Network

The endeavor, led by utility workers from Merit Network, will bring swift Internet to Beaver Island, in Lake Michigan. The system will connect major public facilities and will likely be operational later this year.

Plus, a digital inclusion nonprofit filed a lawsuit challenging the repeal of the Digital Equity Act, a new class of Vermont broadband technicians have graduated, New Mexico is expanding public Wi-Fi, and more.

Connecting the West is an initiative being led by transportation departments in the three states, to form a 1,200-mile network across their terrain. Technology interoperability is key, an official said.

Broadband consultants reflect on the current state of the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, while officials in two states report on their progress in rolling out high-speed Internet.

A digital resource fair hosted by the city’s Community Council is intended to convene service providers, digital experts and community organizations with residents, to look into affordability and access.

Plus, Maryland has brought Internet access to Smith Island; Hawaii has launched a Digital Navigator Program; students in El Paso, Texas, will receive digital and AI skills instruction, and more.

The city of Brownsville, Texas, was given that designation in 2014. Since then, officials have made investments to change its status, including supporting the deployment of a fiber network.

The communications giant has rolled out a priority 5G slice, a 50 percent bigger drone fleet, satellite texting and more deployables aimed at keeping first responders connected throughout emergencies.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $5.2 million in new state grants awarded to Connectivity Innovations projects. The funding is intended to expand mobile service in Nassau, Otsego, Schenectady and Warren counties.

More than 2,000 Xfinity customers lost Internet access early Sunday, and it continued into Monday. Multiple causes were determined including power outages and network damage, and service was being restored.

The local government is in line to receive the funding through New York state’s ConnectALL Deployment Program. It will expand Internet access to nearly 1,300 unserved households, businesses and community facilities.

Nearly all locations in the state, or 99.5 percent, can now reach high-speed Internet — and work on the remainder is ahead of schedule, officials said. That includes Smith Island, which now has reliable Internet.

Plus, Puerto Rico is offering free technical training — ranging from cloud computing to AI — through a new partnership, Arlington County, Va., aims to build digital skills with a new navigator program, and more.

“Multiple failures” of a data telecommunications service led to ground stops at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field over the weekend. Fiber-optic cable cuts are believed to have been at fault.

The Trump administration's changes to the BEAD Program have disqualified hundreds of thousands of locations — including homes, businesses and community buildings — from receiving Internet access.

Plus, a new Arizona partnership aims to expand Internet access in the state along Interstate 17; Cook County, Ill., is planning a learning symposium event for Digital Inclusion Week; and more.

Gov. Jeff Landry has written U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, asking if remaining Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment grant money could go to “state-led initiatives” in artificial intelligence and elsewhere.

Plus, Baltimore’s new AI computer lab aims to bring digital skills to the community, stakeholder groups have submitted comments to the FCC on the state of U.S. broadband deployment, and more.