General

Broadband Bytes, July 2026 Issue 2

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. Full Merger for DT and T-Mobile? Deutsche Telekom (DT) has plans - for itself and T-Mobile. DT is already the biggest cellular company in the world with over 273 million mobile customers in fifty countries and is looking to potentially merge the two firms. (DT currently owns 54% of T-Mobile.) T-Mobile recognizes that the key to success is to own a large number of both fiber and cellular customers. The company has engaged in partnership deals to gain a share of fiber overbuilders. T-Mobile purchased a 50% stake in Metronet and engaged in a joint venture with EQT to acquire Lumos. Recently they purchased 50% of i3 Broadband, GoNetspeed, and Greenlight Networks. They also bought full ownership of US Internet in the Twin Cities. DT believes a merger is needed to give T-Mobile the resources it needs to fully succeed. Read more3. LEO operators might not take such a big slice of BEAD after all. Back in 2025, the BEAD Program looked like it would be awarding about 20% of locations to low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite operators. According to some reports, the NTIA has asked states to remove LEO BEAD project locations if they are now considered served per the latest FCC mapping data. States may be removing as many as 35% of locations that they awarded LEO operators. This translates to the removal of about 312,000 locations (roughly $354M in expenditures) that were slated to be served by LEO. Read more4. Digital Equity Act to move forward after court decision. The U.S. District Court of Washington, D.C. — via Judge John D. Bates — ruled that Digital Equity Act programs can and should resume. The programs must move forward without any of the Act’s original race-based factors though, which Judge Bates deemed unconstitutional. The Trump administration said they would comply with the court’s decision and reimplement the Act’s programs quickly, without the race-based provisions. Read more5. Digital Equity Act to move forward but… You may read headlines that lead you to believe that the courts have restored the Digital Equity Act. The ruling from Judge John D. Bates is a lot more complicated than that. The government argued that making grants based on race was unconstitutional. The court agreed with that argument, which is a big win for the Administration, since this is the first Court to so plainly agree with that assertion. But the Court further ruled that if grant requirements based on race are removed, the rest of the lawsuit can continue. So what’s next? Read more6. GAO Documents How NTIA Handled $47.7 Billion in Broadband Grants. On July 22nd, the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report describing what happened to money Congress appropriated in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).  For broadband, the relevant agency is the NTIA, the Commerce Department bureau that administers the BEAD program. This is the first GAO product to put numbers on NTIA's post-January 2025 grant review, including how many awards were flagged, on what basis, and who made the decisions.  Read more7. How all 50 states are approaching data centers: Open arms, regulations, and more. The policy tracking firm MultiState counted more than 300 data center bills filed across over 30 states in the first six weeks of 2026, following more than 200 such bills in over 40 states in 2025. The result is a patchwork. Some states are still expanding incentives to land large projects, while others have reached for tools once reserved for emergencies, including outright moratoriums. The outcome matters for rural broadband providers because a recent Pew Research Center analysis found that about two-thirds of planned U.S. data centers are slated for rural areas, reversing a footprint that has been overwhelmingly urban. Read more8. America Movil agrees to acquire Peru broadband provider Wow. America Movil has agreed to acquire Peruvian fixed broadband provider Wow Peru from Liberty Latin America and its partners, strengthening the operator's position in Peru's growing fiber broadband market.  Liberty Latin America said its stake in Wow, along with those of its investment partners, will be sold to America Movil Peru, the local subsidiary of Mexico-based telecoms giant America Movil. Wow operates primarily as a 100% fiber internet service provider in Peru. The transaction remains subject to closing review. Read moreFUNDING AWARDS, FIBER EXPANSIONS1. GoNetspeed Fiber expansion Beverly, MA. GoNetspeed, announced that Beverly will become the next Massachusetts community to gain access to its 100% fiber-optic network. Through a privately funded $17.5 million investment, GoNetspeed’s expansion will expand its fiber network to more than 10,500 homes and businesses across the community. GoNetspeed is accelerating the expansion of its fiber networks across 11 states, including Massachusetts. Read more2. Virginia Fiber Express new VA Network. As data center campuses push south of Northern Virginia in search of land and power, a new fiber network aims to give hyperscale and AI operators a path that steers clear of the increasingly congested Interstate 95 corridor. Virginia Fiber Express Networks, a subsidiary of Infraforward Strategies LLC, announced that it had secured operating licenses, along with land use permits, from Virginia. The approvals clear the way for construction of Phase 1 of what the company describes as a planned six-phase fiber network eventually linking parts of Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland. Virginia Fiber Express Networks, headquartered in Fredericksburg and Richmond, was registered in Virginia in March 2025and has been in development for roughly two years. Read more3. Ripple Fiber completes $20 million fiber build in the Outer Banks. Ripple Fiber, has completed its 100% fiber infrastructure project in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The $20M investment delivers fiber internet to over 20,000 homes and businesses across Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, Duck, Kill Devil Hills, and Corolla, with additional expansion areas to be identified and built over time. Read more4. California approves $74M for rural fiber broadband. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) awarded funding for rural broadband through the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). The money will support fiber broadband infrastructure reaching nearly 1,800 previously unserved homes and businesses. The CPUC approved three grant resolutions totaling up to $74,095,939, funding six infrastructure projects across the region. The approved awards were: a) Surfnet Communications: $33,197,090 for 1,293 unserved locations b) WiConduit and GigabitNow: $32,398,849 for 341 unserved locations. c) Hankins Information Technology:  $8,500,000 for 154 unserved locations. Read more5. Matanuska Telecom Association confirms $108M BEAD award. MTA has secured a $108 million BEAD award to help extend fiber broadband to more than 10,000 homes and businesses across its service area in Alaska. MTA’s recent work shows the scale of the build already underway. In 2025, the cooperative deployed 153 miles of fiber, upgraded 4,000 locations, and improved network capacity for more than 31,000 connections. Read more6. Wire 3 $43M fiber expansion Jacksonville, FL. Florida-based Wire 3 announced that more than 42,000 residents and businesses will gain access to Wire 3’s 100% fiber network, thanks to a fully funded $43 million investment. Wire 3 anticipates the first Jacksonville residents and businesses to be connected as early as this fall. Wire 3 now operates in at least 50 Florida communities. Read more7. Altafiber forms public-private partnership with Westerville, Ohio for fiber build. The City of Westerville, Ohio, and altafiber have formed a public-private partnership to bring a fiber network to the community without the city spending capital dollars on the infrastructure. Construction is expected to begin this summer, with altafiber aiming to reach residents within three years. altafiber plans to build to roughly 15,000 addresses in and around Westerville. altafiber, the operating name for Cincinnati Bell in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, has invested more than $1.5 billion in its Midwest fiber network. Read more8. ISP News Roundup. Read more   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 02, 2026

