General

Broadband Bytes, October 2026 Issue 2

BROADBAND NEWS: 1. Updated, Comprehensive List: BEAD Provisional Awards. Updated: October 21st, at 7:45 a.m. Pacific time. Updated Comprehensive BEAD Awards.  BEAD Progress Dashboard2. Federal judge intervenes to stop deal involving Cable One. A planned transfer of some $480 million from Cable One to acquire the remaining stake of Mega Broadband, which operates as Vyve Broadband, is on hold after an order from a federal judge in New York. The judge signed the temporary restraining order in support of a motion by CoBank, one of Cable One’s lenders. CoBank is seeking to stop the deal, which they argue will irreparably compromise their ability to repay outstanding loans. The temporary restraining order was signed the day after the Wall Street Journal reported that Cable One was nearing a financing deal worth $1.25 billion. Fed judge intervenes to stop Cable One deal3. AT&T to sell AT&T Mexico to Grupo Televisa and Fintech Holdings. AT&T Inc. has reached an agreement to sell AT&T Mexico to Grupo Televisa and Fintech Holdings for $2 billion. Grupo Televisa and Fintech Holdings will each hold a 50% stake in AT&T Mexico following the deal.  In a press release, AT&T explained that the deal was part of its wider strategy to prioritize its fiber and wireless operations in the US, and better focus on its US operations. AT&T to sell AT&T Mexico  AT&T to sell AT&T Mexico Telecompetitor 4. NTIA Estimates Up to 1 million Locations May Still Need Broadband Funding. Up to 1 million locations could still need broadband service, according to Brooke Donilon, chief of staff of the NTIA, as the government prepares to identify areas that may qualify for additional funding. The NTIA is waiting for an updated FCC broadband coverage map before working with states to identify locations that remain unserved. “We're anticipating somewhere between 600,000 to a million. We've seen different numbers, but once we get the FCC's updated map, we will submit this to the states,” Donilon said. The cost of connecting those locations remains uncertain. Donilon said NTIA needs a clearer picture of the locations before determining the expense. NTIA Estimates up to 1M locations may still need funds5. Assessing Starlink’s limitations: Strand Consult. Strand Consult says that the necessity to replace fading satellites every five years is a little-publicized liability of SpaceX’s Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) direct-to-device service. While the consultancy said there is good reason for the excitement the LEO sector is generating, there are significant differences between promise and reality. In short, Starlink is unlikely to replace terrestrial networks.  Strand points out that each of Starlink’s roughly 12,000 operational satellites must be replaced approximately every five years. If they are left in space, their orbits degrade and the devices eventually burn up in the atmosphere. The need to renew equipment regularly is a permanent feature of how Starlink does business.  Assessing Starlink's limitations: Strand Consult6. Upcoming Free BICSI Webinar – The Future of Optical LAN. November 18, 2026 1-2pm EST7. Eight States sue AI giant OpenAI. At least eight states are suing artificial intelligence giant OpenAI, saying the company’s popular chatbot model violated state consumer protection laws by hurting children and deceiving adults in what prosecutors described as a reckless pursuit of profit. The company’s chatbot model, ChatGPT, is giving dangerous medical advice, encouraging paranoia and coaching people to hurt or kill themselves or others, the lawsuits said. The states that filed separate lawsuits in state courts are Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia. Eight States sue AI giant OpenAIFUNDING AWARDS, FIBER EXPANSIONS1. Kinetic grows Lexington fiber footprint by over 30%. More than 11,400 new fiber locations have been added to Kinetic’s footprint in the past year, a number the company says represents serious growth in their Lexington, Kentucky footprint. The company says their footprint in the community has grown 31%, with plans to keep adding new locations continuing into 2027. Kinetic, formerly Windstream Communications, now serves nearly 47,000 households in the community. Kinetic grows Lexington KY fiber footprint by over 30%2. Stimulus Broadband connects first fiber customers in Bonanza, Oregon. Stimulus Broadband, a division of Henderson, Nevada-based Stimulus Technologies, has connected its first fiber internet customer in Bonanza, Oregon. The connection marks the official start of fiber service in the community.  Stimulus Broadband’s fiber network in Bonanza now passes 250 homes and businesses. By the end of 2026, the company expects to make fiber available to several thousand additional locations across Indian Springs, Goodsprings, and Sandy Valley, Nevada, with continued fiber expansion planned in southern Oregon in the coming years. Stimulus Broadband Fiber now in Bonanza OR3. Wecom Fiber completes $45-million rural Arizona fiber build. Wecom Fiber has completed its Arizona Broadband Development Grant project, a multi-year fiber build spanning Mohave and La Paz counties.  The network will serve 15,000 homes and businesses along with 124 community anchor institutions, including schools, libraries and public safety agencies. The project began in November 2023, backed by a $10 million state grant. Wecom invested another $35 million, bringing the total to $45 million. Wecom Fiber completes $45M rural AZ fiber build4. Vero Fiber begins 92-mile Calif. fiber build. Vero Fiber has begun construction of a new fiber network in El Centro, California, that will offer FTTH internet service to residents, businesses and schools. The project is a 92-mile system that will extend along residential streets through developed areas of the city. About 71 miles will consist of new strand and fiber attached aerially to existing utility poles, and roughly 21 miles will consist of new underground conduit and fiber. Vero will build the network in set zones across the city, each with roughly 300 homes. Vero Fiber begins 92-mile Calif fiber build5. Bain Capital and partners complete investment in Eaton Fiber, acquisition of Ripple Fiber. Bain Capital and Tillman Global Holdings announced the completion of their previously announced $1.5 billion investment in Eaton Fiber, an affiliate of Tillman, and Eaton Fiber’s acquisition of Ripple Fiber. The closing builds on Verizon and Eaton Fiber’s commercial partnership, wherein Eaton Fiber funds, builds, maintains and operates the network, while Verizon serves as the exclusive retail provider of residential and small business fiber services. Additionally, Verizon has acquired the majority of Ripple Fiber’s existing customers, who will transition to Verizon’s fiber broadband platform.  Bain Capital and partners complete investment in Eaton and Ripple Fiber6. New Mexico gets rolling with first signed BEAD agreement. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative has become the first ISP in New Mexico to sign a BEAD agreement with the state.  Nearly 4,000 locations will eventually gain access to fiber broadband thanks to the project. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative will contribute $12 million in matching funds. The grant amount totals $26,988,097 and the project will build 931 miles of aerial fiber and 104 miles of buried fiber. Kit Carson Electric Co-Op first NM signed BEAD agreement7. Wire 3 begins construction in Easley, South Carolina. Wire 3, a 100% fiber internet provider, announced that construction is underway in Easley, SC, marking another step in the company’s South Carolina expansion. Powered by a fully funded $19 million investment, the Easley expansion will extend Wire 3’s fiber internet service to more than 18,000 homes and businesses.  With construction underway, the Daytona Beach Florida based Wire 3 is accelerating its initial $147 million investment in SC. Wire 3 Fiber Construction Easley SC8. Tillman Fiber invests $70M to expand fiber across Florida’s Treasure Coast. Tillman Fiber announced a $70M investment to expand its fiber network across Florida’s Treasure Coast, bringing new fiber broadband to communities throughout St. Lucie, Martin, and Indian River counties.  Construction is underway in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach, with additional projects planned in Sebastian.  Tillman is teaming up with T-Mobile Fiber as the residential internet provider to connect homes with fiber internet across the Treasure Coast as partof its continued expansion in Florida and beyond. Tillman Fiber invests $70M to expand fiber across Florida's Treasure Coast9. ISP News Roundup 10-22-2026. Broadband Communities ISP News Roundup 10-22-26   Broadband Bytes is a weekly collection of broadband news highlights from leading industry resourcescompiled by David Levine, RCDD. David is a graduate of Northern Illinois Universityand a 35-year industry veteran in fiber and copper solutions. 

