May 2025

The Federal Communications Commission grants blanket authority under section 214(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, for carriers to grandfather interconnected VoIP services provisioned over copper lines and waives the associated requirement to file an application with the FCC under our discontinuance rules. The FCC also waives, for two years, the need for carriers applying for section 214(a) discontinuance authority to follow the testing methodology and parameters described in the 2016 Technology Transitions Order and its Technical Appendix.

Tribal Ready—a Native-owned company that helps deploy broadband networks—recently announced its partnership with Aqualinq to bring fiber broadband to Native communities. The partnership was a product of Tribal Ready’s desire to make the funding from the federal Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program “go as far as possible,” said Tribal Ready President Joe Valandra, and Aqualinq’s persistence in making their case. While broadband is not traditionally considered a utility, there is something in the partnership between Tribal Ready and Aqualinq that suggests the power of two services—broadband

Lightcurve and Kittitas County (WA) announced a partnership to build fiber networks that will bring high-speed internet to rural Kittitas communities. The new fiber builds—slated for completion in Fall 2025—will improve connectivity for Kittitas residents and local businesses. Kittitas County received $3.3 million in funding through the Washington State Public Works Board Broadband Program ARPA Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund Grant. The grant is designed to bring high-speed broadband internet to unserved or underserved communities.