As states continue to submit their Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment proposals, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration seems to already be pushing for changes to the plans. A leaked memo, initially posted on Broadband.io, said NTIA is using “tailored, state-by-state data to identify outlier, unreasonably expensive projects,” looking at factors such as geography, density, and “local needs.” In cases where NTIA determines proposed project costs are “unreasonable,” states are asking existing bidders in those areas to provide their “best and final offer.” NTIA reportedly stated this is not another BEAD bidding round and that in these “limited cases,” providers already have the information they need to adjust their bid or “stand on their current one.” New Street Research Policy Analyst Blair Levin said in a note he believes the memo is likely real and represents the NTIA staff’s current view of BEAD. However, that view may not necessarily align with the opinion of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who would have the final say on where the BEAD money goes.

The digital equity movement is at a turning point. After nearly two decades of tireless work by community leaders, advocates, and public agencies to close the digital divide, key federal programs intended to drive long-term progress are unraveling. The cancellation of the Digital Equity Act by this administration and the ending of the Affordable Connectivity Program has left communities with fewer tools and less funding just as momentum was building. And now the Commerce Department appears intent to return Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment non-deployment funds to the Treasury, rather than allowing states to invest them in programs that drive adoption of BEAD-funded networks. All while the rise of AI and other emerging technologies is creating more need than ever for digital fluency. These setbacks underscore the fact that we cannot rely solely on temporary programs or shifting political will to sustain affordable digital access and use. Recognizing that technology keeps changing, as does how we use technology, we must continually address the need for connectivity and digital skills, with models that are resilient, measurable, and financially sustainable. We are calling on researchers, economists, and data scientists to work with us in exploring questions such as:

• What program models currently support long-term sustainability? We need real-world evaluations of which models work, and under what conditions.
• How can we measure the economic value created through skill acquisition and adoption at the program or participant level? This might include income gains, employment outcomes, decreased benefit dependency, or cost savings to public and private systems.
• What systems-level mechanisms can capture this value and reinvest it back into program funding? Are there ways to build repayment models, shared-benefit agreements, or other tools into the digital inclusion ecosystem?

[Samantha Schartman is Director of Programs at Connect Humanity, where she leads the Appalachia Digital Accelerator and advances sustainable financing models to scale digital adoption. Angela Siefer is Executive Director at the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.]

Community-driven outcomes contracts (CDOCs) focus on advancing social outcomes in Indigenous communities, including in areas such as health, housing, and energy security. Like other outcomes-based financing models, CDOCs aim to attract private capital by linking repayments to investors to the achievement of measurable socially beneficial outcomes. They depart from traditional models, however, in the way in which they define those outcomes and develop solutions. CDOCs’ broad philosophy is to shift money and power into the hands of the communities most affected by social challenges. That is, instead of funders, investors, or even outcomes purchasers dictating priorities and solutions, CDOCs aim to guarantee that the affected communities are involved in defining the problem, codesigning solutions and implementation, and determining how success is measured. The hallmark of the CDOC model is community leadership throughout the entire life cycle of a project, from defining the problem to designing the intervention, selecting metrics, making funding decisions, and evaluating impact. CDOCs treat community members as equal partners, affirming that they have unique insights into context, challenges, and potential solutions. In this way, they represent a new paradigm in outcomes-based financing.

No, despite multiple breathless posts on LinkedIn, SpaceX won’t become the fourth mobile network operator in the United States, even with its $17 billion purchase of wireless spectrum from EchoStar, according to analysts. After AT&T’s surprise purchase of EchoStar's mid-band 3.45 GHz and low-band 600 MHz spectrum for $23 billion in late August, SpaceX followed that up by scooping up EchoStar’s AWS-4 and H-block spectrum for $17 billion. This has led many commentators to speculate that SpaceX will become the interstellar version of a fourth national mobile network operator for the U.S., now that EchoStar/Dish can no longer fulfill that role. This, however, will not be the case, said Mobile Experts President Joe Madden. “The short answer is no, Starlink won’t be creating a ‘fourth MNO’ from space,” he wrote. “There are multiple issues, including penetration of buildings for indoor services, limited capacity and the high cost of space-based bandwidth.”

On September 18, 2025, Federal Communications Commissioner Olivia Trusty spoke at the Free State Foundation Luncheon, where she touched on her three priorities for her time at the FCC: (1) Universal connectivity, (2) public safety and national security, and (3) restoring U.S. leadership in nextgeneration technologies. "The choices we make today, about spectrum, infrastructure, competition, and security, will define our nation’s trajectory for decades. If we get it right, we will empower every American to participate fully in the digital economy, strengthen our national security, and preserve the principles of freedom and opportunity that make our country unique. And I believe we will get it right. Because I see the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs, the dedication of our public servants, and the passion of organizations like the Free State Foundation. This is our moment to build, not just for ourselves, but for generations to come."