Free Geek, Devices, and Digital Equity
Friday, January 24, 2025
January 2025
Analysis
Analysis
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Announces Additional Agency Leadership
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced the appointment of additional FCC leadership positions.
- Tom Sullivan, Acting Chief of the Office of International Affairs.
- Ira Keltz, Acting Chief Engineer, Office of Engineering and Technology.
- Catherine Matraves, Acting Chief of the Office of Economics and Analytics.
- Katie Gorscak, Acting Director of the Office of Media Relations.
Spectrum Launches Gigabit Broadband, Mobile, TV and Voice Services in McMinn and Meigs Counties (TN)
Spectrum announced the launch of Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to more than 3,100 homes and small businesses across McMinn and Meigs Counties (TN). Spectrum’s multi-year Rural Construction Initiative is an investment of approximately $9 billion – partly offset by over $2 billion in government support funding – that will ultimately connect approximately 1.75 million new homes and small businesses across the country.
CMA secures important changes from Google to tackle fake reviews (UK Competition and Markets Authority)
Submitted by zwalker@benton.org on Fri, 01/24/2025 - 10:43
Broadband 2025: Building the Future Faster
Six concrete actions that can be taken quickly to speed up connectivity to all in America:
- Champion the Networks of the Future
- Secure and Reform Universal Service
- Put the Pedal to the Metal on Broadband Deployment
- Review All Legacy Regulations with Fresh, Modern Eyes
- Break the Federal Permitting Log Jam
- Model Efficient, Effective Government on Cybersecurity
Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards More Than $12.6 Million to Expand Internet in 96 Massachusetts Cities and Towns
The Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) announced $12,671,242 to expand internet in locations unserved and underserved by broadband in 96 cities and towns across the state.
Kansas broadband developers complain to Senate about allocation of state, federal grants
A major broadband provider and a coalition of smaller developers complained about lack of transparency at the Kansas Department of Commerce in awarding millions of dollars in state and federal funding to upgrade internet service in underserved areas of the state. Concerns about the Department of Commerce’s grant-making process were shared with the Kansas Senate’s budget committee by a Cox Communications lobbyist and the executive director of Communications Coalition of Kansas, which represents locally owned rural internet companies and cooperatives. Megan Bottenberg, a lobbyist with Cox Com
The 199 Most Elon Musk Things Elon Musk Has Ever Said (Politico)
Submitted by benton on Fri, 01/24/2025 - 10:21Trump 2.0 will probably give a big helping hand to fixed-wireless access
Although there's nothing concrete yet on the topic from Trump 2.0, Washington insiders are growing more hopeful that the new US president will push through regulations that will help 5G network operators deploy more cell towers for services like fixed wireless access (FWA). That would undoubtedly please big 5G carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile as well as smaller players like C Spire, which are already offering FWA service to millions of customers.