Understanding the Return on Digital Skills Investment Starts with Assessment
Thursday, November 13, 2025
November 2025
Analysis
Analysis
NTIA Announces Tribal Broadband Program Changes
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced that it is working on reforms across its Tribal broadband programs to reduce red tape for Tribal governments, promote flexibility, and align NTIA’s grant opportunities to better serve Tribal connectivity.
NTIA, Industry Eyeing 4.4 GHz for Commercial Use
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is close to completing plans for studying two government spectrum bands for potential repurposing. Those are the 4.400-4.940 GigaHertz and 2.7-2.9 GHz bands, according to a top agency official, which together comprise 740 megahertz of airwaves. The agency is looking to make more spectrum available to wireless carriers. “During the shutdown NTIA has been working on band study plans for 2.7 and 4.4 so that we can quickly have those out the door when the government reopens,” NTIA Chief of Staff Brooke Donilon.
Former Officials: FCC’s Independence ‘Obliterated’ Under Chairman Carr
Former regulators and policy advocates accused Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr of having “obliterated” the FCC’s credibility as an independent, expert regulatory body. Experts examined whether the FCC could still serve the public interest or whether, as some argued, it had become too politically captured to function as an independent regulator. Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, who led the agency under President Obama, said the FCC’s statutory independence had collapsed under Chairman Carr.
Digital Equity Advocates Call for Training, Not Just Subsidies, in Rural Broadband Push (Broadband Breakfast)
Submitted by zwalker@benton.org on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 15:58US government Starlink usage is on the rise
Low-earth orbit satellite is shaping up as a prominent player in the terrestrial broadband market, including the realm of government connectivity, said Don Parente, MetTel VP of Public Sector Sales.
How Parents Use Online Communities
As today’s parents navigate the challenges of raising a child, many are turning to online spaces where fellow parents share their experiences. One such space is the r/Parenting community on Reddit. It is the largest community for parents on the site, with more than 8 million members as of November 2025. To better understand the discussions about parenting that take place online, we examined six months of user submissions and comments on the r/Parenting subreddit. We also conducted a survey of U.S.
Senators move to help and hinder rollout of broadband funding
Both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have made moves in recent weeks to address how the federal government is spending broadband funds... in different ways. Starting with the Democrats, two high-ranking senators penned a letter to Commerce leaders last week to express concern and request answers about stalled funding from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program.