Nov 02, 2026

General

Broadband Bytes, October 2026 Issue 1

BROADBAND NEWS: 1. Updated, Comprehensive List: BEAD Provisional Awards. Updated: September 9, at 7:45 a.m. Pacific time. Updated Comprehensive BEAD Awards BEAD Progress Dashboard2. Which fiber providers are ripe for mergers and acquisitions? Oookla Reports: A new analysis from Ookla used Speedtest data to identify U.S. fiber providers that share characteristics common among companies involved in fiber mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The analysis singled out seven providers: Allo Fiber, Gateway Fiber, LiveOak Fiber, Wire 3, Ripple Fiber, Intrepid Fiber, and Ezee Fiber. Ookla emphasized that the seven fiber companies were not predicted buyers or targets. Instead, they met several criteria associated with fiber transactions, including a presence in at least eight markets, strong network expansion, relatively affluent markets, and a meaningful number of markets where they were the only fiber provider. Ookla noted that it has been a busy period for fiber deals. S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan estimated that about $45.5 billion was spent on major fiber transactions between early 2024 and mid-2025, double the amount spent in the previous three years. Which fiber providers are ripe for merger and aquisition?3. AT&T announces new JV to accelerate US fiber adoption. AT&T, Global Infrastructure Partners, and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board have agreed to form a U.S. fiber joint venture that aims to accelerate the expansion of fiber internet across America. AT&T says the initiative will help support their plan to reach more than 60 million fiber locations by the end of 2030. The joint venture will combine Forged Fiber 37 — a newly created AT&T subsidiary holding network assets, operations, and the fiber build engine recently acquired from Lumen — with Gigapower, which is AT&T’s existing wholesale fiber joint venture with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). The new entity will operate as a commercial open access wholesale fiber company, according to AT&T, which will hold a 50% ownership stake in the joint venture. AT&T new JV to accelerate US fiber adoption4. Zayo: AI pushes fiber demand into a new phase. AI infrastructure is changing the scale and distribution of fiber demand, with larger requirements emerging between compute clusters, data centers, and the broader infrastructure supporting AI workloads, according to Zayo chief network officer Troy Lupe. The change is already visible in demand for long-haul and dark fiber. According to Zayo’s 2026 Bandwidth Report, long-haul dark fiber demand doubled between 2024 and 2025, while demand for dark fiber was up to 20x higher in some top AI-driven metro markets. “What is different this time is that demand is tied to real AI deployments, established customers and multi-year commitments, and it is concentrated in specific markets where new capacity is actually needed,” he said. “This is not a speculative bandwidth cycle. It is being driven by real compute, real workloads, and real infrastructure requirements.”  Zayo-AI pushes fiber demand into a new phase5. What it Would Cost Us if the FCC Ends the E-Rate. A new study finds that removing roughly $2.6 billion in annual E-Rate support would reduce annual real GDP by about $4.2 billion, which translates to about $1.60 in lost economic activity for every $1 of E-Rate support removed.  The study concludes that E-Rate addresses the connectivity piece of a broader underinvestment problem in education. Ending the program without an offsetting source of education funding would tighten school budgets, force harder tradeoffs between connectivity and other services, and lead to significant economic loss. What it Would Cost if the FCC Ends E-Rate6. BEAD buried fiber could add 8.1M utility locates. Buried fiber funded through the BEAD program could generate about 1.4 million 811 locate tickets and roughly 8.1 million individual utility notifications, according to an analysis from the Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute (ACLP).  The report found that BEAD projects will bury 271,782 miles of fiber, representing 57.5% of all BEAD fiber miles. Before digging, broadband providers must file a locate request with their state’s one-call center, which then notifies electric, gas, water, and other utilities so they can mark their lines. The report highlights potential challenges, including incomplete records of underground facilities in rural areas and inexperienced providers. Bead buried fiber could add 8.1M utility locates7. Willmar, Minnesota’s Open Access Fiber Network to go live this year. Willmar, Minnesota officials say they’re making steady progress on construction of the city’s planned $24.5 million open access fiber network, with the first residential and business customers slated to come online sometime later this year.  Dubbed Willmar Connect, construction of the city-owned fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network broke ground in May 2026. Currently, three providers have signed agreements with the city to provide service on the network. Those providers are Zuma Internet, Broadband MN, and Intellipop. Willmar MN Open Access NetworkFUNDING AWARDS, FIBER EXPANSIONS1. Lyte Fiber completes 36-mile fiber network Pittsburg, TX. The city of Pittsburg, Texas and Lyte Fiber have completed a multi-million-dollar, 36-mile fiber-optic network delivering multi-gigabit internet to nearly 2,200 local homes and businesses. The project was privately funded by Texas-based Lyte Fiber. Lyte Fiber completes 36 mile fiber network Pittsburg TX2. Rightfiber completes acquisition of Fastwyre. Rightfiber has finalized its purchase of American Broadband Holding Company’s Nebraska assets, operating as Fastwyre Broadband. The asset acquisition broadens Rightfiber’s regional network into 26 Nebraska communities.  Rightfiber, originally Great Plains Communications, is backed by private equity firm Grain Management. This operational expansion follows the combination of Great Plains Communications and Ritter Communications under the unified Rightfiber brand. The newly added infrastructure integrates former Fastwyre accounts into a platform spanning 20 states, backed by more than 28,000 fiber route miles and over 300,000 passings. Across its residential, commercial enterprise, data center, and wholesale divisions, Rightfiber serves over 400 communities. Rightfiber completes acquisition of Fastwyre3. Lumos acquires ALLO fiber network in Joplin, Missouri Lumos Fiber a 100% Fiber Optic Internet provider and network infrastructure developer, has completed the acquisition of the fiber network built and operated by ALLO Fiber in Joplin, Missouri. Lumos will contact customers directly with additional information before their service transitions to Lumos near the end of 2026. Lumos acquires ALLO fiber network in Joplin, MO4. Washington State Selects Seven Partners In $165 Million Fiber Expansion. The Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) has signed contracts with seven broadband providers, tribes, and municipalities to begin work on an Internet expansion plan that should deliver $165 million in investment across nearly a dozen rural Washington counties and Tribal territories. Broadlinc, Concept Communications, Declaration Networks Group, Hood Canal Communications, Kitsap Public Utilities District (PUD), Lummi Indian Business Council, and the Spokane Indian Tribe will leverage a combination of $165 million in federal, state, and private funds to connect an estimated 28,452 households to the Internet. WA selects 7 partners in $165M fiber expansion5. Vero Fiber and MontanaSky complete merger. Vero Broadband, doing business as Vero Fiber, announced the successful completion of its merger with Montana Sky Networks Incorporated, doing business as MontanaSky. (As initially reported in August edition of Broadband Bytes.) The completed merger further strengthens Vero Fiber’s presence in Northwest Montana and builds on the company’s ongoing investments in the region. Vero Fiber and MontananSky complete merger6. Shentel Completes Fiber-to-the-Home Upgrade in Buchanan, Virginia. Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) announced the completion of technology upgrades in Buchanan, Virginia, bringing FTTH service to the community. Shentel’s 100% fiber-optic network is now available to approximately 1,000 homes and businesses in Buchanan and Botetourt County. Shentel Completes FTTH Upgrade in VA7.  ISP News Roundup 10-13-2026. Broadband Communities ISP News Roundup 10-13-26    Broadband Bytes is a weekly collection of broadband news highlights from leading industry resourcescompiled by David Levine, RCDD. David is a graduate of Northern Illinois Universityand a 35-year industry veteran in fiber and copper solutions. 

