Local governments across the US have filed objections to an FCC proposal that would impose a 120-day deadline on broadband permit approvals and limit fees they can charge providers. The FCC argues that local rules delay deployment and inflate costs, a position backed by broadband providers, while cities counter that the plan would undermine public safety oversight and exceeds federal authority. Groups including the League of California Cities and Minnesota municipalities say Congress never granted the FCC this preemptive power.
news.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-24
The FCC is taking public comments on a rulemaking that would override state and local permitting rules for wired broadband deployment, including a 120-day permit deadline and limits on fees charged to providers. Groups representing mayors, counties and cities—including the US Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities—filed comments in September opposing the plan, calling local permitting essential for public safety rather than a deployment barrier. Broadband providers support the FCC's proposal.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-22
California faces pressure from the Trump administration, which is withholding Bipartisan Infrastructure Law broadband funds from states unless they agree not to enforce net neutrality rules. California and Illinois remain the only states yet to finalize their BEAD funding agreements, and California is weighing whether to accept the federal money and abandon enforcement of its own net neutrality law or fight the condition in court. Nearly 30 advocacy groups have urged state leaders to defend the law rather than trade it away for funding.
yro.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-18
As BT subsidiary Openreach replaces the UK's aging copper phone network with fiber broadband, the recovered copper is turning into a lucrative asset. Rising global copper demand, driven by AI data centers and electrification, has pushed the potential value of BT's recovered metal from roughly £1.5 billion to over £2 billion. Openreach has already recovered more than 22,000 metric tons of copper since 2023 and has a recycling deal with EMR that recently paid £99 million upfront.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-01
CNET's People's Picks community survey asked readers to rate their internet service providers on cost, speed, reliability and customer support. GFiber, formerly Google Fiber, emerged as the overall favorite with a 4.72 out of 5 satisfaction score, beating close competitors Verizon Fios and AT&T Fiber, while T-Mobile Home Internet topped the 5G category with a 4.20 satisfaction rating.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-01
The FCC's latest broadband deployment report, released August 14 under Chairman Brendan Carr, eliminates the previous gigabit-speed goal and rephrases its language to describe broadband as merely 'often' essential rather than fully essential to modern life. The report claims 96.9% of Americans now have access to 100Mbps/20Mbps speeds, though these figures rely on self-reported data from internet service providers.
cnet.com
· 2026-08-27
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