May 2025
Pine County (MN) offers letter of support, financial contribution to proposed BEAD broadband project
Pine County (MN) Commissioners agreed to send a letter in support to Minnesota Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) on behalf of Mediacom Broadband, which is seeking to expand broadband access for residents in Pine County through grant funding. Gerri Jenkins, Mediacom’s government partnership specialist, shared that the project includes Carlton County. In Pine County, 193 miles of fiber optic cable would be laid, connecting 1,104 locations of unserved and underserved homes.
Oklahoma Board Advances More Than $53 Million in Middle-Mile Broadband Grants
More than $53 million in middle-mile broadband expansion grants were recommended for approval by the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board. The Oklahoma middle-mile projects, recommended for approval by the Grants Review Committee, are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Several additional projects were recommended for approval “should funding become available.”
Commissioner Gomez's Remarks at Media Institute Communications Forum
Our current political moment poses challenges unlike anything I thought I would face as an FCC Commissioner. This Administration has been on a campaign to censor and control since, well, before day one. And since day one the FCC has been implementing the will of this Administration and undermining the First Amendment at every turn. The First Amendment has protected our fundamental right to speak freely and to hold power to account since 1791. It is foundational to our democracy. Today, the greatest threat to that freedom is coming from our own government.
YouTube launches weekly top podcast list to rival Spotify and Apple (CNBC)
Submitted by benton on Thu, 05/15/2025 - 14:52Meta Is Delaying the Rollout of Its Flagship AI Model (Wall Street Journal)
Submitted by benton on Thu, 05/15/2025 - 14:52DOGE went looking for phone fraud at SSA — and found almost none (nextgov)
Submitted by benton on Thu, 05/15/2025 - 14:51
Should NEPA Apply to BEAD’s Broadband Grants?
A pivotal decision made by the Biden administration requires that broadband grants supported by the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program be reviewed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). However, this decision lies in a murky area of the law that has since been overturned—calling into question the necessity of these reviews.
Sen. Ossoff Presses Trump Administration to End Freeze on Broadband Internet Expansion in Georgia
It has come to my attention that you have frozen implementation of the historic broadband expansion initiative passed as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law. I urge you reverse course and to fully implement this program without delay. My office has worked closely with communities across Georgia to ensure FCC broadband maps fully reflect unmet need and we now stand on the cusp of connecting households throughout the State to reliable high-speed internet.