Nov 02, 2026

General

Broadband Bytes, September 2026 Issue 2

BROADBAND NEWS: 1. Updated, Comprehensive List: BEAD Provisional Awards. Updated: September 9, at 7:45 a.m. Pacific time. Updated Comprehensive BEAD Awards.  BEAD Progress Dashboard2. Broadband providers invested $92.6B in 2025: Capex report.  America’s broadband providers put $92.6 billion into U.S. communications infrastructure in 2025 — a 3.4% increase over the prior year — according to the 2025 Broadband Capex Report, released this week by USTelecom–The Broadband Association. The association said it was the third-highest annual total in more than two decades.  Cumulative industry investment has approached $2.3 trillion since 1996, which characterized the 2020 through 2025 stretch as the highest sustained investment era it has tracked, averaging $90.8 billion per year. Broadband providers invested $92B in 20253. Fiber has lower lifecycle carbon than cable and fixed wireless. FTTH networks generated less carbon than cable and fixed wireless alternatives across their full lifecycle, according to a recent white paper by the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA).  In the suburban comparison, the FBA said manufacturing components for a fiber network produced about 60% less embodied carbon than a comparable cable network, while installation carbon was 7% lower. The group reported that the operator’s access network used up to 96% less electricity with fiber, and that home equipment consumed up to 17% less than a cable modem.  For rural deployments, the association found that fiber’s installation footprint was 31% lower than FWA, access network electricity use was up to 98% lower, and home equipment used up to 70% less power. Fiber Study shows lower lifecycle carbon4. Severed fiber line causes major flight delays in Northeast. Hundreds of flights in the Northeastern United States were cancelled Monday 9/21 after a fiber-optic cable in New Jersey was accidentally severed during construction. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said flights were starting to resume at some airports as of Monday afternoon, hours after the incident first grabbed headlines. “This incident underscores the need for additional funding to modernize aging infrastructure and prevent disruptions like this in the future,” Duffy said on X.  Amtrak’s crew accidentally cut into a fiber line during construction. The incident caused a telecom outage and forced the FAA to pause flights in the Northeast.  Severed fiber line causes major flight delays5. Colorado freezes BEAD payment of more than $100M to Maverix Broadband. The Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) has outlined the steps it has and will take and other details about the alleged misuse of state and federal grants in the BEAD program by Maverix Broadband. Maverix Broadband, which now is in receivership, was awarded $103M in Colorado’s final BEAD proposal for fiber to 10,232 locations in rural areas of the state. The CBO says that it acted after receiving two whistleblower complaints in late May. Initial steps were to institute enhanced oversight of the firm, freeze payments, launch an inquiry, move to terminate six grants, and rescind more than $100 million in provisionally-awarded BEAD grants.  The investigation identified “financial mismanagement and misuse of grant funds.” CO freezes BEAD payments >$100M to Maverix Broadband6. Maverix Broadband disputes BEAD misuse allegations. Maverix Broadband, a Colorado broadband provider accused by state officials of misusing millions in grant funding defended itself, arguing it has submitted reams of paperwork documenting how the money was spent. Maverix won $103 million in BEAD funding to cover 10,232 locations across the state per the state’s final proposal. The awards represent nearly a quarter of the $420.6 million in total BEAD funding allocated by the state of Colorado. The Colorado Sun’s attempts to verify Maverix’s invoices with vendors named in the paperwork were unsuccessful. Maverix disputes BEAD misue allegationsFUNDING AWARDS, FIBER EXPANSIONS1. LiveOak Fiber expansion Bluffton, SC. LiveOak Fiber, a regional all-fiber internet service provider, announced the start of construction on its network in Bluffton, SC. The build extends LiveOak’s Lowcountry network north from Savannah, adding more than 10,000 homes and businesses, with first customers expected online in early 2027.  Future phases are planned for Hardeeville and neighboring communities.          LiveOak Fiber expansion Bluffton SC2. Armstrong $100M BEAD-public-private partnership. Through the federal BEAD program, West Virginia’s Line Extension Advancement and Development (LEAD) Program, and FCC’s Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Enhanced ACAM) Program, Armstrong is deploying more than 500 miles of fiber infrastructure that both expands broadband access to over 5,000 unserved locations and sustains reliable service for approximately 10,000 rural homes and small businesses. The combined effort represents more than $100 million in both public and private investment in the future of West Virginia. Armstrong $100M BEAD-public-private partnership3. C Spire will build a high-capacity Mississippi to Memphis fiber route. C Spire announced plans to expand its digital infrastructure in Mississippi with a new 200-mile, fiber corridor connecting Jackson to Olive Branch. C Spire said the route connects Mississippi’s capital with the greater Memphis regional hub—a major center for logistics and data center growth. C Spire to build fiber route MS to Memphis4. Empire Fiber new service in Berwick, Pennsylvania. Empire Fiber Internet announced the launch of its 100% fiber network in Berwick, PA, made possible by a $1.4M local investment. The new network is now available to more than 2,800 homes and businesses, with service ready for installation. Empire Fiber new service Berwick PA5. Community-owned Gorgeous Broadband launches in The Dalles, OR. A new community-owned broadband provider now serves The Dalles, Oregon, offering residential fiber service over a network built and owned by QLife Network.  QLife, an intergovernmental agency formed by the city of The Dalles, Wasco County, and Northern Wasco County People’s Utility District, has historically served large businesses and institutions such as schools and medical facilities. QLife is expanding its fiber footprint to reach an additional 2,750 households within the city. Gorgeous Broadband will begin serving those homes by the end of the year and plans to expand further. Georgeous Broadband Launches in OR6. TDS Telecom announces expansion to several Wisconsin communities. TDS Telecom, headquartered in Wisconsin since 1969, is expanding service across its home state, bringing its high-speed fiber network to additional communities throughout the Badger State.  The company is announcing new fiber projects in development across Wisconsin including Beaver Dam, Ripon, New London, Hortonville, Brillion, Colby, and Abbotsford, which will serve a total of over 25,000 homes and businesses. TDS Telecom Wisconsin Expansion7. Ziply builds fiber ring for data centers in Quincy, Washington. Ziply Fiber has announced the completion of a fiber ring in Quincy, Washington, to connect multiple data centers.  Chris Gellos, general manager of Ziply’s commercial business, said that the Quincy campus includes data centers owned by the likes of Microsoft, Sabey, NTT, CyrusOne and H5.  Ziply is laying 874 fiber strands for the Quincy ring. Ziply builds fiber ring for DCs in WA8. ISP News Roundup 09-25-2026. Broadband Communities ISP News Roundup 9-25-26    Broadband Bytes is a weekly collection of broadband news highlights from leading industry resourcescompiled by David Levine, RCDD. David is a graduate of Northern Illinois Universityand a 35-year industry veteran in fiber and copper solutions. 

