East Longmeadow, Mass, approved funding for a town-owned fiber network, despite objections from Spectrum. The funding approval comes after neighboring Longmeadow failed to get its own fiber network funded back in May. More on @lightreading.bsky.social: www.lightreading.com/broadband/ea...

Town approves fiber funding against Spectrum's objections

East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, voted to approve $43.5 million to fund a municipal fiber network despite a plea from Spectrum to 'slow down' the process.

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CWA, Public Knowledge, Benton, NDIA and others are the latest to push NTIA's Arielle Roth to release BEAD performance results, stating they are "deeply concerned about some providers' ability to carry out their commitments." www.lightreading.com/broadband/cw...

CWA pushes NTIA for BEAD performance reports

We are 'deeply concerned about some providers' ability to carry out their commitments,' said CWA in a letter urging NTIA to release BEAD performance tests.

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For @lightreading.bsky.social: NTIA appears to deny SpaceX's attempt to get states to sign a contract absolving Starlink from meeting BEAD performance standards. But will this create new chances for providers to re-bid in BEAD? New Street's Blair Levin says no. www.lightreading.com/broadband/nt...

NTIA seems to clarify that SpaceX can't flout BEAD rules

After a leaked SpaceX doc revealed an effort by the company to exempt itself from some BEAD requirements, new NTIA guidance suggests that won't be allowed.

lightreading.com

New for @lightreading.bsky.social: Wrote about @profgalloway.com's Resist and Unsubscribe campaign, which encourages an economic boycott of companies that are "active enablers of ICE" - a list that includes AT&T, Charter and Comcast. www.lightreading.com/broadband/at...

AT&T, Charter, Comcast named in 'Resist and Unsubscribe' campaign

New campaign led by Scott Galloway urges users to ditch services from companies that are 'active enablers' of ICE, including AT&T, Charter and Comcast.

lightreading.com

The FCC will vote next month on changing rules for the low-income Lifeline program, a move that @agomezfcc.bsky.social calls "especially shortsighted in the aftermath of the lapse of the Affordable Connectivity Program." www.lightreading.com/broadband/fc... | @lightreading.bsky.social

FCC to vote on changing Lifeline rules

The FCC will vote on reforms to the Lifeline program, through which Chairman Carr seeks to ensure that 'only living and lawful Americans participate.'

lightreading.com

Frustrating to hear @governor.pa.gov repeat the "abundance" take on BEAD on the @ragingmoderates.bsky.social podcast w/ @jessicatarlov.bsky.social yesterday, blaming the Biden admin for not connecting a single household w/the $42B IIJA broadband program. A few things this argument leaves out, below:

After BEAD freezes, rewrites, and delays, we head into 2026 with new rules, fewer fiber builds, and a shrinking promise for rural America. For @nicfer.bsky.social's 2025 recap, including @gbsohn.bsky.social's podcast appearance on public broadband, check out: www.lightreading.com/broadband/20...

2025 in review: The BEAD goes on...

Here's a recap of how the $42.5 billion BEAD program evolved in 2025, and where the federal broadband program stands heading into 2026.

lightreading.com

Light Reading's @nicfer.bsky.social has an excellent recap of the eighteen podcast conversations she's conducted this year on aspects of the broadband divide. It's all still pretty current and worth checking out.

2025 in review: State of the digital divide

This year on The Divide podcast, we hosted conversations on progress and setbacks with broadband access, adoption and affordability. Here's a recap.

lightreading.com

The FCC will vote this morning on an order to rescind security rules imposed on ISPs after the Salt Typhoon hack. The move comes "after heavy lobbying from the very telecommunications carriers whose networks were breached," said Sen. Cantwell in a letter to Carr: www.lightreading.com/broadband/go...

Gomez, Cantwell slam FCC's move to undo security rules

Move to undo rules comes 'after heavy lobbying from the very telecommunications carriers whose networks were breached by Chinese hackers,' said Cantwell.

lightreading.com

The FCC will vote next week on a notice of proposed rulemaking to roll back some requirements for consumer broadband labels. But as @publicknowledge.bsky.social warns "the Commission could create a permission structure for ISPs to continue to act without accountability." | @lightreading.bsky.social

Broadband labels back on FCC's to-do list

Public Knowledge warns the FCC that changing broadband label rules may 'create a permission structure for ISPs to continue to act without accountability.'

lightreading.com

House Dems, along w/@agomezfcc.bsky.social, continue to raise alarm over Carr's use of the FCC to serve Trump, w/Dems saying in a new letter Carr's "misuse of regulatory processes represent an unprecedented weaponization of the agency." www.lightreading.com/video-broadc... |@lightreading.bsky.social

Dems seek investigation into Brendan Carr

House Democrats call for investigation into FCC Chair Brendan Carr following ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.

lightreading.com

Amazon is seeking to roll back the FCC's five-year deorbit rule, and I had something to say about that. 😁 #spacedebris #satellites

Light Reading@lightreading.bsky.social · last yr.

Amazon wants the FCC to roll back a five-year deorbit rule for satellites which was established in 2022 to mitigate the harms of orbital debris. Read more on Light Reading:

People need to understand that Carr is at best only a step or two removed from your average internet shitposter and he has always wanted to regulate speech that he hates. He is living his best life right now as the industry knuckles under. I've been saying this for years, but welcome to the party.

Olivia Messer@oliviamesser.bsky.social · last yr.

hey so this is insane

This FCC does not have the authority, the ability, or the constitutional right to police content or punish broadcasters for speech the government dislikes. Free speech is the foundation of our democracy, and we must push back against any attempt to erode it.

