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Can we please keep our broadband money, Republican governor asks Trump admin

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has a simple request for the Trump administration: Don't take our broadband money away. Trump's Commerce Department rewrote the rules of the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program, forcing states to change how they spend money earmarked for expanding broadband access. The overhaul led states to reduce spending on fiber networks and increase spending on satellite—although not to the extent sought by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who is de

After 34 Years of Booop-Beep-Beep-Beep-Krsssh-Eee-Brrrrrrr, AOL’s Dial-Up Service Is Finally Shutting Down

It’s the end of an era. After 34 years, AOL is pulling the plug on its dial-up internet service. It’s hard to believe that In 2025, with 5G, Wi-Fi, and fiber-optic broadband seemingly everywhere, AOL’s classic dial-up service is still operating. Sadly, for the thousands of people still relying on the old school internet service, the company recently announced that it’s discontinuing it on Sept. 30. “AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Intern

FCC Democrat: Trump admin is declaring “Mission Accomplished” on broadband

The Federal Communications Commission is hamstringing its upcoming review of broadband availability by ignoring the prices consumers must pay for Internet service, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez said in a statement yesterday. "Some point to existing law to argue that availability is the only metric Congress allows to measure broadband deployment success. But the law does not require this agency to view broadband availability with one eye closed and the other one half-open," said Gomez, the only De

Trump tells states they'll lose out on broadband fund if they try to dictate rates

States will lose out on their share of a $42 billion broadband fund if they attempt to dictate rates that internet services providers (ISPs) charge low-income customers, according to a new FAQ from the Trump administration seen by Ars Technica. That means ISPs — which are subsidized by the government in order to provide low-cost plans — will be able to set such rates under the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) program. The new language appeared in a BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice

Trump admin warns states: Don’t try to lower broadband prices

The Trump administration is telling states they will be shut out of a $42 billion broadband deployment fund if they set the rates that Internet service providers receiving subsidies are allowed to charge people with low incomes. The latest version of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) FAQ on the grant program, released today, is a challenge to states considering laws that would force Internet providers to offer cheap plans to people who meet income eligibility

FCC abandons efforts to make U.S. broadband fast and affordable

Trump FCC Abandons Efforts To Make U.S. Broadband Fast And Affordable from the this-is-why-we-can't-have-nice-things dept Section 706 of the Telecom Act requires the FCC to determine whether broadband is being deployed “on a reasonable and timely basis” to everyone. If the answer is no, the law says the FCC must “take immediate action to accelerate deployment of such capability by removing barriers to infrastructure investment and by promoting competition in the telecommunications market.” Fo

FCC Abandons Efforts to Make U.S. Broadband Fast and Affordable

Trump FCC Abandons Efforts To Make U.S. Broadband Fast And Affordable from the this-is-why-we-can't-have-nice-things dept Section 706 of the Telecom Act requires the FCC to determine whether broadband is being deployed “on a reasonable and timely basis” to everyone. If the answer is no, the law says the FCC must “take immediate action to accelerate deployment of such capability by removing barriers to infrastructure investment and by promoting competition in the telecommunications market.” Fo

Starlink Is Set to Receive Billions in Federal Subsidies but Analysis Says It Can’t Handle the Traffic

Key takeaways A new X-Lab analysis indicates Starlink can only support 6.66 households per square mile before speeds drop below FCC broadband minimums (100/20 Mbps). Currently, only 17% of Starlink users currently meet FCC broadband speeds, yet altered BEAD program rules could direct significant federal funds to Starlink as the lowest-cost option. While Starlink greatly improves internet access and quality for rural Americans, experts worry about its long-term viability for widespread broadban

T-Mobile the fastest mobile network; AT&T best for broadband

Ookla’s latest speed-test report has found that T-Mobile is this year’s fastest mobile network, offering the speediest downloads overall, and the fastest 5G. For home broadband, AT&T Fiber took the crown. Plans to boost broadband speeds have, however, been thrown into doubt by the Trump administration, which wants to abandon a target for every American to have gigabit speeds … If you’ve ever tested your home or mobile broadband speed, there’s a high chance you’ve done so using Ookla’s Speedtes

Gig Speeds for Every American? Trump FCC Moves to Drop One of the Group’s Most Ambitious Goals

One of the federal government’s most ambitious broadband targets may soon be abandoned. On August 7, the FCC will vote on a proposal to drop its goal of gig speeds for every American. In March last year, the Democratic-led group voted to raise the definition of minimum broadband speeds from 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload speed to 100/20Mbps. It also set a more ambitious long-term goal of increasing the benchmark to 1,000Mbps download and 500Mbps upload speed. Trump’s pick for FCC chair, Bren

Broadband Deserts and Reproductive Care: The Devastating Impact on Health Resources

We don’t often think about the internet as being good for our health. In fact, “internet” and “health” are primarily related in a negative context in online spaces -- we’re getting too much screen time, we’re “chronically” online, etc. It may come as a surprise, but access to the internet is commonly recognized as a "super" determinant of health. Limited internet access has been linked to high mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, and having the internet in easy reach means we can stay

California backs down to Trump admin, won’t force ISPs to offer $15 broadband

A California lawmaker halted an effort to pass a law that would force Internet service providers to offer $15 monthly plans to people with low incomes. Assemblymember Tasha Boerner proposed the state law a few months ago, modeling the bill on a law enforced by New York. It seemed that other states were free to impose cheap-broadband mandates because the Supreme Court rejected broadband industry challenges to the New York law twice. Boerner, a Democrat who is chair of the Communications and Con

