Feds praise BEAD’s progress, but others aren’t convinced
The NTIA touted the program’s first-ever connections and said more is to follow. Some Democrats in Congress said the agency is being evasive about what happens to leftover funds.
Policies to close digital divide must pass ‘kitchen table test,’ nonprofits say
Several groups said communities that lack connectivity must be the ones to shape policies to benefit them, and they urged the federal government to step up with money and training.
Federal broadband policy is increasingly being recast around satellite
With few meaningful competitors, SpaceX's Starlink is the primary beneficiary.
Advocates pledge action to restore digital equity grants
One year after President Donald Trump rescinded the funds, various groups and lawmakers have kicked off a month of action to push for their restoration.
Future of Nebraska Broadband Office unclear following reduction in federal BEAD funds
Broadband Office director Patrick Haggerty steps down, as others work to secure $340 million in unallocated federal funds.
Rural-focused $42B Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program becomes operational
Early signs of a massive federal broadband expansion effort are beginning to reach local communities.
Missouri AI regulations stall as lawmakers fear loss of rural broadband funds
A Senate bill establishing liability guidelines for artificial intelligence harm has hit resistance from lawmakers who are worried it could provoke retaliation from the Trump administration.
North Carolina invests $26M to expand high-speed internet into additional rural areas by 2026
The additional funding targets 5,161 homes, businesses and community anchor institutions in 66 counties across rural portions of the state.
The role of state broadband policy in 2026
State legislatures address federal funding, deployment and affordability.
‘Unmet needs’ persist in Tribal broadband despite progress, report finds
The $3 billion set aside for Tribal connectivity is unprecedented, the Urban Institute found, but communities face familiar challenges if they are to truly take advantage.
FCC could tighten federal Lifeline program rules
The agency is advancing new eligibility requirements in the face of what it says is massive fraud across several states in the $1 billion-a-year internet and phone low-income assistance program.
Debate intensifies over how to spend leftover BEAD money
One elected leader said Congress needs “more say” on spending, while others said it should stick to its original intent and be used by states to close the digital divide how they see fit.
Libraries help communities weather storms. Many are getting snowed under
COMMENTARY | The recent winter storms showed how vital libraries are, but they are struggling with deferred maintenance and an uncertain funding future.
Expert warns of the ‘digitally invisible’ population amid yawning digital divide
It’s not just infrastructure that keeps people offline, but also a lack of digital skills and trust, warned Nicol Turner Lee of the Brookings Institution during this week’s CX Workshop.
South Dakota looks to space for final stretch of high-speed internet access initiative
The state will soon receive $72 million in federal funds to support satellite internet for more than 2,000 locations in need of broadband.
Texas county looks to task force to help close digital divide
Harris County, the most populous in the state, established its broadband task force in November to advise on projects, initiatives and other efforts to boost connectivity.
BEAD changes broke the law, federal watchdog finds
The Government Accountability Office found that last summer’s tweaks to the program should be submitted to Congress for approval before they can take effect.
Inside Eric Adams’ school Chromebook spending spree in New York City
The Adams administration shelled out north of $320 million to give public school students Chromebooks that connect to the internet through cell service. Most already have internet at home.
In the vast expanses of Indian country, broadband gaps create health gaps, too
On Idaho’s remote Fort Hall Reservation, thousands live without reliable high-speed internet, which supports health care, education, and daily life.
Some officials, lawmakers look to speed up permitting for broadband projects
States have billions in the pipeline to build out internet infrastructure, but getting those projects approved is challenging. Lawmakers are working on the issue, while others warn of preempting local authority.
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