State

On April 30, a committee in the California Assembly will hold a hearing on proposed legislation that would dictate rates for interstate broadband information services. Intended to promote affordability, the California bill would unwisely subject broadband service providers to price controls of $15 per month. But state-level rate regulation takes away broadband providers’ ability to set their prices in the free market, directly undermining their returns on investment in their network property.

Higher prices have come for your internet bill—at least it feels that way for many. That’s according to a new CNET survey that found 63 percent of US adults paying for home internet saw their prices increase last year. On average, they paid $195 more last year than they did the year before. Price hikes didn’t necessarily translate to better service, either. More than half of people who saw their bills increase said they still experienced unreliable connectivity. The survey results come at a fraught moment for the broadband industry in the US.

The Maine Connectivity Authority is the state agency responsible for implementing the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. The MCA team and partners have worked tens of thousands of hours over the past three years to develop and execute thou

The Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) shared a couple of important updates about the Digital Access for All Idahoans (DAAI) Plan. The ICfL did not receive full spending authority from the Idaho Legislature for the federally funded DAAI Plan in the upcoming fiscal year. This impacts the scope of projects and opportunities tied to the plan. Notably, the ICfL will not be allowed to open another round of monetary subgrants in fiscal year 2026. The ICfL does anticipate being able to award the initial round of subgrants that opened in fall 2024.

The Colorado Broadband Office released its 2024 Year in Review, providing progress updates on the goal of connecting 99 percent of Colorado households to high-speed internet. Some highlights include: 

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced more than $41 million in Completing Access to Broadband program projects to connect 11,816 households and businesses in 17 counties to high-speed internet. These projects will be funded by more than $29 million from the federal American Rescue Plan awarded by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology and nearly $12.5 million from the selected broadband providers. The CAB program’s procurement process creates a partnership between counties and NCDIT to identify areas that need access, solicit proposals from prequalified internet serv

The ConnectALL Deployment Program in New York has released their Request for Applications for priority, reliable, and alternative technology solutions for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. The RFA seeks proposals for about $644 million in funding.

Which network operators have been cleared to apply for funding in the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program? Telecompetitor checked state broadband office websites and polled states to find out. In the process, we obtained answers for most of the states. Rumors continue to circulate that the rules for the BEAD program may change.

The Vermont Community Broadband Board is inviting residents to attend the first regular Digital Empowerment Quarterly Meeting. It’s an opportunity to get an update on our work, share ideas, and ask questions. Vermont’s DE Plan is the way Vermont will make sure every resident has high-quality, accessible, affordable technology resources and knows how to use them. The virtual meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2:00-3:30.

On Thursday, April 10, the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority Board of Directors voted on proposed guidelines for the PBDA’s Digital Skills and Community Capacity Program. The program, funded by the federal Digital Equity Act’s State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, will provide $25 million for digital inclusion programs in the Keystone State. The eleven-member board voted 9-1 to approve the guidelines, with one abstention.