Nicole Ferraro

While broadband advocates appear to broadly support the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's move to open up a supplemental funding round to reach remaining unserved Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program locations, it's also clear that many are 

SpaceX is continuing to pursue its case with the Federal Communications Commission that the proliferation of low-Earth orbit satellite service renders rural broadband subsidies obsolete, while depicting the opposing arguments of "subsidy-dependent incumbents" as "unfounded" and "implausible." The company's most recent remarks on the matter came in the form of reply comments to the FCC's proceeding on modernizing High-Cost, a program operated under the Universal Service Fund that helps subsidize telecom network deployment and maintenance in rural areas.

Oklahoma is now 95 percent of the way toward reaching statewide connectivity, with Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment builds still ahead. But deploying last-mile broadband networks is just one aspect of closing the digital divide.

Industry groups USTelecom and NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association are backing a request from fiber operator Lumos for the Federal Communications Commission to override some permitting fees and requirements imposed by Stark and Mahoning counties in Ohio. But the County Engineers Association of Ohio is urging the FCC to exercise caution in its decision-making, while the counties themselves argue that Lumos' claims misrepresent the situation.

Shentel (Shenandoah Telecommunications Company) executives told investors and analysts on the company's recent Q2 earnings call that it saw less of an impact from satellite competitors than in Q1, particularly in its Glo Fiber regions, with satellite remaining "a relatively small contributor to churn." But the company is clearly keeping the low-Earth orbit satellite threat in its sights.

Samantha Schartman, director of philanthropic programs at Connect Humanity, a nonprofit impact investor and emerging Community Development Financial Institution; and Mark Colwell, executive director at Mission Telecom, a nonprofit telecom provider, discuss the importance of funding digital inclusion initiatives and, specifically, the recent publication of their 

New Mexico is soliciting public comment as it prepares to roll out a statewide broadband affordability program. The program, dubbed the Low‑Income Telecommunications Assistance Program, is the first statewide initiative to offer a similar type of support as the Affordable Connectivity Program, which ran out of federal funding in 2024.

While Chairman Brendan Carr's Federal Communications Commission continues to highlight efforts to strip and streamline regulations to get broadband deployed faster, some stakeholders are saying a proposed change to how pole attachments are regulated would do the opposite.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) is adding its voice to those calling on the NTIA to release BEAD winners' performance testing results to the public, with a stated concern that "some providers" may not be able to meet their commitments. The labor union's request came in the form of a letter to Arielle Roth, NTIA chief administrator, dated Tuesday, July 14.

A group representing school superintendents told the Federal Communications Commission it is concerned the FCC's recent notice of proposed rulemaking on E-Rate could lead to the elimination of the program that funds connectivity for schools and libraries, an outcome the group says could lead to "staff reductions or cuts to other areas." The comments, summarizing a series of meetings between school and library advocates and FCC o