General

Broadband Bytes, July 2026 Issue 1

BROADBAND NEWS: 1. Updated, Comprehensive List: BEAD Provisional Awards. Updated: July 7, 2026 2:00pm Pacific time. Updated Comprehensive BEAD Awards   BEAD Progress Dashboard2. Rural Broadband Customer Survey. Innovative Systems recently released its eleventh annual survey about rural household broadband usage. The survey was conducted in the first quarter of 2026 to consumers across the country. The survey asked about people’s interaction and satisfaction with their ISP, and includes other interesting findings. CCG-Rural Broadband Customer Survey  Telecompetitor-Rural Broadband Customer Survey3. FCC is urged to prepare for AI’s future infrastructure demands. The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is urging the FCC to prepare for AI network infrastructure demands. In their filing, FBA President and CEO Gary Bolton stated that the rapid emergence of autonomous AI agents and workloads is shifting network demand from traditional human-driven traffic to continuous, machine-to-machine data “swarms” that route heavily between distributed GPU clusters and data centers. The FBA argues this paradigm shift requires urgent infrastructure upgrades focused on abundant bandwidth and ultra-low latency, triggering an era of explosive investment in fiber and associated electronics. Read more4. Supreme Court expands presidential firing power, overturning 90-year-old ruling. Could affect FCC and NTIA. The Supreme Court ruled that removal protections for members of the Federal Trade Commission are unconstitutional and overturned a 90-year-old decision that allowed Congress to shield members of certain independent agencies from being fired by the president at will. The decision from the high court expands the president's power over many independent boards and commissions, which Congress had insulated from political pressure by saying their members could only be removed by the president for cause. In a 1935 decision in a case known as Humphrey's Executor v. United States, which involved removal protections for the FTC, the Supreme Court said Congress could restrict the president's ability to fire officials from multi-member agencies at will. But the ruling from the high court's conservative majority in the case Trump v. Slaughter overturns that 90-year-old decision. Read more5. FCC may reduce broadband label demands for providers. The FCC plans to consider a proposal later this month that would update its broadband consumer label rules to reduce compliance burdens for service providers.  According to a July 1 FCC fact sheet, the draft report and order would simplify disclosure requirements if adopted at the FCC’s July 22 open meeting. The document states that the initial ruling created complex labels that strayed beyond the statutory framework and increased administrative costs. Read more6. The Future of State Broadband Offices. Pew recently wrote an article that cautioned that States Must Consider Future of Broadband Offices. They note that some states have a sunset date embedded in the enabling legislation that will mean the end of State Broadband Offices if state legislatures don’t act. Most States are busy right now trying to get BEAD grants in place with ISPs. BEAD grant construction is supposed to conclude in four years, and States are on the hook to verify that construction meets the BEAD specifications.  Will those state broadband offices be there to do so? Read more7. Canada Broadband Market 2026. Reference Article on the Broadband Market in Canada in 2026: including Best ISPs and Fiber Broadband Expansion. Read more8. CIB and partners to invest $165 million to expand broadband service in Manitoba. Under the terms of the agreement, the CIB (Canada Infrastructure Bank) will loan $26.9 million towards the approximately $165 million project. Valley Fiber will be responsible for all aspects of construction, installation, operations and maintenance of the new broadband service. The project involves deployment of 1,224 km of fiber-optic cable, allowing high-speed internet access to approximately 7,800 underserved households with dedicated FTTH in rural municipalities, including four First Nations communities. Read moreFUNDING AWARDS, FIBER EXPANSIONS1. Washington state awards $5.1M in ARPA broadband grants. The Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) — using money from its Coronavirus Capital Project Fund, part of ARPA —has awarded communities in Island, Kitsap, and Okanogan counties a total of $5.1 million for four broadband projects.  