In light of concerns stakeholders expressed around the coordination of digital equity efforts in Washington, this audit examined the condition of the state’s current overarching digital equity plan. The Washington State Legislature has assigned key responsibilities around promoting digital equity to the Washington State Broadband Office within the Washington State Department of Commerce and the Washington State Office of Equity. The Broadband Office’s responsibilities include developing a state digital equity plan, coordinating efforts that are specifically related to broadband, and providing grants to organizations that support a variety of digital equity projects. The Office of Equity has been assigned responsibilities related to digital equity as an aspect of its work to reduce disparities and improve outcomes statewide. The audit found the state does not have a unified digital equity plan, and its efforts lack coordination and a designated leader. None of the three plans identified that deal with digital equity offers a coordinated, comprehensive, statewide approach to digital equity. In addition to the absence of a unified state-level plan for digital equity, Washington also lacks both a designated leader and reliable funding for digital equity efforts.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the FCC will vote in February on proposals to reform the Lifeline Program, which accounts for nearly $1 billion in spending every year. These proposals are designed to enhance program integrity, prevent fraud, and ensure that federal dollars go only to eligible low-income Americans. The Lifeline program provides a discount on phone and Internet services for qualifying low-income Americans, but in recent years, rampant abuse of the system has been uncovered, necessitating a closer look at the FCC’s rules. A new Inspector General Advisory shows that Lifeline providers received nearly $5 million in federal dollars to provide phone or Internet service to hundreds of thousands of dead people. The Advisory, which looked at the three opt-out states, shows that 81 percent of this fraud took place in California while the state had been allowed to run its own process to verify subscriber eligibility. Chairman Carr recently revoked California’s ‘opt-out’ status.

Heading into February 2026, the Federal Communications Commission will continue to take actions that advance the interests of consumers and ensure the agency is a good steward of scarce federal dollars. First up, the FCC will vote on proposals aimed at strengthening the integrity of the federal Lifeline program—ensuring Universal Service Fund dollars flow only to living and lawful beneficiaries.  These changes are designed to ensure that the Lifeline program is efficient, transparent, and accountable—while continuing to support Americans who rely on it. Next, we’re advancing efforts to expand broadband use and create new opportunities for utilities and critical infrastructure providers. The FCC will vote on an order that maximizes the potential of the 900 Megahertz (MHz) band by enabling broadband deployment across all ten megahertz of the band. The FCC will also vote on a public notice launching the first‑ever filing window for new noncommercial educational (NCE) reserved band FM translator construction permits. Finally, we are continuing our work on the transition to all-IP networks by voting on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that explores the best way to phase carriers out of the intercarrier compensation regime to a full bill-and-keep framework.

Much of the United States is digging out after this weekend’s historic Winter Storm Fern—and that means the major mobile operators are, too. Here's how AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon handled the preparation and aftermath of the event, which saw snow, sleet and freezing rain hit across the country from Texas to Maine: 

• AT&T FirstNet was at the ready: AT&T headquarters in the Dallas area saw several inches of snow and sleet combined with dangerous ice. AT&T said that its FirstNet response operations group, led by former first responders, was ready to support public safety’s emergency communications and to deploy assets from the dedicated FirstNet fleet, both during and after the storm.
• T-Mobile uses its Self-Organizing Network (SON) and artificial intelligence (AI): T-Mobile noted that it has been using its SON with AI and automation to adapt in real time by rerouting signals and shifting antenna angles to manage traffic during Fern.
• Verizon hardened cell sites: A Verizon spokeswoman said, “Ahead of the storm, we took proactive measures to harden our cell sites and infrastructure including ensuring backup systems like batteries and generators are operational across all macro cell sites, pre-arranging fuel deliveries with tankers positioned to quickly respond and refuel generators if commercial power is lost, and ensuring our nearly 3,000 network and satellite assets are ready to deploy, including mobile cell sites (cell on wheels (COW) and cell on light truck (COLTs)), temporary emergency command centers, and mobile generators.”