Oct 02, 2026

General

Broadband Bytes, September 2026 Issue 1

BROADBAND NEWS: 1. Updated, Comprehensive List: BEAD Provisional Awards. Updated: September 9, at 7:45 a.m. Pacific time. Updated Comprehensive BEAD Awards.  BEAD Progress Dashboard2. BroadbandUSA-NTIA August Monthly Newsletter  BroadbandUSA-NTIA August Monthly Newsletter3. NTIA opens new round of BEAD funding. The NTIA announced a new round of BEAD program funding that will let states and territories direct a portion of their program savings toward unserved locations that surfaced after their final deployment plans were submitted. The money can go to locations that weren’t included in the FCC broadband map, along with sites that became eligible because of defaults or changes in earlier federal and state broadband programs. Funding for the round comes from what the NTIA described as $21 billion in savings generated by the Commerce Department’s “Benefit of the Bargain” reforms to the program. NTIA opens new round of BEAD funding for unserved locations4. Ookla Looks at FWA Broadband. Is it meeting broadband standards? Ookla published an article that looked at speed test and coverage characteristics of FWA cellular broadband provided by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.  An interesting finding was that less than 40% of FWS speed tests in 48 states are exceeding the FCC’s definition of broadband at 100/20 Mbps. This may explain why the FCC is not willing to consider increasing the definition of broadband above 100/20 Mbps, since that might declare that FWA, satellite service, and some WISPs are not really broadband per the FCC definition. Ookla looks at FWA broadband-Is it meeting broadband standards?5. Digital divide shrinking, no thanks to BEAD: Report. Nearly five years after Congress allocated funding for the BEAD program, 79% of locations that had been identified as needing broadband internet are covered. It sounds rosy, but BEAD hasn’t been responsible for any of it. That’s according to a new report from The Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute (ACLP) at New York Law School. The count of eligible locations has fallen from about 11.9 million to about 3.7 million. That’s a decline of 69%, based on the methodology the group laid out in its July 2025 report about shrinking the digital divide. Digital divide shrinkingFUNDING AWARDS, FIBER EXPANSIONS1. Empire Fiber Expansion Ithaca, NY. Empire Fiber Internet, a 100% fiber ISP serving communities across New York and Pennsylvania, announced the expansion of its fiber network in Ithaca, NY, making service available to more than 700 additional homes and businesses. The expansion builds on Empire Fiber Internet’s growing presence in Ithaca, bringing the number of homes and businesses passed to more than 5,400. Empire Fiber Expansion Ithaca NY2. Gateway Fiber expands to Milwaukee, WI. Gateway Fiber, a leading fiber internet service provider, is preparing to bring its fiber services to Milwaukee. Gateway Fiber Expansion Milwaukee WI3. Midwest Fiber Networks, FiberPath partner on 1,200-mile corridor. Midwest Fiber Networks (MWFN) and Midwest FiberPath, along with partner Hawkeye Land Co., announced an agreement to develop and commercialize roughly 1,200 miles of fiber corridors connecting major Midwest markets, including Chicago, Omaha, Minneapolis, and Kansas City. Under the arrangement, MWFN will serve as the primary provider supporting commercialization and delivery of connectivity services across Hawkeye’s right-of-way corridor. MWFN and FiberPath Partner on 1200 mile corridor 4. TDS acquires Granite State Communications. TDS Telecommunications completed the purchase of Granite State Communications' fiber optic and voice operations. The deal adds over 11,000 service addresses to TDS' New Hampshire fiber footprint. TDS acquires Granite State Communications5. Douglas Fast Net confirms $42M BEAD award. Douglas Fast Net (DFN) has been awarded a $31.576M contract through Oregon’s BEAD Program to expand fiber internet access to 4,490 additional homes across rural communities in Douglas, Coos and Lane counties. Combined with $10.418M in matching funds contributed by DFN, the project represents a total investment of more than $42M in fiber infrastructure across the region.  DFN is a 100% Oregon-owned and operated internet provider and a wholly owned cooperative subsidiary of Douglas Electric Cooperative. Douglas Fast Net confirms $42M BEAD Award, Oregon6. Louisiana to complete BEAD construction for ~15K locations by early 2027. The Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity (ConnectLA) announced that construction for nearly 15,000 broadband serviceable locations are projected to finish by the end of the first quarter of 2027. To reach those locations, providers are deploying close to 1,800 miles of fiber across the state. Seven internet service providers are handling the connections in this phase of work. Swyft Fiber has the largest assignment at 5,830 locations across five parishes, followed by REV at 2,434 locations and Cajun Broadband at 2,221. Nextlink Internet, Pelican Broadband, Skyrider Communications and Star-Direct Communications are covering the remaining locations. Louisiana to complete Bead construction by early 20277. Clearwave and Visionary Broadband agree to join forces. Independent fiber providers Clearwave and Visionary Broadband have signed an agreement to merge, providing a combined fiber platform that spans 17 states and reaches roughly 700,000 residential and commercial locations. Clearwave, which operates under both the Clearwave Fiber and Point Broadband brands across the Southeast and Midwest, will lead the combined entity. Founded in 1994, Visionary Broadband brings a presence in challenging rural terrain across Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Washington.  The transaction is backed by private equity firms GTCR and Berkshire Partners, both existing investors in the platforms. Clearwave and Visionary Broadband to merge8. ISP News Roundup 09-10-2026.  Broadband Communities ISP News Roundup 9-10-26    Broadband Bytes is a weekly collection of broadband news highlights from leading industry resourcescompiled by David Levine, RCDD. David is a graduate of Northern Illinois Universityand a 35-year industry veteran in fiber and copper solutions. 

