Wednesday, July 23, 2025
The U.S. government is upping its probe on Chinese telecommunications equipment, as the Federal Communications Commission sets its sights on submarine cables. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced plans to vote on measures that would “protect submarine cables against foreign adversaries,” namely referring to vendors like Huawei and ZTE. These companies already got the cold shoulder from the U.S. wireless industry due to the government’s rip and replace program, which was established to help carriers take out Chinese equipment from their networks.
In declaring war on The Wall Street Journal over its coverage of his yearslong friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, President Trump tapped his supporters’ distrust of his favorite foe—the news media—in an effort to put down a mutiny within his base. It was a familiar move that might have been
As detailed in updated guidance issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in June, states have been racing to update their maps of eligible unserved and underserved locations ahead of the mandatory “Benefit of the Bargain” round for awarding Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment grants. This has required states to refine their maps to reflect:
New York will make phone calls free for incarcerated people starting in August 2025, lifting a financial burden for the loved ones of the state’s more than 30,000 prisoners. It will join five other states and New York City, all of which have moved in recent years to adopt similar policies.
The artificial intelligence industry is getting nothing but green lights in all directions—now it needs to deliver on its promises. AI makers are getting everything they hav
America is about to choose between broadband that’s good enough today, or infrastructure that can underpin the future of the U.S. economy. With the final rules out for the reformed Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, states have 90 days to rerun their broadband selection processes. One of the biggest changes is that fiber is no longer defined as the preferred technology.
The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society launched four new research projects to investigate the complex challenges that stand in the way of universal, affordable, and equitable broadband access.
These fellows are asking essential questions about how climate risk, accountability mechanisms, and our institutions and policies can impact people’s ability to access and use the internet.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act, providing support for law enforcement, economic development, scientific research, and other national priorities. The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 19-10, provides $79.7 billion in discretionary funding, including $6.6 billion in defense funding and $73.1 billion in nondefense funding.
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