Broadband
Battle to save major internet subsidy reaches Supreme Court
Advocates and elected officials warned of the harm if the Universal Service Fund is struck down as unconstitutionally financed. Justices appeared inclined to preserve the fund.
Commerce Secretary’s proposal to prioritize satellite over fiber internet would ‘strand’ rural communities, experts say
Howard Lutnick’s proposal to change BEAD structure will line the pockets of billionaires and leave rural communities behind.
Vermont explores having telehealth hubs at libraries
An initial grant will help researchers study the feasibility of offering services at the state’s 185 libraries in a bid to help people access care even from remote areas.
New bill would loosen various BEAD rules
Republicans have long complained about some of the broadband program’s requirements and preference for fiber. New legislation would tweak many of those rules.
‘Leave it alone’: Amid BEAD review, state leaders plead for stability
While elected officials in Washington criticize the broadband program’s speed and requirements, some officials urged them to let states proceed with plans to get people connected.
Millions in US live in places where doctors don’t practice and telehealth doesn’t reach
Nearly 3 million Americans live sicker, shorter lives in the hundreds of rural counties where doctor shortages are the worst and poor internet connections mean little or no access to telehealth services.
Commerce secretary announces ‘rigorous review’ of BEAD program
Howard Lutnick said it is in “dire need of a readjustment,” and pledged to take a tech-neutral approach while dismantling many of the broadband access program’s Biden-era requirements.
Already lagging broadband program faces more uncertainty under Trump
Three years after the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program began, it’s still in the planning phase.
4 ways to improve and accelerate broadband expansion nationwide
The federal government can streamline the funding process for its critical BEAD program.
Texas official wants low-cost broadband requirements tied to federal dollars dropped
Texas is getting more than $3 billion from the federal government to help expand internet access.
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A BEAD critic could end up running the internet access program
Arielle Roth, a former aide to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has been tapped to head up the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. She has long been skeptical of some of the $42 billion effort’s provisions.
Rethink federal spending to save broadband subsidy, tech group argues
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation said the government should prioritize affordability over infrastructure and tweak eligibility for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Biden signs law easing rural broadband projects
The E-BRIDGE Act, included in a sweeping water infrastructure package, makes those projects eligible for certain federal grants and allows recipients to use private sector expertise in their development and deployment.
Feds still aren’t fully backing satellite for BEAD grants
States can use money from the $42 billion program to reserve space on satellite networks or reimburse providers when they hit certain milestones. But the tech can only receive money if no other options exists for an area.
Major broadband subsidy faces uncertain 2025
The Supreme Court will debate how the Universal Service Fund is financed amid questions over its constitutionality. Without it, states would lose a major resource in reducing the digital divide.
Rural Montana’s China tech challenge
Montana’s two largest telephone cooperatives took a multimillion-dollar hit when the federal government pulled the plug on Chinese tech company Huawei. Now they’re getting compensated to replace it, but is it enough to do the job?
Rhode Island looks to help older adults navigate a digital world
The nation’s smallest state has big plans to help aging individuals have more equitable access in an increasingly digital society.
High-speed internet to expand in rural areas impacting students in seven NM school districts
Nearly 40,000 households in seven rural New Mexico school districts will receive high-speed home internet in coming months, following state grants from the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion’s Student Connect program.
Feds push out dollars for states’ digital equity efforts
With just weeks left until President-elect Donald Trump takes office, the NTIA is sending millions of dollars out the door. But not everyone agrees it’s a good idea.
The drawbacks of government-owned broadband networks
As communities determine how to divvy up BEAD funding, a new report suggests deploying publicly owned broadband networks may not always be an effective use of the money.
