Federal

Donald Trump will nominate the veteran Wall Street financier Howard Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department, elevating one of the financial world’s most vocal supporters of Trump to a crucial position overseeing the incoming administration’s aggressive trade agenda. Lutnick, chief executive officer of the financial-services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has become a close Trump ally and had been a top contender to lead the Treasury Department.

Donald Trump said he would nominate World Wrestling Entertainment co-founder Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department that he has vowed to dismantle. McMahon, a former head of the Small Business Administration in Trump’s first term, serves as co-chair of the Trump transition team.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was a crucial resource that made the internet more affordable for the 23 million households previously enrolled. ACP—which offered $30 per month for internet bills, $75 per month on Tribal lands, and a one-time discount for devices—was a safety net for eligible households, particularly those living in rural and underserved areas.

President-elect Trump has tapped Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr to be the next chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), teeing the agency up for a likely clash with Big Tech and media companies he has accused of “censoring” conservative views.  Here’s what to know about Carr:

Alaska Power & Telephone Company proudly announces completion of the “SEALink South” submarine fiber optic cable project, the latest segment in its growing southeast Alaska broadband network. The AP&T team completed the installation one year ahead of schedule. SEALink South includes a submarine cable system interconnecting Ketchikan with the communities of Hollis and Coffman Cove, beachfront cable landing sites, various terrestrial facilities, and associated transport equipment.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has laid out a list of all its accomplishments related to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. But somehow, the list has a sad ring to it—as if it’s the final swan song of a group that’s worked very hard for three years but knows that all that work could get kicked under the rug by the new Trump administration. But in the interim, NTIA put out an announcement, updating everyone on the program and touting its milestones.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has reached a major milestone on the road to connecting everyone in America to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service. As of November 19, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five territories participating in the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program have approved Internet for All plans. These plans outline how each state and territory will connect every one of their residents to the Internet.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Texas' Initial Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative. This approval enables Texas to request access to funding and begin implementation of the BEAD program. Texas was allocated over $3.3 billion to deploy or upgrade Internet networks to ensure that everyone has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed Internet service.

President-elect Donald Trump announced he will appoint current Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr to be the next FCC chair. Here’s a few observations on what this is likely to mean for the telecommunications and broadband industry. Net Neutrality undoubtedly will be reversed again. Since its inception, it has come and gone, depending on which party is in the White House. A Republican commission under Carr could have another big impact that would be detrimental to big tech, according to a research note from Washington insider and National Broadband Plan author Blair Levin.

The purpose of this document is to outline the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Final Proposal Guidance to assist states and territories in submitting quality Final Proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This document is intended solely to assist recipients in better understanding the BEAD Program and the requirements set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this program.