November 2025

NTIA Announces Approval of 18 BEAD Final Proposals

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved 18 Final Proposals to deliver universal broadband access through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. NTIA claims these states saw a surge in participation, competition, and private sector matching contributions—driving down costs, increasing skin in the game, and advancing innovative solutions for consumers.

The teddy bear AI problem

The volatile combination of kids and chatbots has already started to galvanize lawmakers and advocates. Worried that beguiling AI “companions” could push impressionable youth to harm themselves or withdraw from human relationships, they’re racing to put guardrails around the nascent industry. But that could be a far deeper problem—and far harder to solve—than the current bills envision.

Sinclair Takes Stake in E.W. Scripps to Push Takeover Deal

Sinclair said it built a roughly 8 percent stake in E.W. Scripps and is vying to acquire the local TV broadcaster. The two companies held constructive talks about a potential deal in recent months but have yet to strike an agreement, Sinclair said. Sinclair’s stake was revealed in a regulatory filing. Sinclair bought up the stake to add pressure on Scripps to strike a deal.

NetChoice Sues to Block Virginia’s Consumer Data Protection law

On November 17, 2025, NetChoice filed a lawsuit against Virginia in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to stop SB 854. This new law, set to go into effect on January 1, 2026, bars Virginians’ access to valuable, lawful speech simply because it happens online. Citizens will have to hand over their sensitive documentation to access digital services.

AI-Driven Transformation in 9-1-1 Operations

Artificial Intelligence is transforming how 9-1-1 centers save lives and serve communities. This technology offers enormous potential and necessitates important considerations, requiring thoughtful leadership to capture its benefits while safeguarding public trust. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration conducted a national landscape analysis to understand how 9-1-1 Centers are engaging with AI and other emerging technologies.

CTIA flags new threat to spectrum pipeline

For the most part, CTIA is happy about the spectrum provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Trump signed on July 4. The OBBBA calls for freeing up 800 megahertz of spectrum for commercial use over the next decade. To kick things off, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on a proposal that seeks comments on how to auction at least 100 megahertz—and possibly up to 180 megahertz—of spectrum in the 3.98-4.2 GHz band, aka the upper C-band.

AT&T lights up EchoStar’s 3.45 GHz spectrum in record time

AT&T CEO John Stankey wasn’t kidding when he said AT&T would use the 3.45 GHz spectrum from EchoStar to cover nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population by mid-November. The operator announced it rolled out the 3.45 GHz spectrum to nearly 23,000 cell sites in a matter of a few weeks—a record-fast deployment for AT&T.