Route Fifty
The biggest barrier to building America isn’t politics. It’s paperwork
Congress and the White House are increasingly rallying around a major national priority: building America faster. The recently introduced Build AMERICA 250 Act, which would invest heavily in roads, bridges, transit and broadband, reflects growing bipartisan recognition that the United States must modernize critical infrastructure to continue leading a fast-changing world.
Some officials, lawmakers look to speed up permitting for broadband projects
As state and local governments wrestle with the major investments and planning needed to build out broadband internet, permitting for those projects is emerging as a key issue. States are desperate to spend the money they have available from the federal government’s $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, but equally desperate to make sure those projects aren’t bogged down in years of red tape and permitting problems.
The future of rural healthcare hinges on high-speed broadband access
Earlier in 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the multibillion-dollar Rural Health Transformation Program — an initiative that aims to redesign healthcare delivery in rural communities across America. Tech innovation is one of six core strategic goals of the program, with a focus on building “access to remote care.” In 2025, connectivity is as fundamental to healthcare delivery as medical equipment and exam rooms. With rural hospitals closing, healthcare costs increasing, and travel times growing for in-person care, much of this new program's success will rely o
At least 20 states have reportedly lost digital equity grant funding
Within days of President Donald Trump announcing on social media that he was ending the federal digital equity grant program, it looks to be consigned to history.
What’s next for cybersecurity, election info sharing?
Information sharing on cybersecurity and election threats may become a whole lot harder after the Department of Homeland Security ended some federal funding for two partnerships used by thousands of state and local governments. A spokesperson for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed it terminated a $10 million partnership with the Center for Internet Security for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
‘Leave it alone’: Amid BEAD review, state leaders plead for stability
A bevy of House Republicans lined up at a recent subcommittee hearing to bemoan the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, minutes after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced he would conduct a “rigorous review” of the effort to close the digital divide. While that hearing turned into another Washington food fight, among state officials, BEAD still appears to have plenty of bipartisan support.
‘Internet to go’ programs get a boost
The Federal Communications Commission voted to boost efforts by schools and libraries to loan out portable Wi-Fi hotspots, programs that mostly began before the COVID-19 pandemic but accelerated at its height. By a 3-2 vote, commissioners OK’d the use of E-Rate funds to support the initiatives.
Efforts to reform federal broadband subsidy gain traction
As lawmakers debate funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation that would change the program in an effort to win more support for it and possibly improve its long-term viability. A group of senators introduced legislation that would revise eligibility criteria, among other things. The compromise is seen as necessary to win over skeptics of the program.
Initial funding for digital equity plans is available. But how do states plan to use it?
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently finished approving digital equity plans for all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and Washington (DC) in what Administrator Alan Davidson called a “milestone moment.” The grants announced in the March 29 notice of funding opportunity can be used to begin implementation of those plans, which identify the barriers in each sta