FCC to eliminate gigabit speed goal and scrap analysis of broadband prices

The Federal Communications Commission is ditching Biden-era standards for measuring progress toward the goal of universal broadband deployment. The changes will make it easier for the FCC to give the broadband industry a passing grade in an annual progress report. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's proposal would give the industry a thumbs-up even if it falls short of 100 percent deployment, eliminate a long-term goal of gigabit broadband speeds, and abandon a new effort to track the affordability of

Mapping the Margins: The Internet's Invisible Hand in Reproductive Care

We don’t often think about the internet as being good for our health. In fact, “internet” and “health” are primarily related in a negative context in online spaces -- we’re getting too much screen time, we’re “chronically” online, etc. It may come as a surprise, but access to the internet is commonly recognized as a "super" determinant of health. Limited internet access has been linked to high mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, and having the internet in easy reach means we can stay

Starlink Just Rolled Out a $15-Per-Month Plan in New York, but You’ll Have to Qualify to Sign Up

Starlink has brought high-speed internet to millions of rural Americans for the first time. It’s also one of the most expensive internet service providers in the country. So, how is it available in New York for just $15 a month? If Starlink wants to sell internet in the state, it doesn’t have a choice. That’s thanks to the Affordable Broadband Act, a New York state law passed in January. Customers will still have to pay for $349 upfront, however, which will likely be an insurmountable cost for

Futureproof Fiber Gives Homeowners an Edge, but Access Isn't Always Fair

We live in a fast-evolving digital age, making a high-speed internet connection as essential as running water and electricity. But a lack of affordable internet options perpetuates what is known as the broadband divide -- the gap that divides those who can or can't digitally connect in meaningful ways. A lesser-known discussion point around the broadband divide goes beyond a lack of internet access. Lack of fast internet -- fiber internet, specifically -- negatively affects home values, hurting

You Can Now Get Starlink for $15-Per-Month in New York, but There’s a Catch

Starlink has brought high-speed internet to millions of rural Americans for the first time. It’s also one of the most expensive internet service providers in the country. So, how is it available in New York for just $15 a month? If it wants to sell internet in the state, it doesn’t have a choice. That’s thanks to the Affordable Broadband Act, a New York state law passed in January. The law says that major ISPs (those serving 20,000 households or more) operating in New York must offer plans sta

Best Internet Providers in Utah

When it comes to internet providers in Utah, your options will vary depending on exactly where you live in the state. While Xfinity and CenturyLink offer widespread coverage in populated areas, certain addresses might score even better blazing-fast fiber internet. What is the best internet provider in Utah? Xfinity earns CNET’s top pick for Utah’s best internet provider. It offers broad availability, impressive speeds and diverse plans. However, fiber contenders like Quantum Fiber and Google F

Ted Cruz’s Ban on AI Regulation Gets Last-Minute Boot From ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” is packed with all sorts of problematic policies, but the Senate did manage to successfully strip it of one: the 10-year ban on state-level artificial intelligence laws. During the Senate’s “vote-a-rama,” it voted 99 to 1 to adopt an amendment that will strike the restrictions on state-level regulations from the spending bill. The provision, which received a considerable amount of support from Big Tech firms and was championed by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, woul

Best Internet Providers in Colorado

CNET recommends Xfinity as the best overall internet provider in Colorado. It offers a wide range of plans, solid reliability and broad coverage across the state, making it a dependable choice for most households. Prices start at $55 a month and go up to $85 for the 1,300Mbps or 2,100 plan, depending on your location. During a recent visit to Denver, I experienced some serious internet envy. Coming from New Mexico, where internet options are limited, Denver felt like a broadband dream. I stayed

Ted Cruz can’t get all Republicans to back his fight against state AI laws

A Republican proposal to penalize states that regulate artificial intelligence can move forward without requiring approval from 60 senators, the Senate parliamentarian decided on Saturday. But the moratorium on state AI laws did not have unanimous Republican support and has reportedly been watered down in an effort to push it toward passage. In early June, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) proposed enforcing a 10-year moratorium on AI regulation by making states ineligible for broadband funding if they t

Best Internet Providers in Florida

What's the best internet provider in Florida? Looking for the best internet provider in the Sunshine State? Our broadband experts have compiled the best broadband providers in Florida to help you choose the right one for your needs. From DSL to fixed wireless to fiber, Florida's range of broadband providers can vary dramatically in affordability and speed. The best overall internet service provider in Florida is AT&T Fiber, thanks to its affordable plans and fast speeds. The plans start at $55

Telecom giant Viasat breached by China's Salt Typhoon hackers

Satellite communications company Viasat is the latest victim of China's Salt Typhoon cyber-espionage group, which has previously hacked into the networks of multiple other telecom providers in the United States and worldwide. Viasat provides satellite broadband services to governments worldwide and aviation, military, energy, maritime, and enterprise customers. Last month, the telecom giant told shareholders that it had approximately 189,000 broadband subscribers in the United States. The comp

Trump administration throws wrench into $42 billion broadband rollout

The big picture: In a sudden policy shift, the Trump administration has thrown a wrench into the nation's largest broadband expansion effort, forcing states to overhaul plans to distribute $42 billion in federal funding aimed at closing the digital divide. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has put the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program on pause, unveiling sweeping new rules last week that require states to rethink how they allocate grants to Internet service providers. T