Level of Government

I’m currently offline for the Jewish holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah—no texts, no email, not even 5G. These holidays mark both the conclusion and immediate restart of the annual Torah reading, a celebration of continuity, renewal, and the idea that learning and connection never end. It’s much like how we approach building the next generation of wireless networks: 5G isn’t the end—it’s the launch pad for what’s next. Just like in the Torah cycle, there’s no standing still.

The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion has awarded $200,000 in state funds to the Pueblo of Pojoaque and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative Inc. for planning, engineering and grant writing to help them build broadband infrastructure and deploy high-speed internet.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how the Broadbnad Equity, Access, and Deployment grant program got off track. Even before the current giant swing in rules by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the program had a lot of problems. One of my observations about the BEAD grant program is that internet service providers were not an integral part of developing the grant rules. ISPs were largely ignored from the start and were only brought into the BEAD process after the rules were largely set in concrete.

What began as an experiment during the pandemic to lure people back to small towns and cities in the American heartland is, about five years later, becoming a widespread strategy. MakeMyMove, a platform for worker-relocation programs that launched in 2020 with around 20 programs, now features over 178 programs covering hundreds of cities and towns, according to co-founder Evan Hock.

Last month, digital divide researchers convened at two major events: the Digital Access Research Forum and the Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy (better known as TPRC).

The DC State Broadband Office (DC SBO) released its draft Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program final proposal. The draft proposal can be viewed on DC SBO website. To submit a public comment, send an email to OCTO.grants@dc.gov by 11:59 PM on Thursday, October 23, 2025.

The Indiana Broadband Office announced the results of the 15th round of the Indiana Connectivity Program, awarding $654,676 to expand broadband access

Brian Allenby, chief operating officer for Maine Connectivity Authority, is optimistic about the state’s revised award recommendations in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.  “We’re hoping it will be the final awards list,” he said. The list is almost the same as what the state sent to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for approval prior to the September 4 deadline. The main difference is that NTIA did not allow the state to award funding for certain locations.

Despite the federal government shutdown, states across the country are making strides on their own broadband and digital equity initiatives. Four states in particular caught our eye this week. Many of these initiatives were designed to work in tandem with federal investments, especially those created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or to fill gaps created by the sunsetting of crucial programs, like the ACP.

Earlier this year, I spoke about creating a “Golden Age of Communications,” a moment when American innovation, investment, and ingenuity converge to deliver both unprecedented opportunity and unmatched security. Wireless will be at the very center of that vision.  It’s the connective tissue linking every sector of our economy, from defense and energy, to healthcare, transportation, and education.