telecompetitor

Seven network operators are slated to share millions of dollars in Nebraska broadband deployment funding through the state’s Universal Service Fund program. Awardees must file certain additional information, which must be approved by the state, before the awards will be finalized. If all awards are approved, deployments will be made to 1,258 locations. The program has a total budget of over $19 million in this round. The seven funding winners are:

Organizations representing rural wireline internet providers have stated their preference for continuing to favor federal funding for fiber-based broadband construction. However, many participating in a recent National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) comment round said the agency is correct in opening the door to greater funding of alternative technologies, including unlicensed fixed wireless and low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellite systems.

T-Mobile expects to pass between 12 million and 15 million more households with fiber by 2030 through its fiber partnerships, company executives told attendees at a September 18 T-Mobile investor event. The company’s fiber partnerships include a joint venture with investment firm EQT that will acquire Lumos and a joint venture with KKR to acquire Metronet. Unsurprisingly, T-Mobile sees strong potential to convert customers who currently use the company’s fixed wireless service to fiber.

Starlink has added a $100 “congestion charge” to certain new subscribers of their Residential Services. The one-time fee applies to new service plans within areas of “network congestion.” The Support section of the Starlink website provides details of the new charge. “In areas with network congestion, there is an additional one-time charge to purchase Starlink Residential services.

A few years ago, an assessment of Alaska’s broadband needs suggested an investment of nearly $2 billion would be needed to bring high-speed connections to everyone in the nation’s largest state. The National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA) awarded Alaska just over $1 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funds.