Network

A school district in Connecticut is using a state grant to reach Bridgeport's public housing communities, where more than 800 students live, with Internet service and infrastructure.

Plus, Oregon has announced funding recipients for device access, broadband legislation is pending progress in the U.S. House of Representatives, a small town is expanding free Wi-Fi access, and more.

For the last year, general aviation pilots have paid about $50 a month for Starlink Internet on their airplanes, but the company recently announced a change that spiked costs to as high as $1,000 a month.

Plus, Massachusetts is distributing nearly 27,000 devices, the Atlanta Regional Commission is launching a digital skills training initiative, Nashville is working to expand language access, and more.

Plus, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance offers digital inclusion programming guidance amid mass enforcement actions, a report reveals consumer cost concerns, millions of seniors lack service, and more.

Born from the chaos of 9/11, FirstNet provides a mobile phone network designed for public safety professionals. The new deal comes as the U.S. Congress considers a 10-year reauthorization of FirstNet.

Plus, North Carolina is investing millions in broadband, legislation has advanced in U.S. Congress to assess satellite broadband in the Appalachian region, AI is impacting wireless network demand, and more.

The federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program makes some $21 billion available for non-deployment purposes. States are exploring how this funding can be used, and questions remain.

The city’s Utility Billing Division is no longer directly debiting customer bank accounts — instead requiring residents to use its third-party platform. The change is for security reasons, officials said.

Plus, new legislation would revive the FCC’s equity council if enacted, a report reveals connectivity gaps in tribal communities, some municipal broadband networks outperform their competitors, and more.

County commissioners got a revised schedule for federally funded broadband work. Service provider contracts remain to be signed, and construction is slated to wrap by the end of 2029.

The Trump administration has asserted for months that its “bargain” version of the federal $42.5 billion grant program to expand access to broadband Internet would save taxpayers money.

Plus, Maine is looking for partners for its middle-mile network, New Mexico has enacted a law establishing a broadband affordability program, fiber infrastructure expansion is continuing, and more.

State lawmakers overrode a gubernatorial veto to bring the Kentucky Communications Network Authority, which runs the state’s high-speed fiber network, under the Commonwealth Office of Technology.

While the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion is deploying broadband infrastructure, the State Library and its digital equity program manager are on the ground enabling access.

The state has already deployed roadside devices and onboard units in state maintenance vehicles. Next, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority will work with a hand-selected 100-person test group.

SLICFiber, based in the state’s northernmost county, will build out a fiber optic network across nearly all of the north country. The company now has about 4,500 miles of fiber-optic laid in the region.

Plus, a lack of funding is impacting digital inclusion initiatives, the U.S. House of Representatives advanced a bill for rural and tribal broadband, San Francisco has expanded its free Wi-Fi network, and more.