Devices

Land-grant universities across the south are addressing the growing demand for digital connectivity in rural areas by leading research-based efforts to expand broadband, strengthen digital skills, and connect communities to essential services. By leveraging Extension networks and agricultural research, these universities are helping rural communities stay connected, competitive and prepared for the future.

ConnectLA announced the launch of the ÉTOUFFÉE program and the opening of a grant application portal, providing eligible organizations serving Louisiana communities with access to digital devices and digital skills resources. The program is designed to equip organizations with technology resources that support workforce development, education and health-related services in communities across the state.

Things are looking up for the telecommunications and cell phone industries. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index Telecommunications, Cell Phone, and Smartwatch Study 2026, customer satisfaction with the internet service providerindustry increases 1% to a score of 73 (on a scale of 0-100), with both fiber and non‑fiber segments improving at the same rate. Fiber ISP satisfaction rises from 75 to 76, while non‑fiber ISP satisfaction inches up from 70 to 71. Other key highlights include: 

The Federal Trade Commission will require Cox Media Group (CMG) and two smaller marketing firms to pay a total of $930,000 to settle allegations they deceived customers by falsely claiming to offer an AI-powered service that could target localized ads based on conversations captured from consumers’ smart devices and that consumers had opted into such targeting. In three separate complaints, the FTC alleged that Georgia-based media and marketing company CMG Media Corporation, which does business as Cox M

Keri Rodrigues, a mother of five boys, knows the value of screens. For her boys, four of whom receive school accommodations, screens serve a practical purpose at school. “When you get a kid who's got [a learning plan] for anxiety and a substitute teacher that hasn't read his 504 [plan] and there's nobody there to de-escalate him, he's got to use his phone to call mom so I can FaceTime with him and do a breathing exercise,” Rodrigues says. But this use of screens bumps against a new concern.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau maintains a list of equipment and services (Covered List) that have been determined to “pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons.” The Department of War has granted Conditional Approvals for certain uncrewed aircraft systems and routers. Therefore, such devices are exempt from the Covered List.

May 8, 2026, marked one year since President Donald Trump terminated the grants made under the Digital Equity Act. The Digital Equity Act, part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), is a landmark piece of legislation that primed all 50 states and U.S. territories to implement programs to improve digital literacy, improve access to affordable internet-connected devices, provide technical support, and increase awareness of privacy and cybersecurity.

Mission Telecom announced Project: Volume Up, a nationwide initiative designed to help public libraries launch or expand hotspot lending programs in their communities. To introduce the project, Mission Telecom brings together hardware, nationwide 4G and 5G coverage, and nonprofit pricing into a single, ready-to-launch solution—so libraries can quickly get hotspot programs up and running.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Massachusetts Broadband Institute announced the distribution of nearly 27,000 internet-enabled devices through the Connected and Online Program to improve quality of life for Massachusetts residents by providing access to essential services and resources online.

Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle legal claims that it misled consumers about the abilities of its artificial intelligence system, Apple Intelligence, according to court filings. The settlement resolves a handful of class action lawsuits filed against Apple, which claimed the company oversold what its product could do during its rollout in 2024. Those suits were consolidated in 2025 by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where a judge still needs to approve the settlement.