Oct 02, 2026

General

Broadband Bytes, August 2026 Issue 2

BROADBAND NEWS:1. Updated, Comprehensive List: BEAD Provisional Awards. Updated: August 25, 2026 11:30am Pacific time. Updated Comprehensive BEAD Awards.  BEAD Progress Dashboard2. Texas pauses BEAD disbursements after allegations it favored Starlink. The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) has been ordered to pause all BEAD awards, following allegations that the BDO favored SpaceX’s Starlink bids and that the office has not been transparent in its processes. There have been rumblings out of Texas for weeks now, with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle complaining that the BDO showed favoritism toward Starlink, whose parent company SpaceX happens to be headquartered in Texas. Lawmakers called for an audit of the BDO over concerns about the BEAD award process. This has resulted in the Comptroller’s pause on BEAD awards while the audit is being conducted. TX pauses BEAD awards after allegations it favored Starlink3. Change of Railroad Rights-of-way? The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals made a recent ruling that could end up eliminating one of the biggest rights-of-way issues that slow down fiber construction projects. In the case of CSX Transportation v. Zayo Group, LLC, the court ruled that the easement that CSX owns for its railroad tracks only applies to the surface of the Earth and that the railroad right-of-way does not extend either above or below the tracks. The court said specifically that the installation of underground fiber lines or overhead fiber lines that are tall enough not to interfere with trains does not constitute “continuous trespass”. This ruling means that Zayo is free to place the fiber without the railroad company’s permission and that Zayo doesn’t have to pay any fees for the rights-of-way. It’s likely that this ruling will be appealed. Change for Railroad Rights-of-way?4. Are Digital Equity Grants Back? There seems to be a chance that the Digital Equity Competitive Grant (DECG) Program is back in play. In a status report filed by the Department of Commerce in the lawsuit where NDIA filed to reinstate the grant program, the government said it is targeting a December 2026 opening date for applications for the DECG Program. Like everything associated with BEAD and the DECG programs, nothing is final until it is put in place. The DECG Program will be administered and the grants awarded directly by NTIA. The budget for this grant program is $1.25 billion, which was set by legislation to be $250 million per year for the years 2022 through 2026. Are Digital Equity Grants Back5. Charter closes landmark acquisition of Cox. Charter Communications has closed its dual acquisition of Cox Communications and Liberty Broadband, creating a cable operator spanning 45 states.  Charter will rename its parent company to Cox Communications within a year while keeping its consumer products under the Spectrum banner. On the commercial front, Spectrum Business will absorb Cox Business and its enterprise fiber arms Segra and RapidScale. At the consumer layer, Spectrum is immediately offering legacy Cox broadband subscribers a free year of Spectrum Mobile to aggressively drive its wireless convergence playbook. Charter closes landmark acquisition of Cox  Charter and Cox complete merger-Telecompetitor6. NTIA approves final BEAD program proposal. The NTIA announced that it has approved Illinois’ BEAD final proposal. NTIA has now approved the BEAD final proposals of all 56 states and territories. The state of Illinois received a total BEAD allocation of slightly more than $1 billion. Its final proposal will result in total deployment costs of $831 million, covering 142,546 eligible broadband locations. Fiber will account for 68.1% of locations; fixed wireless access will account for 23.6%; and low-Earth-orbit satellite will get 8.1% of locations. NTIA approves final BEAD program proposal7. Meta reaches landmark $18B settlement with states in trial over teen social media addiction. 8/26/26. Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms as part of a landmark legal settlement that ended a trial over teen social media addiction and settled claims filed by nearly every state. If approved by the court, the deal will stop an avalanche of litigation by states against Meta, although the company still faces lawsuits from individuals and school districts throughout the U.S. For the states, the settlement delivers money for mental-health programs for kids, including after-school or summer activities and digital literacy counselors. Meta reaches $18B settlement with states8. UCL Swift Launches SWIFT NID. UCL Swift announced the introduction of SWIFT NID, a wall-mounted network interface device (NID) designed to simplify fiber installation at residential and small-office/home-office (SOHO) locations while providing a clearly defined demarcation point between the service provider network and customer premises equipment (CPE). The SWIFT NID is available in two configurations: Standard and Quick Reel, giving network operators flexibility to select the installation approach best suited to their deployment. UCL Swift Launches SWIFT NID   UCL SWIFT NIDFUNDING AWARDS, FIBER EXPANSIONS1. Virginia broadband project is back on track as ZiTEL steps in. Moneta, Virginia-based internet provider ZiTEL has signed an agreement to take over a major regional broadband expansion across Franklin, Henry, and Patrick counties in Virginia. ZiTEL will complete the remaining scope of the West Broadband Project, which aims to bring 14,161 fiber internet connections to unserved areas by the end of 2027. ZiTEL replaces original provider RiverStreet Networks, which was unable to finish the buildout after failing to secure remaining capital. VA broadband project back on track with ZiTEL2. IdeaTek to acquire Wave Wireless. Wave Wireless is becoming part of IdeaTek, according to an announcement on the Wave Wireless website. IdeaTek will consider extending fiber service to areas now served by Wave Wireless’s fixed wireless network while continuing coverage for existing customers.  