1. Monthly archive
  2. August 2025

August 2025

Satellites in the News

It seems like there is daily news concerning satellites used for broadband and telecommunications. Starlink experienced a worldwide 2.5-hour network outage on July 23 that was blamed on “key internal software services that operate the core network”. This raises questions about using satellite broadband for mission-critical uses, such as for military field operations. T-Mobile has been plastering the airwaves with ads that tout the ability of T-Mobile customers to use its satellites to send text messages from remote locations.

Rural Carrier Trade Groups tell FCC that Their Members Need Opex Support

Rural wireless trade groups are asking the Federal Communications Commission to consider subsidizing operational costs for rural carriers.

BEAD Unplugged Panel: Don’t Count on Receiving Non-Deployment Funds

If states were counting on leftover Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program funds for non-deployment projects, panelists at BEAD Unplugged on August 12 warned: Don’t. “[Commerce Secretary] Howard Lutnick cares about making money and saving money,” Gigi Sohn, executive director of the American Association for Public Broadband and Benton Institute for Broadband & Society senior fellow and public advocate, said.

An Exploration of AI in Community Learning

Access to education, resources, and training will determine who will understand how societal use of artificial intelligence (AI) will impact them, and who will be able to safely and effectively leverage AI tools. Without AI literacy, an individual may be unable to identify or challenge unfair practices, be more susceptible to AI-aided scams, unprepared to vet answers produced by AI, unable to protect personal information, or spend time and effort working inefficiently because they do not know how to leverage AI tools.

FCC Acts to Accelerate Submarine Cable Buildout & Security

The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to unleash the buildout of secure submarine cable infrastructure. Submarine cable systems carry roughly 99 percent of global internet traffic and are key to further extending America’s leadership in AI and next-generation technologies. The new rules streamline the submarine cable licensing process, give certainty to investors, and accelerate the timelines for building cables. The new rules also emphasize protecting submarine cable infrastructure from foreign adversary threats.

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