2026: A Year for Transformational Connectivity in America
In 2026, policy must rise to meet the moment to propel our nation to global leadership in a connected world.
January 2026
What were fiber’s 2025 gains? Will we see 2026 acceleration?
In 2025, the fiber industry set another record for growth, hitting 11.8 million homes passed according to the latest Fiber Broadband Association research conducted by RVA Market Research & Consulting. Total broadband passings have reached nearly 100 million homes in the United States when you include homes with more than one passing. Taking out the multiple-passings, there are 84.6 million unique addresses that have fiber. But there’s still plenty of upward growth in the years ahead.
How broadband lags power and water in emergency planning
2025 was another costly year of natural disasters in the U.S.—from the LA wildfires to the Texas floods. The first half of the year alone was the most costly on record, totaling over $101 billion. Beyond damage in dollars, communities were upended, and livelihoods disrupted, exposing the need for stronger disaster preparedness and resiliency.
The Tech That Will Invade Our Lives in 2026
Near the start of each year, I look at what’s new in consumer technology to give a heads-up on which innovations could actually affect your day-to-day life amid the many fads you can ignore. It’s undeniable that generative artificial intelligence (AI), the technology driving chatbots, is rapidly changing how many people use their devices and browse the web. The AI boom is also driving tech companies to experiment with selling new gadgets that may succeed the smartphone.
Wisconsin Public Service Commission Announces Grant Funding Opportunities to Improve Telecommunications Access and Affordability in Wisconsin
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) announced the application periods for the Telemedicine Equipment Grant Program and the Lifeline Outreach Grant Program and is encouraging eligible entities to apply. Funded by the Universal Service Fund, these grant programs improve the availability and affordability of telecommunications services to people in Wisconsin.
Digital Exhaust or Digital Gold? The Value of AI-Generated Clinical Visit Transcripts (New England Journal of Medicine)
Submitted by zwalker@benton.org on Thu, 01/08/2026 - 13:19Local government associations reject industry claims on broadband permitting
Local governments and large industry trade groups are not aligned on the idea of wireline permitting reforms.
Data centers manifest their destiny in middle America
Data centers aren’t typically something you see advertised. But these recent ads aren’t trying to sell you on a graphics processing unit (GPU), cloud platform, or some other product.
AI Chatbot Startup, Google to Settle Lawsuits Over Teen Suicides
An artificial-intelligence (AI) startup and Google have agreed to settle several lawsuits with families of teenagers who killed or harmed themselves after interacting with the startup’s chatbot, potentially resolving some of the most high-profile cases involving AI and mental health.