Jon Brodkin

The recent changes to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program "undoubtedly create additional work and effort for Maine and every other state and territory," said Maine Connectivity Authority president Andrew Butcher. "So we will execute it as quickly and efficiently as possible, but it kind of jams two years of work into two months." The new timeline is difficult, but "Secretary Lutnick has committed that funds will be awarded and projects started this year. We're going to hold them to that," he said. Butcher said he was relieved that the BEAD program wasn't canceled entirely.

Former Federal Communications Commission Chair Ajit Pai is back on the telecommunications policy scene as chief lobbyist for the mobile industry, and he has quickly managed to anger a coalition that includes both cable companies and consumer advocates. In April, Pai became president and CEO of wireless industry lobby group CTIA.

Broadband lobby groups asked the Trump administration to block state laws that require Internet service providers to offer cheap plans to people with low incomes.

Industry groups have submitted deregulatory wishlists for the Federal Communications Commission's "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative that aims to eliminate as many regulations as possible.

A proposed state law in California would force Internet service providers to offer $15 monthly plans to people with low incomes. The bill is similar to a New York law that took effect in January 2025 but has a higher minimum speed requirement: The proposed $15 plans for low-income California residents would have to come with download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 20Mbps.

The Federal Communications Commission is making it easier for telcos to turn off old copper phone and DSL networks with four changes that relax requirements related to copper shutoffs. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr—who is also pushing a "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative to get rid of as many rules as possible—said that agency rules have prevented providers from upgrading to faster networks.

Commissioner Geoffrey Starks will resign from the Federal Communications Commission this spring.

The Supreme Court has once again rejected a telecommunications industry challenge to New York's $15 broadband law. The court first refused the hear the case in December, which meant that an appeals court ruling upholding the law was not disturbed.

New York's law requiring Internet service providers to offer broadband for $15 or $20 a month has spurred legislative efforts in other states to guarantee affordable service for people with low incomes.

When New York's law requiring $15 or $20 broadband plans for people with low incomes took effect, Optimum customer William O'Brien tried to sign up for the cheap Internet service. Since O'Brien is in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, he qualifies for one of the affordable plans that Internet service providers must offer New Yorkers who meet income eligibility requirements. Despite qualifying for a low-income plan under the law's criteria, O'Brien's request was denied by Optimum.