Grace Tepper

For Headlines readers who got nervous for me this morning, I’m fine, but… After five years, today is my last day working at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. When I was in college, one of my professors told me to subscribe to a newsletter, Benton’s Daily Digest (or “Headlines,” to me and to many). I thought it was crazy that such a comprehensive resource was published each morning, five days a week. Less than a year later, it became my job to put Headlines together every day.

This week, the Pennsylvania House Communications & Technology Committee held an informational meeting to discuss broadband access and affordability across the Commonwealth. Speakers from community anchor institutions, universities, public-interest organizations, and the private sector came to discuss broadband affordability—what is needed, what's been done, and what the future might look like.

Concerns about students' use of technology in school environments are growing, and so is the pressure on school districts to address those concerns. Educators, families, policymakers, researchers, and technology leaders are all thinking about how social media use, generative artificial intelligence, and screen time in general are affecting the educational ecosystem in the U.S.

Last week, we covered some of the broadband and digital equity initiatives launched by the states this summer. From digital equity resources in Louisiana to historic investments in broadband infrastructure funding for the Navajo Nation, here are some more notable broadband news bites we've seen from states and Tribal governments around the country.

U.S. states and territories are making progress on their broadband goals this summer. A number of state-run initiatives have been launched, and several infrastructure projects are in full swing. While it's easy to have all eyes on the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program—and, hypocritically, more on that later—there are countless other actions states are taking to ensure robust broadband access and universal digital adoption. From infrastructure planning to deployment to increasing awareness and resources, states are doing it all.

As Congress prepares to leave for the August recess, some broadband bills are getting attention. This week, the Senate Commerce Committee advanced seven bills spanning transportation, competition, and infrastructure issues. These bills now move to the full Senate floor for consideration later this year if time permits.

Every year, the Federal Communications Commission releases an annual performance plan that outlines the FCC's agenda and the goals it seeks to achieve. On July 6, the FCC released its Agency Performance Plan for Fiscal Year 2027, which provides the public with a general outline of what the agency is prioritizing in the near future—and what it is not.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is dominating the news of late, and stakeholders around the world weighed in this week. The United Nations (UN) convened an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI to assess how AI is transforming lives globally.

Since its early days, nonprofit organization Can Code Communities (Can Code) has been focused on growing the information technology talent pipeline in New York State and beyond. Can Code was founded in 2016 in Albany, New York. Ten years later, the organization continues to encourage “trainees” of all ages to explore careers in the technology sector, providing opportunities for all ages and levels of digital literacy. Can Code began as an effort to empower adult learners to acquire the job skills necessary to join the expanding tech workforce.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming woven into the everyday lives of American kids. For advocates in the youth education space, there aren't enough safeguards for the AI platforms kids are using. The 2026 Common Sense Media Census: AI Teens and Tweens is the first in a series of studies intended to track young people’s experiences with AI over time.