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Broadband Bytes, June 2025 Issue 1

BROADBAND NEWS:1. Shut Down the FCC? Thomas Lenard of the Technology Policy Institute wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal suggesting that it is time to shut down the FCC. The Technology Policy Institute is a well-regarded think tank that concentrates on advancing knowledge to inform policymakers. The FCC recently initiated the Delete, Delete, Delete effort that asked the industry and the public if there are unneeded FCC regulations that should be taken off the books. The response was so overwhelming that if every suggestion was implemented there would be little left of the agency. If the FCC disappeared tomorrow, it would create a void in a few areas. Mr. Leonard suggests the useful functions could be moved to other agencies. Read more2. Why fiber construction is a hot mess right now—Panel Comments from Fiber Connect. Fiber builds are more construction than tech, according to a Fiber Connect panel. Operators often need multiple permits as they deal with pole attachment issues. Knowing the right people—and some automation—can make the difference. Read more3. Fiber Broadband Association Announces New All-Fiber Certified Providers. The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) announced a continued surge in members achieving its prestigious All Fiber Certification. This certification recognizes network operators that demonstrate a strategic commitment to future-ready broadband by deploying fiber optic infrastructure across at least 90% of their networks. Read more4. What you need to know about the new BEAD rules. The NTIA has officially rewritten the rules of the $42.5 billion BEAD program, essentially forcing states back to square one on their plans. As anticipated, the new notice of funding opportunity nixed the BEAD preference for end-to-end fiber. The notice now defines a “priority broadband project” as one that provides service at speeds of no less than 100/20 Mbps with latency less than or equal to 100 milliseconds.  Further, NTIA said it “hereby rescinds all Final Proposal approvals that occurred prior to the publication of this Notice.” This includes proposals from Louisiana, Nevada and Delaware, the states that have already announced which providers will receive BEAD funding.  All states and territories have 90 days to comply with the new NOFO, which also requires them to conduct at least one additional subgrantee selection round (dubbed “Benefit of the Bargain”) to ensure the lowest-cost broadband option, “regardless of technology employed.” Read more5. What Does Tech-Neutrality Mean for BEAD? Fiber may still thrive in tech-neutral BEAD. Other technologies besides fiber often fail to meet Priority Broadband Project requirements. After another round of bidding, under new rules, where will BEAD end up? Will the fiber networks the public has been expecting emerge or will they be replaced—to a large extent—by fixed wireless networks and satellite? A hopeful scenario is that fiber will continue to dominate as in the Biden-era BEAD.  State plans will change slightly, primarily at the margins and hybrid technology networks will become more common, with “alternative” technology choices appearing in geographically remote / expensive to serve (with any technology) locations. Read more6. More shake-up at FCC. Republican FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington announced on 6/4/25 that he is leaving the FCC at the end of this week, meaning two of the four current commissioners are headed for the door. Democrat Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, who announced his departure in March, also said he’s leaving at the end of the week. That leaves Republican Chairman Brendan Carr and Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez as the sole commissioners. The FCC requires a three-person quorum to take certain actions, but Carr doesn’t need a quorum for much of what he wants to accomplish, so it’s essentially a one-man show. Read more7. BEAD and State Broadband Offices. This last month has been massively disappointing for SBOs. The industry has talked about solving the digital divide for at least twenty years and SBOs finally had a chance to do something about it. The Digital Equity grants would not solely solve the digital divide, but SBOs were working to create sustainable programs that would outlive the influx of initial funding. This all went for naught when the grant program was completely killed. The revised BEAD grants are nothing more than a one-round RDOF auction by State, where the ISP that asks for the least amount of funding wins. Read moreFUNDING AWARDS, FIBER EXPANSIONS1. Utopia Fiber finishes Bountiful UT build. Utopia Fiber finishes its open access network in Bountiful, Utah. In the beginning of the project, dark money groups fought it. The city of Bountiful owns the network, which it paid for through a bond. The fiber network now passes 16,500 addresses. Read more2. ImOn Communications to Acquire Danville Telecom in Iowa Deal. In a deal between Iowa-based providers, ImOn Communications is acquiring Danville Telecom. Danville, which traces its roots to 1901, serves Henry, Des Moines and Lee counties. The company provides all-fiber networks to residential and business customers in Danville and Wever. ImOn said it would deploy infrastructure in five communities in the southeast region of the state. The ImOn acquisition of Danville Telecom’s fiber assets will enable it to more rapidly bring service that area. Read more3. Vero Fiber to Acquire BendTel, bolstering Central Oregon Fiber Network. Vero Broadband, LLC, operating as Vero Fiber (Vero), announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire BendTel, Inc., a locally-owned and operated telecom provider that has served central Oregon for more than two decades. This acquisition complements Vero’s ongoing organic expansion in Central Oregon. Read more4. Midco signs purchase agreement to acquire SCI Broadband. Midco has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) Broadband. The acquisition will help Midco serve more customers in Minnesota and achieve its ‘Fiber Forward’ goal. SCI Broadband was founded in 1984. SCI serves nearly 12,000 data customers in central, eastern and northeastern Minnesota. By the end of this year, SCI will reach nearly 28,000 passings. Read more5. Kansas Announces Groundbreaking of $43M Freestate Middle-Mile Network. Governor Laura Kelly announced that the Freestate Middle Mile Network, a program aimed to close digital gaps across the state, will officially break ground this month. The project is funded by a nearly $43 million federal grant from the NTIA. The Freestate Network will allow providers to connect Kansas communities by enabling high-speed internet infrastructure for residents and businesses across Kansas. Read more6. Ripple Fiber Expands in NC with BridgeNET Fiber Acquisition. NC based fiber provider Ripple Fiber has acquired BridgeNET Fiber to expand into Statesville, where the acquired company is headquartered. Ripple Fiber expects to add 18,000 passings. This is not the first time Ripple Fiber has acquired assets in NC. Last October, the company acquired the assets of Cloudwyze, which extended its operation to Harnett, Martin and Nash counties. Read more7.  Intrepid Fiber and ALLO Fiber Break Ground on Frederick, Colorado Network. Intrepid Fiber Networks, in partnership with ALLO Fiber, held a groundbreaking event in Frederick, Colorado, announcing the beginning of its network deployment to over 5,400 homes and businesses across the town. Engineering, permitting and construction in Frederick has already begun and full network completion is expected in early 2027. Read more    Broadband Bytes is a regular feature by David Levine of UCL Swift. David is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, a certified BICSI RCDD,and a 35-year industry veteran in fiber and copper solutions.He currently works as a Business Development Manager for UCL Swift.

Aug 09, 2025