Internet/Broadband

On October 31, NRECA sent a letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration expressing concern about the potential for BEAD funds being used to overbuild locations with fiber-to-the-home connections. CEO Jim Matheson wrote "As state broadband offices begin opening BEAD application windows and evaluating proposals, I write to express concern about the potential for BEAD funds being used to overbuild locations with fiber-tothe-home connections.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced an initial award of about $18.5 million in grant funding benefiting 17 counties across the state as part of the Texas Broadband Pole Replacement Program. This initial funding will support the deployment of broadband to rural, unserved areas by partially reimbursing grant awardees who’ve replaced more than 11,000 poles that support retail broadband services. Awardees include Bartlett Electric Cooperative, Charter Communications, United Electric Cooperative Services Inc. and MidSouth Electric Cooperative.

The three-judge panel hearing the case over the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) now-stayed order to regulate the internet using Title II rules peppered the parties in the case with questions about the definitions of “information services,” “telecommunications” and “telecommunications services.” The panel also questioned the relevance of the Supreme Court’s reversal of the Chevron doctrine and the ambiguities created by the FCC find

Comcast, Goodwill Industries International (GII), and World Education have developed and launched the Goodwill Digital Navigator Certificate Specialization training program. The program aims to equip community supporters with skills to enable them to thrive in the quickly changing advanced digital workplace. The digital training was made available to GII employees in the United States during the past month, and now can be accessed by anyone. The program costs $49 and consists of three courses.

For Cherokee citizens living on and off the reservation, staying connected is more than just having access to the internet. It’s about staying close to their Tribe and culture and feeling part of the digital world. The Cherokee Nation is making strides toward improving broadband access on their reservation, which spans an incredible 7,000 square miles in rural northeastern Oklahoma.

The Affordable Connectivity Program lapsed in May 2024. At the time the program ended, there were more than 13 million ACP recipients getting a discount on a cellphone plan and 10 million getting a discount on landline broadband.

Comcast's broadband business showed some surprising strength as the operator said it would've gained broadband subscribers in Q3 2024 if not for the demise of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Comcast lost 87,000 broadband subs in the third quarter, comprised of a loss of 79,000 residential customers and 8,000 business customers, lowering its grand total to 31.98 million.

As the federal government makes unprecedented investments to expand high-speed access to the Internet, unbeknownst to most outside the broadband industry is that nearly a third of the states in the U.S. have preemption laws in place that either prevent or restrict local municipalities from building and operating publicly-owned, locally-controlled networks.

In April 2024, Free Press released a report on social-media companies’ commitments to 2024 election integrity. We analyzed 12 major technology companies’ readiness to address political disinformation, manipulation and hate on their networks. Free Press scored the companies’ responses (or lack thereof) as either “Adequate,” “Partial,” “Insufficient” or “Fail.” Now, less than a week before Election Day, Free Press has revisited and updated its April analysis.

Broadband access in poorer and more rural communities has been a major campaign issue since 2008.