A little more than a year ago, Oak Hill Capital and Pamlico Capital announced investments in IdeaTek and Socket Telecom, service providers headquartered in Kansas and Missouri, respectively, and the combination of the two companies into a single entity. At the time, the goal was for the combined company to pass more than 500,000 homes in the Midwest by 2028. IdeaTek to acquire Wave Wireless3. Wire 3 $40M expansion to Athens, Georgia. Wire 3, a 100% fiber internet provider, announced its continued expansion across Georgia with plans to bring its fiber network to Athens. Through a $40 million investment, Wire 3’s expansion will reach more than 39,000 homes and businesses. Construction is anticipated to begin this fall. Wire 3 $40M expansion to Athens, GA4. Fiber construction begins on New Mexico’s Laguna Pueblo. Tribal members on the Laguna Pueblo will soon have access to high-speed internet after a broadband fiber infrastructure project — paid for by two state broadband office grants and the Pueblo — began construction on July 29. More than 100 miles of fiber is being installed to homes, businesses and Tribal community institutions on the Pueblo in Cibola County from broadband grants totaling $13.9M.  The Pueblo of Laguna has also contributed to these projects with its own cash match totaling $12.1M for a total project budget of $26M.  The Pueblo of Laguna Council has determined that one of its own entities, K’awaika Hanu Internet, the current wireless ISP, will become the FTTP internet service provider for the Pueblo’s fiber network once operational. Fiber construction begins on NM Laguna Pueblo5. Coos-Curry Electric Co-op Completes Biggest Fiber Expansion in History. Oregon’s Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative  and its subsidiary Beacon Broadband say they have completed the biggest fiber expansion project in the cooperative’s history expanding Internet access to thousands of previously unserved rural households in the Southern part of Oregon. The six-year, $60 million project was the largest infrastructure investment in the cooperative's 88-year history. 7,000 of the co-op’s 14,000 electrical customers are now subscribed to broadband service after the deployment of 14,000 miles of fiber optic lines. Coos-Curry Electric Co-op Fiber Expansion6. Vero Broadband to acquire MontanaSky. In a deal that impacts broadband in northwest Montana, Vero Fiber will acquire Montana Sky Networks.  MontanaSky, founded 30 years ago, has offices in Kalispell and Libby, Montana. Vero Broadband LLC is a subsidiary of VFN Holdings, which specializes in fiber-to-the-premises. Before the acquisition of MontanaSky, Vero Broadband expanded into Montana in March 2025 with the acquisition of Montana Digital, which served the Montana communities of Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish. Vero Fiber to acquire MontanaSky7. Pilot Fiber completes acquisition of Extenet Systems’ enterprise fiber business. Pilot Fiber, an enterprise connectivity provider in the New York metro area, has acquired the enterprise fiber business of Extenet Systems. The acquired network, including the former Hudson Fiber Network and Axiom Fiber Network assets, now operates under Pilot’s ownership.  The transaction extends Pilot’s owned fiber network into New Jersey and adds more than 20 data centers to its footprint. About 200 additional enterprise, carrier, and institutional customers across financial services, healthcare, media, and higher education will also transition onto Pilot’s network. Pilot Fiber acquires Extenet Sytstems' enterprise fiber business8. Star Communications NC Fiber Expansion. Star Communications, announced the completion of its USDA ReConnect grant-funded FTTH expansion project, bringing high-speed broadband service to underserved communities in Bladen and Sampson counties.  Funded through a $23.7 million ReConnect grant from the USDA, along with a $7.9 million investment from Star Communications, the project significantly expanded fiber-optic infrastructure into areas that previously lacked access to affordable, high-quality broadband service. The project constructed approximately 691 miles of fiber-optic infrastructure and made fiber broadband available to 8,749 households, 19 businesses, 10 educational facilities, and three critical community centers. Star Communications NC Fiber Expansion9. ISP News Roundup 08-26-2026. Broadband Communities ISP News Roundup 8-26-26    Broadband Bytes is a weekly collection of broadband news highlights from leading industry resourcescompiled by David Levine, RCDD. David is a graduate of Northern Illinois Universityand a 35-year industry veteran in fiber and copper solutions. 

