Marginalized Populations

There seems to be an increasing chance that the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program is back in play. In a status report filed by the Department of Commerce in the lawsuit where the National Digital Inclusion Alliance filed to reinstate the grant program, the government said it is targeting a December 2026 opening date for applications for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. Like everything associated with the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program and the Digital Equity Grant programs, nothing is final until this is put in place.

The Federal Communications Commission voted to adopt the agency’s annual Section 706 Report. Section 706 requires that the Commission report on “whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion.” The Section 706 Report finds that advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion. Key findings include:

Charter Communications received the final approval needed to buy fellow cable and broadband provider Cox Communications after making concessions to California regulators, including a commitment to provide affordable internet plans for low-income households.

Federal broadband funding is doing more than expand service. It is also changing the competitive landscape in the communities receiving it. Nearly 43% of federally funded served locations in non-BEAD areas now have access to more than one broadband provider. That is meaningful progress for rural communities that have historically had limited choice, creating the potential for better pricing, stronger service and more bundled offers for consumers. A funded area is no longer just a future build opportunity. It may already be, or soon become, a contested market.

The digital divide in the American Southeast is no longer defined solely by the binary presence or absence of a connection; instead, it has evolved into a complex ecosystem of infrastructure quality, affordability, and digital literacy. This report delivers an exhaustive analysis of broadband access and connectivity trends within six disparate Local Education Agencies: Anniston City Schools (AL), Madison County School System (AL), McDuffie County School System (GA), Halifax County Schools (NC), Dorchester School District Four (SC), and Fayette County Public Schools (TN).

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced the awardees of $6 million in funding through the Digital Literacy Training Grant aimed at helping to close the digital gap among Work First New Jersey recipients. WFNJ provides essential support to eligible New Jersey residents and their families, including cash assistance, childcare, job readiness, and short-term housing. The FY26 awardees of the Digital Literacy Training Grant include: 

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AK) held a markup hearing on his version of the Farm Bill on Thursday, August 6. It didn’t go very well. In the long-delayed milestone meeting—which could ultimately reshape Rural Americans connections to the Internet—Republicans were unable to move their bill forward. Democrats held together, and the absence of two GOP senators, Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY), meant the measure failed on a 10-11 vote.

In July, we summarized the Federal Communications Commission's draft Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order in its long-running Promoting Telehealth in Rural America proceeding. The Federal Communications Commission adopted that item on August 6, 2026, and released the final version on August 7. The bulk of what we wrote in July still holds.

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation appreciates the opportunity to comment on Reforming the High-Cost Program for an All-IP Future. The Federal Communications Commission should eliminate legacy high-cost support mechanisms and allow A-CAM support to expire without extension. These programs have achieved their original objectives, while changes in the broadband marketplace have substantially reduced the policy rationale for continuing them.

Last week, we covered some of the broadband and digital equity initiatives launched by the states this summer. From digital equity resources in Louisiana to historic investments in broadband infrastructure funding for the Navajo Nation, here are some more notable broadband news bites we've seen from states and Tribal governments around the country.