1. Monthly archive
  2. July 2025

July 2025

The next frontier in Maine’s ‘David and Goliath’ fight over broadband expansion

After a regional effort to bring broadband to the lakes region west of Augusta (ME) fell through, the town of Vienna, population nearly 600, decided to go it alone. Around five years ago, major broadband providers, including Consolidated Communication,s declined to extend cables there, citing its small population. In March 2023, voters approved a municipal network. On August 1, 2025, Vienna Broadband will switch on for its first customers. It opens with new competition.

Vero Fiber's Clearnetworx Solidifies Western Slope Stronghold with Key Fiber Infrastructure Acquisition

Clearnetworx, a fast-growing fiber-to-the-home subsidiary of Vero Fiber, has officially acquired Ting's fiber infrastructure across key portions of Montezuma and La Plata County (CO) and San Juan County (NM). The acquisition bolsters Clearnetworx's footprint in the Four Corners region and reinforces the company's position as a dominant fiber player across Western Colorado and the Southwest more broadly. With this move, Clearnetworx assumes control of key strategic network assets.

Wavelink Fixed Wireless Service Features Carrier-Agnostic Connection

The new fixed wireless access (FWA) internet service from Wavelink introduces a new feature called Multi-Carrier Ultra, a technique that enables the strongest connection among several carriers to provide backup connectivity.  LeapView Group, LLC and Albion Ventures are collaborating on the new Wavelink service. LeapView is providing digital technology, marketing, and business development.

West Virginia Public Service Commission sides with internet service provider in broadband pole attachment issue

The West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) is taking the side of an internet service provider in a dispute over who pays for pole replacements when adding broadband attachments. In an order issued July 28, the PSC prohibited Appalachian Power from enforcing a “pre-existing violation” policy to place the cost of repairs or replacement of utility poles on internet service providers, instead of the electric utility that owns the poles. Appalachian Power has cited its pre-existing violation policy when issues are discovered with the pole or prior attachments to the pole during make-ready

Starlink and Amazon ask for $300 million of Colorado’s BEAD Program funds after federal rule changes

Rule changes and an aggressive new timeline on how Colorado can use its $826.5 million in Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program funds had local internet providers scrambling this month. All had to reapply for grants to subsidize new internet infrastructure for underserved rural communities, including internet service providers (ISPs) who had already received preliminary approvals. Applications closed July 29, but the two-week sprint––compared to six weeks the first time––left many overwhelmed.

To sustain digital adoption programs, we need to look beyond grant funding

A wave of funding cuts risks digital skills training, device access, and navigator programs that help unconnected Americans get online and meaningfully use the internet. Meeting this challenge will take creativity and cross-sector partnerships — but if we succeed, it could power the digital inclusion sector’s next chapter. It’s been a hard year for digital inclusion. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has ended. The Digital Equity Act (DEA) funds so many fought for have been cancelled.

ACA Connects Urges NTIA to Hold the Line Against Rate Regulation

ACA Connects: America’s Communications Association sent a letter to National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator Arielle Roth urging NTIA to strengthen its prohibition on rate regulation in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. ACA Connects President and CEO Grant Spellmeyer commended NTIA for restoring BEAD’s main goal of connecting unserved and underserved locations expeditiously.

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