The awards include fiber projects with Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and Whidbey Telephone Company, Island County. Read more2. TDS fiber expansion in Central Wisconsin. TDS will expand its high-speed all-fiber internet network in Central Wisconsin, bringing a new choice of internet, TV providers, and phone and mobile services to more communities in the Badger State. The Wisconsin-based company plans to bring its services to Ripon, Beaver Dam, Waupun, Lomira, Theresa, Horicon, Brownsville, Juneau, and Iron Ridge, serving a total of more than 29,000 homes and businesses. Construction is expected to begin later this year. Read more3. Ezee Fiber expansion in Illinois communities. Houston based Fiber internet provider, Ezee Fiber, announced the expansion of its fiber-optic network across Chicagoland, with construction underway in Streamwood, Roselle, Downers Grove, Naperville, Oak Brook and Bartlett, extending the company’s footprint in the state and bringing service within reach of thousands of additional homes and businesses. The expansion follows Ezee Fiber’s $400 million investment in Chicagoland announced in July 2025. The company established an office in Elk Grove Village and employs approximately 25 people. Read more4. Ziply grows fiber footprint in Northwest. Ziply Fiber is beginning construction this summer in multiple regions in the Northwest US, with work beginning in the states of Idaho, Washington and Oregon. In Idaho, Ziply will start work this summer to reach more than 1700 homes and businesses.  In Washington, Ziply Fiber is expanding to approximately 20,000 homes and businesses and in Oregon, Ziply Fiber will start construction this summer to reach 1,600 homes and businesses. Ziply Fiber was acquired by Bell Canada (BCE) in August 2025. Read more5. Intrepid Fiber to acquire Ubiquity network in San Diego County. Open access infrastructure provider Intrepid Fiber Networks has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ubiquity’s southern California network. Assuming the deal closes, Intrepid will gain 35,000 fiber passings in the San Diego County communities of Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside. The company currently has active fiber construction in Corona, Riverside, Vista, and San Marcos. This would give Intrepid, which is a Brookfield Infrastructure portfolio company, more than 100,000 home and business passings in the region. Read more6. California approves nearly $53M for rural and Tribal broadband. California regulators approved nearly $53M in new grants to expand broadband access in some of the state’s most underserved rural and Tribal communities. The four projects are expected to bring high-speed broadband access to more than 1,000 previously unserved locations. Tribal communities nationwide also gained access to new federal funding options in June, when the NTIA opened applications for two grant programs worth a combined $790 million. Read more7. Oregon announces reassigned awardees for BEAD projects. The Oregon Broadband Office (OBO) announced preliminary replacement awardees in the BEAD program. Those companies will take over projects that were declined by the initially chosen providers. Two rounds of competitive reassignment yielded six replacement providers for Oregon’s BEAD program: Alyrica, Amazon LEO, the City of Sherwood, Columbia County, Douglas Fast Net (DFN) and Stimulus Technologies. Four providers — Alyrica Networks, Columbia County, Douglas Fast Net/Douglas Services and Stimulus Technologies — are both initial awardees and reassigned awardees. Read more8. Bluepeak reaches 500K fiber passings. Bluepeak, a leading provider of high-speed fiber internet serving communities across Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Texas, and Wyoming, announced the company has now passed 500,000 homes and businesses within its fiber network. Since launching new fiber expansion in 2021, Bluepeak has invested hundreds of millions of dollars across its six-state footprint to build a modern, FTTH network. Read more9. Race Communications Fiber expansion Fresno CA. Race Communications announced an expansion of its 100% FTTH network into the City of Fresno. Continuing to build on its statewide initiatives, Race is pouring even more into the Central Valley and Fresno, initially bringing more than 38,000 homes and businesses access to an all-fiber network. initial construction throughout Fresno is anticipated to begin this fall.  Across California, Race has invested more than $650M and has an additional investment of more than $200M underway for 2026 to build out the company’s all-fiber network. Read more10. ISP News Roundup Broadband Communities ISP Roundup-7-10-23   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 02, 2026

