Astound Broadband will invest $81 million to expand its fiber network infrastructure throughout Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and northeast region. The company said Tuesday that it will reach more than 315,000 homes and nearly 25,000 businesses by the end of 2026. It said it's currently upgrading more than 4,800 miles of fiber. The company also said its deployment "paves the way for future residential and commercial internet speeds of up to 10 Gbps."
The FCC’s efforts on the White House’s AI Action plan will involve a “team” principally run out of the Office of General Counsel, said Chairman Brendan Carr in a news conference Thursday. The agency will look at its authority to preempt state laws and proceed with “an open mind,” he added. The agency’s role will be “looking at ways that we can streamline or accelerate or potentially address barriers that may be in the way of the buildout of AI infrastructure.” Commissioner Anna Gomez said during her news conference Thursday that the Communications Act doesn't give the FCC authority over AI, and that the administration's actions against subsidizing the buildout of high-capacity fiber infrastructure will undermine the proliferation of AI. "What this administration is doing with the BEAD program is antithetical to the goals of this administration on AI," she said.
A Texas bill would ensure all first responder departments have a "dedicated wireless broadband communications network" to use during natural disasters and other emergencies. State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D) introduced the legislation, HB-185, on Thursday. The service provider a department chooses would be required to have service available throughout the state, "including those areas in which flooding or other natural disasters are most likely to occur." Annually, departments would be required to submit reports evaluating the effectiveness of their network services, costs and recommendations to increase the resiliency of first responder broadband network services.
New York made more than $5 million in digital equity grants available in a request for applications (RFA) Thursday. It's the second time the state has opened a round of applications through its ConnectALL digital equity capacity grant program, it said in a news release citing the Trump administration's freeze on federal funding for digital equity programs (see 2505090051). Applications are due by Aug. 25 through the state's consolidated funding application portal. New York said in its RFA that it anticipates awarding 10-12 grants. The digital equity capacity grant program will award grants to support projects that provide residents with "devices, skills, and awareness needed to make use of affordable, reliable broadband service." Applicants must, among other things, demonstrate at least three years of experience working with the population its proposed project would serve and a financial capacity to manage a reimbursable grant. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) also launched an education campaign with the announcement to promote New York's Affordable Broadband Act, which requires ISPs operating in the state to offer discounted service to low-income households.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) on Monday signed a bill banning electronic devices for students during instructional hours (see 2507140057). The bill now awaits congressional review before becoming law.
CTIA and USTelecom urged the California Public Utilities Commission not to give commission staff full authority over the state's BEAD subgrantee scoring and selection process. The groups also raised concerns in separate comments posted Friday (docket 23-02-016) about the CPUC not holding public comment or providing more information about its scoring criteria.
All 56 states and territories received NTIA approval of their updated BEAD plans following the program revisions in June, the agency said Monday (see 2506060052). With a new subgrantee selection process underway through the "Benefit of the Bargain" round, states and territories have until Sept. 4 to submit a final proposal with the results of at least one round of selections.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) signed a bill Thursday repealing the sunset of the state's Lifeline plan. The bill, HB-3148, makes the program permanent and repeals the surcharge requirement (see 2503210068). Eligible low-income residents may also receive a one-time personal device "plus any ancillary devices" worth up to $100. The state Public Utilities Commission must adopt rules necessary to administer the program by Dec. 31, 2026.
The New York Department of Education received plans from 150 school districts across the state on smartphone restrictions for students during school hours, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said Friday, ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline. Districts had to submit their plans under a new device ban that was part of an FY 2026 state budget agreement in May (see 2505060053). Hochul encouraged other school districts “to learn from these additional examples and resources on our website to develop a plan suited for their students, teachers and families by the deadline.” The early policy submissions came one week after the department sent surveys reminding school district leaders of the deadline. "This wave of early submissions shows just how eager our school districts are to get phones out of the classrooms and back to the basics of a focused, in-person learning environment," said state Sen. John Liu (D).
The Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) on Thursday launched a new online tool to help individuals find nearby places with free Wi-Fi and other digital resources. Tech Help for ME was designed "specifically for people who face added hurdles in getting online," MCA said in a news release. The agency partnered with nearly 200 public libraries, nonprofits, advocacy organizations and other resources to help people gain access to and use the internet, it said.