Carl Weinschenk

Fifty-one percent of respondents to a survey conducted by internet performance monitoring firm Catchpoint reported monthly losses of over $1 million due to internet outages or degradations, according to a new report. That figure is up from 43 percent in 2024. The report, which included input from 475 IT managers, directors, and executive-level decision-makers from diverse industries, also found that one in eight responding companies lose more than $10 million each month.

The reverberations from the last-minute changes to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program continue.

The reverberations from the last-minute changes to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program continue. But, since the new BEAD plans were unveiled, industry expert Blair Levin — policy adviser to New Street Research — has had time to refine his assessment. “Our initial reaction was that the new rules would shift funds from fiber to satellite, a negative for wired providers…We still think that but in talking to numerous stakeholders, that magnitude of the shift may be less than we initially thought,” says Levin.

Greenlight Networks says that its $100 million investment in fiber infrastructure in Baltimore (MD) will serve its first customers in September 2025. Greenlight Networks wants to become a fixture in Baltimore and says that it is seeking a permanent office location in the city to serve as its regional hub. It also says that it will hire locally for construction crews, network and installation technicians, and community outreach representatives. Maryland is making good use of public-private partnerships.

Pennsylvania and Oklahoma, with scores of 99.02 (out of 100) and 97.16, respectively, are the states in which people are most likely to engage in activities without their phones, according to a survey and report by Office Recovery. The report surveyed more than 2,000 residents of the fifty states to find what made them not use their phones (hence, left their phones “lonely”). Points were awarded based on the responses and the final numbers were adjusted by state and reported on a scale of 100. Other key points of the report about lonely phones: 

Fiber-based service provider LiveOak Fiber has selected Accelecom to support its fiber-to-the-home expansion in Georgia. LiveOak will work with Accelecom to scale and upgrade its backbone in the state in Chatham and Glynn counties. No information about the timing or financial details were included in the press release. LiveOak Fiber said the arrangement with Accelecom is part of its build-to-service model, which is an effort to reduce the time between infrastructure deployment and when customers receive service.

Blair Levin, the Policy Advisor to New Street Research, thinks that the Verizon $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications will ultimately be approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, though it may be a bit of a bumpy ride. His analysis, titled “VZ/FYBR Faces California Trump Transaction Trap,” focuses on how the Trump administration’s antipathy for diversity, equality, and inclusion can be reconciled with the goals and position of the CPUC, which must approve the transaction between Verizon and Frontier.

BroadbandOhio and Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH) announced almost $23.7 million in reimbursements to six broadband service providers for infrastructure expenditures. The reimbursements will come through the Ohio Broadband Pole Replacement and Undergrounding Program. It was the program’s third and, by far, largest round of reimbursements.

Midco and Savage Communications Inc. have signed an asset purchase agreement under which Midco will gain subscribers and addresses-passed in Minnesota. SCI was founded in 1984 and serves almost 12,000 customers in central, eastern, and northeastern Minnesota. The company will pass almost 28,000 addresses by the end of 2025. The Midco acquisition of SDI is scheduled to close on October 1 and is subject to customary closing conditions including receipt of regulatory approvals. No financial details were included in the press release. 

Mission Telecom and Computers 4 People are partnering on the Shield 5G Home Hotspot. The 5G router is priced at $149. Qualifying customers will be able to subscribe for access for $14.89 per month. The service supports 5G and 4G and works with most SIM cards, Mission Telecom says. C4P and Mission Telecom cooperated on the Shield 5G Home Hotspot. It is portable and fully unlocked. It is available for preorder and will be offered in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.