April 2025

FOCUS Broadband Completes First Round of GREAT Grant Projects in Chowan and Perquimans Counties

FOCUS Broadband announced that nearly 4,000 addresses in Chowan and Perquimans (NC) counties now have access to fiber optic high-speed internet with speeds of up to 5 Gbps, thanks to two North Carolina Department of Information Technology Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology Grants totaling $8 million. These grants, awarded to FOCUS Broadband in late 2022, have already connected over 1,200 homes and businesses. Work is currently underway with substantial progress having already been made on two additional projects in Chowan and Perquimans counties.

Spectrum Launches Gigabit Broadband, Mobile, TV and Voice Services in Marion County (FL)

Spectrum announced the launch of Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to more than 6,700 homes and small businesses in Marion County (FL). Spectrum’s newly constructed fiber-optic network buildout extends services specifically to Summerfield, Citra, and Umatilla.

Biden’s Team Wishes They’d Moved So Much Faster

I’ve been thinking about something that Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, said in a post-election interview: “The president has been operating on a time horizon measured in decades, while the political cycle is measured in four years.” What we’re seeing now is that this was a false choice. There is no way to cleave the policy of the next decade from the outcome of the next election.

Baltimore’s Digital Equity Strategy: Build Community Trust

The city of Baltimore (MD) is building trust and connectivity for its residents through community-centered efforts.

The Dangerous Road to a “Master File”—Why Linking Government Databases Is a Terrible Idea

A concerning development from the Trump administration has privacy advocates sounding alarm bells nationwide: a plan to consolidate data from dozens of government agencies into what would amount to a comprehensive “master file” on all American citizens.

Fifth Circuit Vacates FCC's Fine of AT&T in Customer Data Case

AT&T seeks review of a Federal Communications Commission forfeiture order. In an internal proceeding, the Commission found that AT&T violated section 222 of the Telecommunications Act by mishandling customer data and fined the company $57 million. AT&T’s petition argues, among other things, that the in-house adjudication violated the Constitution by denying it an Article III decisionmaker and a jury trial. Guided by SEC v. Jarkesy, 603 U.S. 109 (2024), we agree with AT&T.

BEAD program draws strong interest during first application window

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Michigan High-Speed Internet Office is advancing efforts to extend broadband coverage to every home, business, and community anchor institution across Michigan with the announcement of the preliminary results of the first project application period for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.