1. Monthly archive
  2. January 2026

January 2026

NDIA Announces 2025 Cohort of Digital Inclusion Trailblazers

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) is proud to name 58 local governments as 2025 Digital Inclusion Trailblazers, recognizing their critical efforts to close the digital divide.  Representing 25 states, the 2025 pool of applicants is one of the largest for new Trailblazers, and demonstrates the ongoing importance of municipal, county, and regional governments in bringing digital opportunities to their residents. NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazers has set the national standard for excellent digi

Texas Awards $29 Million Grant to Lower Colorado River Authority

The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) has awarded a $29 million grant to the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) to expand high-speed internet access in rural communities and strengthen flood-monitoring systems across Central Texas. The investment will help internet providers reach rural Texans more affordably, expand and harden flood-monitoring infrastructure, and extend fiber deeper into underserved areas, boosting local economies while improving access to education, health care, and emergency services. The project builds on authority granted by the Texas Legislature in 2021 thro

Rocco Commisso, Mediacom founder and cable pioneer, dies at 76

Rocco Commisso, the colorful founder, chairman, and CEO of Mediacom Communications and owner of soccer clubs in the US and abroad, has died at 76. Born in Calabria, Italy, Rocco immigrated to the US at the age of 12 and later rose to become one of the nation's top entrepreneurs with Italian roots.

Governor Newsom announces first-in-the-nation privacy tool allowing Californians to block the sale of their data

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and the California Privacy Protection Agency are unveiling a new tool that enables Californians to easily opt out of the sale of their information by data brokers. As of January 1, 2026, Californians can submit a single deletion request to registered data brokers through the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP). DROP quickly verifies the user’s California residency and then transmits the deletion request to the data brokers.

Seven Star Communities: Recognizing Native Entities for Their Excellence in Digital Inclusion

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) is proud to recognize the 2025 awardees of the Seven Star Communities program. This program honors Native nations and entities for their excellence in providing sustainable digital inclusion solutions that address their community and nation’s connectivity, digital skills, and device access. Digital inclusion and equity are essential to a Native nation’s educational, health, economic, cultural, and social needs.

© 1994-2026 Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. All Rights Reserved.