New for @lightreading.bsky.social: preliminary BEAD results from several states in the past week show fiber is still winning the majority of broadband serviceable locations and funding, but LEO satellite is picking up a bit of steam.

Fiber still dominates most BEAD locations

Several states' final proposals released in recent days show fiber still leads in BEAD location wins.

lightreading.com

"This set of regional outcomes is within potential awardee capacity ... supplies universal coverage of eligible locations, and demonstrates a technology-neutral approach prioritizing low-cost projects," said WV of its final BEAD proposal. || @lightreading.bsky.social

West Virginia sticks with fiber for BEAD

The third state to release its final proposal for BEAD, West Virginia's revised program will still award 99% of its broadband deployment funding for fiber networks.

lightreading.com

This week's episode of #TheDivide pod for @lightreading.bsky.social explores @nycfuture.bsky.social's illuminating report on the digital divide in the Bronx, which includes some great policy recommendations for targeting issues around device access and skills training. Listen here:

The Divide: Digging into the biggest broadband barriers in the Bronx

This week: Eli Dvorkin and Rachel Neches, from the Center for an Urban Future, join the podcast to discuss their report exploring the extent and causes of the ongoing digital divide in the Bronx, New ...

lightreading.com

New for @lightreading.bsky.social: Advocates for fixed wireless access were among the first to cheer the Trump administration's rewrite of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, but early results show a low level of FWA activity and wins.

What's going on with fixed wireless and BEAD?

Advocates for fixed wireless access (FWA) were among the first to cheer the Trump administration's rewrite of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, but early results show a low le...

lightreading.com

NYC will host a network design and procurement process this summer to roll out Liberty Link: a city-owned fiber network, operated by the NYPL, offering free Internet service for at least three years to 35 affordable housing buildings. @lightreading.bsky.social

New 'Liberty Link' fiber network to connect low-income New Yorkers

New York City will conduct a network design and procurement process this summer for Liberty Link, a pilot program to connect affordable housing buildings in the Bronx and Manhattan to free fiber broad...

lightreading.com

California is advancing a broadband bill that was intended to follow in New York's footsteps with a low-cost service mandate. But consumer advocates now oppose the bill over amendments that weaken enforcement and lower speeds. Read more on Light Reading:

California digital equity advocates move to oppose broadband affordability bill

California is advancing a broadband bill that was intended to follow in New York's footsteps with a low-cost service mandate. But consumer advocates now oppose the bill over amendments that weaken enf...

lightreading.com

This week on The Divide for @lightreading.bsky.social we hear from NDIA's Angela Siefer on the immediate and long-term impact of Trump (unlawfully) terminating grants from the Digital Equity Act and how advocates and states can fight back. www.lightreading.com/broadband/th...

The Divide: Trump terminates Digital Equity Act – now what?

This week: Angela Siefer, executive director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), on the impact of President Trump 'ending' the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act and how advocates can fig...

lightreading.com

4500 Cleveland households are now getting <$20 wireless home broadband from growing nonprofit ISP DigitalC... another excellent "Divide" interview by @nicfer.bsky.social at @lightreading.bsky.social. (Listen close, my name is dropped.)

The Divide: How DigitalC is closing Cleveland's connectivity gaps

This week: Joshua Edmonds, CEO of DigitalC, on the nonprofit ISP's history providing connectivity and digital skills training in Cleveland, and how DigitalC is working to meet its subscriber goals and...

lightreading.com

New for @lightreading.bsky.social: Over 40 fiber suppliers increased domestic manufacturing in 28 states to comply with BEAD's "Buy America" rules, as set by the Biden admin. But program delays, new tariffs & the Trump admin's push to strip BEAD of its fiber focus may threaten those US investments.

How delays and tariffs could affect BEAD's US manufacturing goals

Over 40 fiber suppliers increased domestic manufacturing to comply with the BEAD program's 'Buy America' rules. However, prolonged program delays and a shift away from BEAD's fiber focus could put suc...

lightreading.com

"We've built smart broadband plans tailored to our communities, and federal changes at this stage risk undermining years of progress and deliberation. The best thing Washington can do is let states finish the job," said Missouri State Rep. Louis Riggs, a Republican. #BEAD

State lawmakers urge Lutnick not to delay BEAD with forced changes

Over 100 bipartisan state legislators signed a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick warning that 'mandatory changes' to the BEAD program may delay implementation 'by a year or more' and urging ...

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The framework of the Universal Service Fund (USF) is "more likely than not" to be upheld, said analyst Blair Levin after yesterday's SCOTUS hearing. But if Trump/Musk rewrite broadband rules to favor satellites, that could still blow up the program's future. More on @lightreading.bsky.social:

USF framework 'more likely than not' to be upheld – analyst

The framework of the Universal Service Fund is 'more likely than not' to be upheld, said Blair Levin after a Supreme Court hearing. But the USF's future could still be muddled by Trump administration ...

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"For those in the tech industry who supported this administration thinking it would mean less regulation or more 'business friendly' policies: you've catastrophically misread the situation."

Mike Masnick@masnick.com · 2y ago

Wrote up something about Techdirt's recent coverage, and why (whether we like it or not) we need to be a "democracy blog" now, rather than just a "tech" blog (not that we've ever been just a tech blog). This story is *the* story and it impacts everything else. www.techdirt.com/2025/03/04/w...

"We'll be ripping up the province's contract with Starlink. Ontario won't do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy," Doug Ford said on X.

Ontario to kill Starlink contract over Trump tariffs

Ontario Premier Doug Ford used Elon Musk's social media site X to report that he would be ripping up a contract with SpaceX's Starlink, signed in November, over Trump's tariffs on Canada.

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