Broadband

Plus, federal legislation supporting rural Internet access gets introduced, Utah’s legislature will consider a law establishing digital literacy education, Texas is investing millions in broadband expansion, and more.

The City Council approved giving OnLight Aurora, set up to manage the city’s fiber network, $80,000 via either a loan or grant. A key issue, an alderman said, is getting the organization back on track.

Plus, New York has reopened applications for grants through its ConnectALL program, New Mexico celebrated progress on connectivity expansion, fiber networks continue expanding to new locations, and more.

All middle-mile construction is now either built or funded, an official said. The next step is last-mile work, bringing actual connections to homes, and meeting with stakeholders to gather infrastructure data.

The broadband and telecommunications company Brightspeed, which is based in the North Carolina city, is probing multiple reports its customers may have been victimized by a data breach.

Plus, New Mexico has launched its three-year broadband plan, North Carolina has debuted a program to expand Internet access in rural communities, a report shows progress on broadband expansion, and more.

State committees have, in the last year, examined topics ranging from agricultural security to cybersecurity. The annual threat assessment is required to precede the governor’s State of the State address.

After launching a fiber-optic broadband network, Chattanooga, Tenn., has seen robust economic development and better Internet service for residents. Chico, Calif., recently broke ground on its own fiber project.

Plus, New York is investing in digital literacy, an area which is evolving as practitioners integrate AI skills; research suggests a “Dig Once” policy can save on broadband deployment costs; and more.

A new report from the Urban Institute outlines how many of the projects developed as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including technology work, have been slow to finish and deploy.

The state Department of Development’s BroadbandOhio office is poised to take proposals to build a middle-mile fiber network east from Mansfield to Canton, and west to Lima along Route 30.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order seeking to limit states’ abilities to enact AI-related policy that could be deemed “burdensome.” Experts argue the action is illegal.

Plus, legislation could improve digital skills training in workforce development programs, the bipartisan Wi-Fi Caucus relaunched, digital literacy work continues at the local level, and more.

The state Office of Science, Innovation and Technology is partnering with a vendor to deliver broadband to Laughlin and Cal-Nev-Ari. American Rescue Plan Act funds are driving the work.

Plus, Congress calls on the Trump administration to follow the law for BEAD program funding, AI infrastructure increasingly plays a role in digital equity, stakeholders are calling for reforms to USF, and more.

The Washington State Broadband Office has a new director, Jordan Arnold, who previously served as a senior policy adviser on broadband within the Biden administration. She will start in January.

Plus, Arizona has launched a permit finder to support BEAD deployments, legislation could streamline broadband projects, New Mexico is helping students across the state access the Internet, and more.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has approved the state’s final proposal for how it would spend funds it received through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.