January 2026

State regulators, a California congressman, and broadband providers warned that federal infrastructure spending alone will not close the digital divide, citing unresolved gaps in affordability, oversight, and long-term network sustainability. They argued that the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program represents a major buildout effort, not a complete broadband policy.

On January 28, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission released a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing significant reforms to its Lifeline program, which makes communications services more affordable for low-income households. The FCC cites program integrity concerns, fraud prevention, and waste reduction as primary motivations. These proposals would substantially affect both Lifeline subscribers and participating service providers. Proposed changes include:

The United States Conference of Mayors published the new Mayors Artificial Intelligence (AI) Playbook in partnership with Google. The playbook provides a blueprint for implementing AI strategies at the local level. It provides practical guidance on AI and data governance, secure technology and strategies, and actionable best practices. The playbook is split into two chapters:

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the February Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, 2026: