Spectrum Relocation Costs
The FCC has been tasked by Congress to clear 800 MHz of mid‑range spectrum for a new auction, requiring existing federal, military and commercial users to relocate. The Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act created the Spectrum Relocation Fund, which must raise at least 110 % of estimated relocation costs to avoid taxpayer burden. Past auctions, such as the 2012 T‑Band and 2013 AWS sales, revealed cost overruns that threatened auction viability. The upcoming auction aims to generate $60 billion, but uncertain relocation expenses could erode that net gain.
California’s Middle Mile Fiber Network
California’s Middle‑Mile Broadband Initiative, funded with $3.25 billion under Senate Bill 156, has activated its first phase of a statewide fiber backbone. The network’s inaugural live customer is the Bishop Paiute Tribe, which will use the middle‑mile capacity to extend last‑mile service...
Leftover Copper Customers
T‑Mobile is weighing a purchase of UNITI’s fiber assets, which include former Windstream lines, leaving the legacy copper customers behind. Lumen previously sold its fiber subscriber base to AT&T while retaining its copper‑based services, citing ongoing cash flow. The FCC...
Hydrogen Generators
Hydrogen fuel‑cell generators are beginning to replace diesel backup units at telecom sites, offering silent, heat‑free, zero‑emission power. Diesel generators, common at data centers and remote cabinets, generate loud noise—up to 110 decibels—and oily smoke, especially in cold weather. Early...
The Regulatory Death Knell for Copper?
In March, the FCC issued an order aimed at accelerating the shift from copper‑based telephone networks to all‑IP fiber and other modern technologies. The order consolidates rules, grants carriers blanket authority to discontinue copper services, and preempts state regulations that...
A Peek Into the Latest Merger
Google’s fiber arm, now rebranded GFiber, announced a merger with Astound Broadband, a conglomerate of former cable operators. The combined entity will serve roughly 2 million broadband customers across 7.1 million passings, positioning it as the seventh‑largest ISP in the United States....
Supreme Court Rules on ISPs and Copyrights
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Cox Communications, holding that internet service providers are only liable for copyright infringement if they intend their service to be used for that purpose. The decision overturns earlier rulings that found...
Americans and Our Smartphones
A Reviews.org survey of 1,000 Americans in Q4 2025 shows the average user spends 5 hours 1 minute on their smartphone each day, checking it 186 times. Over 80% glance at their phone within ten minutes of waking, and 29% admit to using it...
Impacts of the RAM Shortage
Since late 2025, a global RAM shortage has emerged as leading chipmakers pivoted to higher‑margin AI data‑center memory, curtailing production for smartphones, PCs and other consumer devices. In Q4 2025, demand outstripped supply by roughly 10%, pushing RAM prices up...
A Rural Cellular Story
A review of FCC cellular maps for a fringe neighborhood in Buncombe County, North Carolina, reveals only marginal 4G coverage from AT&T and Verizon, with no viable 5G service. EchoStar’s Project Genesis was the sole provider promising usable 5G speeds,...
Broadband Subscribers 4Q 2025
Broadband subscriber data for Q4 2025 shows fixed‑wireless access (FWA) cellular providers achieved the largest net customer gain ever recorded for the segment, while cable operators continued to shed subscribers. Telcos grew overall by adding more fiber connections than they...
States Addressing Affordability
State legislatures are launching new low‑income broadband subsidies as the federal Affordable Connectivity Program winds down. New Mexico’s LITAP offers up to $30 monthly, funded by a $1.50 telecom surcharge, while Oregon increased its subsidy to $15 and added a...
Broadband Shorts March 2026
Broadband providers are reshaping the market through a series of high‑value acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Verizon closed its $20 billion purchase of Frontier, adding 2.2 million fiber subscribers, while AT&T acquired over one million Lumen customers and secured Starry’s millimeter‑wave technology. The...
Light Spectrum Licensing
The FCC is weighing a "light licensing" approach that would let satellite operators register additional ground stations in the upper‑microwave (mmWave) bands, a spectrum currently held by major cellular carriers. AT&T, T‑Mobile and Verizon each spent roughly $2 billion acquiring 24‑50 GHz...
Fixing Federal Permitting
The House passed H.R. 5419, the Enhancing Administrative Reviews of Broadband Deployment Act, directing the Interior and Agriculture departments to assess and report on administrative barriers to broadband permits on federal lands within a year. The bill follows previous executive...
