Brightspeed announced Thursday that it received a $1.5 million grant to deploy fiber to nearly 2,400 additional locations in Trumbull County, Ohio. The company previously received more than $12.3 million in local, state and federal funding to connect 5,900 homes and businesses throughout the state. “We are excited to see years of hard work pay off with this partnership and to have Trumbull County residents who have traditionally been unserved or underserved receive a broadband connection directly to their front door,” said Trumbull County Planning Commission Director Julie Green.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities unanimously approved a notice of funding availability for the BEAD program during an agency meeting Wednesday (see 2409090009). It also approved the grant application submission process. "I know everyone's eagerly awaiting this, so just a reminder, it still has to get published in the Federal Register, so don't start submitting your applications just yet," said board President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. Also approved was an amendment to the state's contract for administration of federal broadband programs. The board modified the scope of work for the contract and reduced the proposed funding for consulting services associated with the programs' administration.

The failed legal challenge to New York's low-cost broadband law (see 2412160039) provides a route for California to adopt similar laws and policies, the California Public Utilities Commission's Public Advocates Office wrote Tuesday. It said a New York-like affordability requirement of $15 per month for low-income consumers would save such subscribers of the state's four largest providers -- AT&T, Comcast, Cox and Charter Communications -- close to $100 million annually. A low-cost broadband requirement "would effectively cut these broadband bills in half," it said. The financial impact on broadband providers "would be minimal," since low-income consumers represent a small part of their overall revenue, it said, adding that a $15 requirement would reduce the California-based revenue of the four companies by less than 1%.

Maryland's law establishing a digital ad tax is "facially unconstitutional," the Computer & Communications Industry Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and NetChoice told the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a reply brief Monday (see 2411010020). The groups challenged the law's pass-through provision (docket 24-1727), saying businesses can't communicate with consumers about how the tax may affect their services or operations. "A government cannot evade First Amendment scrutiny by defining what a statute makes unlawful as speech itself," the groups said. The law "attempts to bar businesses from telling the truth about what this tax means for consumer prices," said CCIA Senior Vice President Stephanie Joyce in a statement: "This kind of statutory muzzle has been rejected by the courts as an unconstitutional infringement of speech.”

A Washington bill cleared the Senate in a 46-2 vote Wednesday to amend the state's broadband infrastructure repair loan program. S-5188 would modify Washington's broadband service expansion grant and loan program, allowing loans for repairing or replacing middle and last mile broadband infrastructure.

A Texas bill would aim to improve communication access for first responders throughout the state. H-4510 would direct first responder departments to select a "first responder broadband network service for use by first responders who are department employees." The bill defined the service as a "dedicated wireless broadband communications network." State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D) introduced the measure Wednesday.

The Washington House of Representatives on Monday passed a bill aimed at expanding digital equity. State Rep. Mia Gregerson (D) introduced the bill, H-1503, which would give the state Department of Commerce "primary responsibility for increasing access to broadband and related infrastructure." It would also direct the Office of Equity to facilitate "the provision of digital devices and services to individuals and communities in Washington."

Vermont wants applications by April 16 at 11:55 p.m. from ISPs interested in participating in its BEAD program, the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) announced Tuesday. The state received $239 million in BEAD funding. The VCBB said it's "aware that the BEAD program is under federal review and will keep prospective subrecipients apprised of any changes that will affect the full proposal process, including changes to scoring," adding that "until any notice from the NTIA, the VCBB will continue to implement the VT-BEAD program in accordance with Vermont’s Initial Proposal."

A Texas bill would direct the state broadband office to conduct a study on broadband availability in multi-dwelling units (MDU). State Rep. Christina Morales (D) introduced the bill, H-3953, on Thursday. The office would be tasked with examining the effects for tenants of exclusivity agreements between ISPs and building owners, as well as the effects of "an absence of municipal regulations on broadband service infrastructure deployment in areas with a high concentration of multiunit residential properties." Due Dec. 1, 2026, the study would also assess differences in low- and high-income areas and include "any recommendations of the office related to the study."

AT&T launched five broadband expansion projects totaling $11.4 million in Oklahoma, the company announced Friday with the Oklahoma Broadband Office. The projects, funded with federal grants and additional funding from AT&T, will connect 2,760 homes and businesses with fiber. "Today's launch marks more than the rollout of fiber -- it's the foundation of opportunity, growth, and connection for every corner of Oklahoma," said Oklahoma Broadband Office Executive Director Mike Sanders.