Internet/Broadband

The North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity today posted Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program scopes of work to expand high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved homes and businesses at approximately 67,724 eligible locations in 37 counties. The division posted 53 additional CAB program scopes of work on 

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking public input on the potential writing of ethical guidelines for the use of “pervasive data” in research. “Pervasive data” refers to data about people gathered through online services. NTIA will rely on these comments, along with stakeholder engagements, in considering whether to draft and issue non-binding guidelines to assist researchers working with pervasive data.

The University of Hawaii Broadband Office (UHBO) is offering guidance for organizations putting together applications for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The applications are due on the last day of January. Hawaii was awarded $149 million in the program. There are eight RFPs, split between unserved/underserved locations and community anchor institutions.

Comcast has been treading rough waters on the broadband front and it’s not going to get better anytime soon, according to Comcast Cable CEO Dave Watson. Watson shared the not-so-sunny prediction that Comcast expects to lose “just over 100,000” broadband subscribers in Q4 as the market remains “competitively intense.” Watson’s remarks threw Wall Street for a loop, causing company stock to nosedive more than 8 percent. Comcast for a while has been grappling with fiber competition, tho

The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) is taking a significant step toward bridging the digital divide by announcing the release of the draft Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) eligible location information to prepare internet service providers, communities and others interested in the program for the application period that will launch Jan. 9, 2025. Providing access to affordable high-speed internet will benefit more Michiganders with online learning, healthcare and economic opportunities.

North Dakota has the potential to be the first state in the country to bring a fiber connection to 100% of their broadband service locations. Brian Newby, the State Broadband Program Director, said North Dakota is in this position thanks to their forward-thinking providers: “The state had nothing to do with it.” Newby said a provider-led push led to the current reality in which North Dakota enjoys broad fiber coverage. “They went out on a limb as a group and borrowed money to do this over the years.

Nearly 30 state broadband officers attended the recent Fierce Network Broadband Nation Expo in Washington, D.C., where they outlined some of their top concerns related to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. Some of their top issues include when they will disburse funds for broadband projects, who will bid for BEAD monies, what types of technologies they’ll use to deliver broadband to unserved locations and how they’ll set the high-cost thresholds in their states. State broadband officers also talked about the cost and availability of middle-mile networks.

Cable broadband companies continue to insist that data caps are good for people with low incomes, pushing back against comments filed by consumer advocacy groups. NCTA—The Internet & Television Association urged the Federal Communications Commission to avoid regulating the monthly data limits and overage charges that cable firms such as Comcast and Cox impose on many Internet plans.

The incoming Trump administration will give Silicon Valley moguls unprecedented federal power, with tech-friendly officials and policies intertwined throughout government. The

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) won the race to lead the powerful House Commerce Committee in the 119th Congress, replacing retiring Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). The panel's vast jurisdiction positions its chairman to play a lead role in crafting policy on an array of issues: everything from blocking China from engaging in U.S. telecommunication networks to influencing drug pricing. Rep. Brett Guthrie chairs the panel's Subcommittee on Health.