to build fiber to nearly 29,000 addresses in Billings and Great Falls—marking Ziply’s first major expansion in the state. Previously, it only offered service in the towns of Libby and Troy. Ryan Luckin, Ziply’s VP of marketing, said that Ziply will use a combination of buried and aerial fiber for the deployments and expects to complete construction in Billings and Great Falls by the fall. Ziply’s also plotting to turn up another 26,000 addresses with fiber in Missoula, Helena and Butte.
Net neutrality kicks in next month, spawning small cable company fears
The Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules will go into effect July 22, unless the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals places a stay on the rules. Several different groups have filed lawsuits, claiming that the FCC broke the law when it decided to reclassify broadband providers under Title II of the Communications Act.
Wireless industry group opposes latest spectrum reform attempt
Once more, legislation addressing some of the nation’s biggest spectrum issues is scheduled for a markup, but it’s not winning any accolades from the U.S. wireless industry’s biggest trade group. The Spectrum and National Security Act – introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) in April 2024 – was most recently set to be marked up on June 12. That was postponed and rescheduled for Tuesday, June 18.
Is the 4.9 GHz ‘giveaway’ a bad idea? Verizon, Boston and New York think so.
Verizon is among several entities that told the Federal Communications Commission to hold off on any plan to grant FirstNet – and by extension AT&T – a nationwide license to the 4.9 GHz band. In case you aren't up to speed, here's the recap: The Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) supports a proposal to assign the 4.9 GHz band to FirstNet, which runs on AT&T’s network. The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) opposes that plan and argues that the 4.9 GHz band should remain in the control of local authorities.
Fixed wireless continues to climb US broadband charts - Parks
Naysayers of fixed wireless access (FWA) be warned—the technology’s usage continues to climb.
Businesses have high hopes for AI. Are their networks ready?
Business leaders have high expectations for the year ahead, thanks to the increasing ubiquity and potential of artificial intelligence (AI). The International Data Corporation (IDC) canvassed over 650 global technology leaders, and 81% of them expect to see moderate to high growth for their businesses in the next 12 months. The study (which was commissioned by Expereo) found 69% of businesses are preparing to take on AI or already using it at scale.