Aug 29, 2026

General

Broadband Bytes, August 2026 Issue 1

BROADBAND NEWS: 1. Updated, Comprehensive List: BEAD Provisional Awards. Updated: July 17, 2026 2:00pm Pacific time. California’s final BEAD proposal was finally approved by the NTIA. The state became the 49th to have its final BEAD proposal approved, and now only Illinois remains. Updated Comprehensive BEAD Awards.  BEAD Progress Dashboard2. The digital divide lingers, especially in the western states. A new assessment of the nation’s broadband profile from Compare Internet found that the digital divide between rural and urban areas is highest in Idaho, with a 53.9% gap. It is followed by New Mexico (a 48.8-point gap), Wyoming (a 47.5%-point gap), Colorado (a 45.1%-point gap) and California (a 44.3%-point gap). The analysis made an important methodological decision by counting only fiber, cable, and DSL in its assessment. The rationale is that including wireless pushes virtually every state to 99% availability because these providers claim near ubiquity. The report aims to illustrate the real-world differences. Digital divide liners, especially in western states3. Upcoming NTIA Webinar: Permitting That Delivers August 26, 2026 3:00pm EST. Permitting That Delivers: Practical Tools & Strategies for Broadband Buildouts. NTIA will host a webinar highlighting the importance of taking an informed, proactive approach to permitting across a range of diverse broadband projects. NTIA Webinar Permitting That Delivers4. Fiber broadband spurs consumer AI usage. People who have a fiber broadband connection are doing more with AI than people who don’t have a fiber connection, according to new research from Recon Analytics, which surveys 6,000 people per week about AI. People who have fiber broadband typically ask 28.5 questions per AI session. But the number of questions goes down with the quality of their connection. For instance, fiber sessions are 50% more intensive than cable network sessions. Fiber broadband spurs consumer AI usage5. White House Nominates Danielle Thumann for FCC Spot. The short-staffed FCC could soon be getting a new commissioner after President Trump nominated lawyer Danielle Thumann to fill one of two empty seats at the agency. Thumann has already done two stints at the FCC, serving as a legal advisor to then-Commissioner Brendan Carr from 2021 to 2023 before returning to the same role in 2024. She was promoted to senior counsel for now Chairman Carr in January 2025. In between her roles at the FCC, Thumann worked as a senior government relations attorney at Crown Castle. Thumann could give the agency a stronger GOP tilt as it weighs key telecom and media issues. WH Nominates Danielle Thumann For FCC Spot6. Foreign Ownership of ISPs. The FCC’s Wireless Competition Bureau has approved the transfer of WideOpenWest to Japan’s Softbank Group. WideOpenWest is the eighth-largest cable company, which operates under the brand name of WOW! The proposed transaction has Softbank buying the DigitalBridge Group, which is WOW!’s majority owner.  There has been a statutory limit on foreign ownership in U.S. corporations that hold common carrier status or hold broadcast licenses that was created by the Telecommunications Act of 1934. However, the FCC has the ability to waive the 25% limit if it thinks the foreign ownership is in the public interest. Foreign Ownership of ISPs7. The Farm Bill Fight That Will Shape Rural Broadband. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, held a markup hearing on his version of the Farm Bill on August 6. It didn’t go very well. The long-delayed meeting was unable to move the bill forward.  Inside the Farm Bill’s rural development title is a provision that governs the future of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect broadband program. ReConnect has provided more than $4.4 billion in loans and grants for rural broadband deployment since 2018, reaching some of America’s most remote and expensive-to-serve communities. As Congress debates how to strengthen ReConnect, the program faces pressure. Farm Bill Fight Will Shape Rural Broadband8. Zayo teams with NVIDIA on 8,000-mile AI fiber expansion. Zayo announced a major network expansion in collaboration with NVIDIA to address growing bandwidth bottlenecks facing artificial intelligence in North America. The company said they plan to construct more than 8,000 miles of new long-haul fiber across six new corridors while boosting capacity in 10 existing markets.  