Implementing price controls in the broadband marketplace "creates more problems than it solves," Seth Cooper, Free State Foundation's director-policy studies, wrote in a blog Thursday, urging states to avoid the practice. Citing AT&T's withdrawal from New York and Starlink's petition for an exception to the state's new broadband affordability law, Cooper said the measure "discourages market entry by new providers using innovative technologies." The benefits of below-market rate requirements are "outweighed by the harmful consequences of deterring needed investment and reducing competition," he said: "Other states should instead promote an environment favorable to competition, investment, and innovation, with targeted subsidies as an option for connecting Americans in need."
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Verizon and Frontier urged the California Public Utilities Commission not to expand the scope of its proceeding on Verizon's purchase of Frontier. The companies met with aides to Commissioners John Reynolds and Darcie Houck, per a filing Thursday. The companies opposed a coalition's request to consider whether they complied with a "right of first offer" rule (see 2502060056). The request is "superficial" and "extraordinary under any circumstances," the ISPs said.
A Texas bill would provide up to $750 million for broadband infrastructure funding in certain rural counties. State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R) introduced the bill, HB-2964, on Wednesday. It would direct the state comptroller to administer grants to counties with a population of not more than 25,000 and support fiber-to-the-premises projects.
A Washington state bill would establish a right to repair for certain electronic devices. The state Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology will meet Friday to consider the bill, S-5423, which 13 Senate Democrats introduced. The bill notes that the "need for more accessible and affordable repair options is felt more acutely among specific sectors of the population, notably Washington residents in rural areas and people who earn low incomes." It also cites a growing number of states with similar legislation. The bill would "broaden access to the information and tools necessary to repair digital electronic products."
Alaska Communications will deploy fiber to more than 400 tribal households, businesses and anchor institutions in the state, it announced Thursday. Funded by NTIA's tribal broadband connectivity program, the project will include a partnership with the Nenana Native Association and Tanana Chiefs Conference to deploy broadband service to Alaskans living in the Athabascan community of Nenana. The Nenana Native Association will "tap into Tanana Chiefs Conference’s robust workforce development initiatives to offer residents paid on-the-job training opportunities through this project," the group said. Alaska Communications is "honored" to work with both groups, said President-CEO Paul Fenaroli, adding that service is expected to be available in early 2027.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced Wednesday a $26 million grant for fiber broadband deployment in Oswego County. The grant will support a fiber-to-the-home network to serve more than 10,000 residences, businesses and community institutions, Hochul said. The county will own the network, which will be made available "for lease" to ISPs on a "non-discriminatory and non-exclusive basis," a news release said.
A draft order from the California Public Utilities Commission would extend the agency's statutory deadline to amend certain California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) programs. The proposed decision, overseen by Commissioner Darcie Houck, would extend the deadline by one year, until March 5, 2026. "The commission requires time beyond the current statutory deadline to consider party comments and appropriate implementation of any changes," the item said.
The Washington State Public Works Board launched a rulemaking process last week to explore possible changes to the state's broadband emergency funding program. The agency is considering amending certain terms and clarifying eligibility requirements for prospective applicants to "fully operationalize this funding program," per a filing. The board is planning two virtual workshops, Feb. 20 at 12:30 p.m. PT and Feb. 26 at 9 a.m. PT, with a public comment period expected in the spring.
The Maine Connectivity Authority extended the deadline for subgrant applications for its BEAD program until March 7 at 5 p.m. ET, the agency announced in an email Friday. It said it pushed back the original Feb. 28 deadline after receiving "feedback from current applicants." The agency also noted that applicants are requesting BEAD funding to serve about 26,000 locations and 3,000 community anchor institutions across the state.
Mississippi approved $32.5 million in broadband infrastructure projects, Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced Thursday. The 12 projects, funded by the Capital Projects Fund, will expand broadband access to 9,000 additional households, Reeves said. The Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi also recently awarded $878,000 in funding for public Wi-Fi projects.