Universal Broadband

Nearly 91% of New Mexico now has access to high-speed internet, and more than 120,000 more homes and business have been connected since 2022, according to the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion’s (OBAE) annual Data Collection Report to the Legislature, showcasing dramatic achievements based on updated mapping data. The comprehensive report, released October 1, reveals that by the end of 2026, 94% of New Mexico will have broadband access. The data-driven report details OBAE’s investments and results since 2022.

Lawmakers are making progress on draft legislation to update an $8 billion-per-year telecommunications subsidy. A bipartisan working group with members from both chambers of Congress has been working for years to update the Universal Service Fund, which is supported by fees on a shrinking pool of voice revenue. 

WTC Fiber has completed a major community-wide public Wi-Fi initiative that expands free, reliable internet access at parks, recreation facilities, nonprofit organizations, public service agencies and other gathering places throughout Manhattan and Riley County (KS). The project includes 124 Wi-Fi access points and represents an investment of more than $830,000 in local connectivity and digital access.

In the event of an emergency, every second matters. Gov Jeff Landry (R-LA) recently emphasized that though first responders are ready to answer the call, they need access to reliable technology to communicate effectively. Louisiana is working quickly and efficiently to ensure its communities do not fall behind when it comes to technology and infrastructure. Through federal partnerships and with the help of President Trump and the congressional delegation, Louisiana is making significant progress in bringing reliable connectivity to communities that have gone without it for too long.

Three former commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission have passionately affirmed the necessity of $2.4 billion E-Rate program. At the annual AnchorNets 2026 conference, hosted by the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, former Commissioners Rachelle Chong, Deborah Taylor Tate, and Mignon Clyburn attested to the importance of E-Rate for schools, children, and rural communities.

A federal broadband subsidy program under financial duress could get bailed out by AI-related companies, as policymakers consider making major users of broadband infrastructure contribute to universal service. Universal service reform could expand the pool of companies that help finance broadband networks to include hyperscalers, cloud providers and other major users of internet infrastructure, according to former Federal Communications Commission officials and broadband advocates. 

On October 8, the Schools, Health and Libraries Coalition released a new study, conducted by the Brattle Group, on the economic impact of the E-Rate program. Brattle finds that removing roughly $2.6 billion in annual E-Rate support would reduce annual real GDP by about $4.2 billion, which translates to about $1.60 in lost economic activity for every $1 of E-Rate support removed. The report comes as the Federal Communications Commission conducts “the most comprehensive review of the E-Rate program in more than a decade.”

Business Oregon’s Oregon Broadband Office is pleased to announce a major milestone for grantees of the Digital Connectivity Technology Program: Project Implementation Completion. Through DCTP, organizations across Oregon have expanded access to internet-enabled technology and Wi-Fi at no cost to community members who need it the most. Projects have established and enhanced public computing labs, device lending programs, and public Wi-Fi access, helping communities connect to the digital tools and resources they need for work, education, health care, and everyday life.

Gov Josh Shapiro (D-PA) and Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority Executive Director Brandon Carson visited Bald Eagle High School in Centre County to announce that more than $448 million in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment grants have been awarded to projects in 50 counties across the Commonwealth. This is the first round of awards after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved more than $711 million in BEAD funding for Pennsylvania in April.

The Federal Communications Commission recently banged the gavel and closed out our first spectrum auction in nearly 4 years. Bringing that one home was part of a broader effort we are undertaking to reinvigorate the agency’s work on a wide range of spectrum matters. This month, we’re continuing to push ahead with a packed agenda—from kicking off the process for another spectrum auction to supercharging wireless competition and making more good progress on national security, consumer protection, and rural broadband.