The initiative is part of a 15,000-route-mile expansion Zayo has undertaken over the past 18 months, coming on the heels of its acquisition of Crown Castle’s Fiber Solutions business. Zayo Teams With  NVIDIA on 8000 mile AI Fiber ExpansionFUNDING AWARDS, FIBER EXPANSIONS1. Swyft Fiber acquires portions of Fastwyre’s fiber network in three southern states. Swyft Fiber, a Louisiana-based provider, has purchased Fastwyre Broadband’s fiber network serving customers in parts of Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. The acquired systems made up Fastwyre’s South Central FTTH network, aligning with Swyft Fiber’s existing broadband offerings. The Fastwyre systems in Texas and Alabama sit outside the states Swyft Fiber currently services, making the purchase an expansion into new territory. Swyft Fiber acquires portions of Fastwire's fiber network2. Sparklight invests more than $140M in Treasure Valley, Idaho network. Sparklight has invested more than $140 million over the past three years to expand and enhance its fiber-rich network in Boise, Caldwell, Eagle, Meridian, Nampa, Star and surrounding areas. With a fiber-rich network spanning more than 31,000 route miles, Sparklight’s investments help create the infrastructure needed to support emerging technologies and increasing digital demands. Sparklight invests over $140M in ID network3. United Communications celebrates launch of Huntsville, Alabama service. United Communications has joined the Huntsville business community. The regional fiber internet provider has a rich history in southern Middle Tennessee, dating back nearly 80 years. United serves customers across Middle Tennessee—including Giles, Lincoln, and Franklin counties near the Alabama state line. Locally owned and operated since 1947, United reaches over 130,000 homes, and businesses. United Communications launches new service Huntsville AL4. CentraCom acquires Gunnison Telephone Company UT. CentraCom has acquired Gunnison Telephone Company. CentraCom is the operating name of Central Utah Telephone Inc., and was the state’s first independent rural telephone company. The company expanded from basic telephone service and now offers a statewide fiber network to customers across Utah. CentraCom was one of Utah’s provisional BEAD award winners, receiving more than $1.69 million. CentraCom acquires Gunnison Telephone UT5. Hawaii begins $149.5 million broadband expansion. The Office of the Governor and the University of Hawaii announced that $149.5 million in BEAD funding will support projects targeting about 7,000 unserved and underserved locations. About 82% of those locations are expected to receive fiber-optic service. The state has finalized a contract with Hawaiian Telcom to provide fiber-optic connections to about 5,800 homes that lack modern broadband access. Hawaii begins $149M broadband expansion6. IQ Fiber acquires Orangeburg Fiber. IQ Fiber, a Jacksonville, Florida-based provider of 100% fiber-optic internet service, announced the acquisition of Orangeburg Fiber’s network assets, extending the company’s South Carolina footprint and bringing its service to the City of Orangeburg. The acquisition and network deployment represents a $35 million investment in Orangeburg and includes an upgrade to the existing infrastructure as well as service expansion throughout the community. IQ Fiber acquires Orangeburg Fiber7. Decatur County REMC Leads Indiana's BEAD Rollout. Indiana Cooperatives are at the front of the pack as the state prepares to expand affordable fiber access on the back of $483 million in BEAD broadband grants. The first round of BEAD funding is expected to connect an estimated 123,000 Indiana households and businesses that currently have either substandard Internet access, or no access at all. All told, the state’s BEAD deployment plan is slated to expand affordable fiber access to 91 of Indiana's 92 counties. Last June, the Decatur County Rural Electric Membership Corporation (DCREMC) was the first of the state’s 24 BEAD grant awardees to sign a contract with the Indiana Broadband Office. The cooperative’s $7.1 million BEAD award will help extend fiber service to roughly 2,800 additional homes and businesses across the rural and sparsely populated communities across Decatur County. Decatur County REMC Leads IN BEAD Rollout8. ISP News Roundup 08-11-2026.  Broadband Communities ISP News Roundup 8-11-26   Broadband Bytes is a weekly collection of broadband news highlights from leading industry resourcescompiled by David Levine, RCDD. David is a graduate of Northern Illinois Universityand a 35-year industry veteran in fiber and copper solutions. 

Aug 29, 2026