Federal
Maine Uses Digital Equity Capacity Funds to Ensure Communities Can Thrive
On December 6, 2024, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) over $5.7 million in Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program funding towards closing the digital divide in the state. Maine plans to use these funds to spearhead a number of initiatives, including:
President Trump’s CBS lawsuit ties media freedom to FCC’s regulatory power
In the first hours of his presidency, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14149, “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship.” The Order prohibits any “federal department, agency, entity, officer, employee, or agent” from acting “in a manner that advanced the Government’s preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate.”
Rep Buchanan Introduces Bills to Expand Access to Telehealth
Rep Vern Buchanan (R-FL) introduced two bills to extend flexible health care options to Americans in need of timely care. Rep Buchanan introduced the Permanent Telehealth from Home Act (H.R. 1407) to remove obstructive geographic limitations to telehealth services and the Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act (H.R.
New Brattle Study Finds the Affordable Connectivity Program Pays for Itself
New economic analysis of the Affordable Connectivity Program—which offered monthly broadband service subsidies to low-income households—finds that the economic benefits generated by the program far outweigh its costs. Highlights include:
RDOF Defaults Keep Coming; “Penny Wise, Pound Foolish”
Many stakeholders were shocked when it came to light that over a third of $9.2 billion in winning bids in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund broadband program were rejected after the Federal Communications Commission reviewed winning bidders’ long-form applications. And the tally of RDOF defaults isn’t complete yet. A Benton Institute analysis found that bids associated with nearly $112.8 million in additional RDOF funding are in default. The additional defaults represent nearly 1.9 million locations that had been expected to receive service.
Federal Broadband Funding to Connect 89,000 Minnesotans
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced today that nearly 89,000 Minnesota homes and businesses could receive new high-speed broadband service through the state's $652 million federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment allocation. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has formally accepted DEED's proposed map of final eligible locations that BEAD funding could serve.
Texas official wants low-cost broadband requirements tied to federal dollars dropped
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R-TX) recommended federal officials change requirements for billions of dollars in broadband funding, including eliminating the low-cost requirement. Hegar suggested the change in a letter to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who is the chairman for the Senate committee that oversees the federal agency responsible for allocating federal broadband funds. In the letter, Comptroller Hegar says removing the requirement may increase provider participation.
Lumen is selling its CBRS spectrum
Amid a raging debate over the value of the 3.5GHz CBRS band, Lumen Technologies has apparently decided it's no longer interested in holding those spectrum licenses.
The Battle Over CBRS Spectrum
It’s becoming clear that there is going to a never-ending battle over mid-band spectrum. In late 2024, AT&T asked the Federal Communications Commission to allow for full-power use of CBRS spectrum.
Alaska Broadband Project Expected to Bridge the Digital Divide and Create Jobs
A collaborative broadband project in Alaska is expected to deliver multi-faceted, transformative benefits to the Athabascan community of Nenana. The collaboration is between Nenana Native Association, Tanana Chiefs Conference, and Alaska Communications, a provider of communications infrastructure in Alaska.