General

UCL Swift Summer2026 Quarterly Newsletter

This quarter at UCL Spotlight on Steve HarrisVice President of Sales & Marketing, BroadbandThis quarter, UCL Swift welcomed Steve Harris to the team—and the impact has been immediate.Steve brings more than 30 years of broadband leadership experience to his role, with expertise spanning telecommunications, network engineering, technology deployment, workforce development, and industry standards. He is also widely recognized across the industry as a thought leader, educator, and engaging speaker who connects technical knowledge with real-world application.In his first six months alone, Steve has represented UCL Swift at some of the industry’s most respected events, including:- SCTE Chapter Leadership Conference- MACTA- BCAP- Connect (X)- Fiber ConnectThere, he’s shared insights into UCL Swift’s total-solution partnership and fostered key relationships with industry professionals. We’re proud to have Steve on the team and look forward to the continued impact he’ll bring to UCL Swift and the broader broadband community.Read more about Steve >Build and Scale Highly Efficient Networks Swift-FX Solution The Swift FX solution is designed to deliver unmatched connectivity right to your doorstep. Whether it’s new construction or dropping fiber optic links from existing infrastructure, this industry-changing solution delivers the performance required by the service provider and the flexibility desired by contractors.Showing Up Where It Matters This quarter was full of incredible trade shows across the nation. Q2 found the UCL team at:- Iowa Communications Alliance | March 23-25, 2026- TCEI Expo | March 31–April 2, 2026- MACTA 2026 Mid-America Show | April 6-7, 2026- TANE Spring Symposium | April 7-9, 2026- NTTA Tribal Broadband National Summit | April 7-10, 2026- BCAP Pennsylvania Broadband Summit | April 8-9, 2026- SCTE Ontario Chapter ​Spring Show | April 15, 2026- Graybar National Training Conference | April 23-25, 2026- Connect(X) WIA Connectivity Expo | May 4-6, 2026- FBA Fiber Connect | May 17-20, 2026- CCTA Annual Conference | May 24-26, 2026 Thank you to everyone who visited our booth, attended a session, or participated in a training. These are the conversations that drive us to continue innovating and delivering future-focused fiber solutions.Your secret to educated industry conversations.For leaders and teams making decisions in a fast-moving industry, staying informed shouldn’t slow you down.Our bimonthly broadband newsletter contains highlights from leading industry resources and is expertly compiled by David Levine, RCDD.Subscribe Today >

Jun 30, 2026

General

Broadband Bytes, June 2026 Issue 2

BROADBAND NEWS:1. Updated, Comprehensive List: BEAD Provisional Awards. Updated: May 18, 2026 8:15 am Pacific time. Updated Comprehensive BEAD Awards.  Progress Dashboard.2. Private equity firm Grain combines fiber operators Great Plains and Ritter. The private equity firm Grain Management is combining two of its fiber operators — Ritter Communications and Great Plains Communications — into one entity called Rightfiber. Rightfiber will serve more than 300,000 locations and continue deploying more fiber broadband. Great Plains Communications is based in Blair, Nebraska, and serves nearly 200 communities across various states. Ritter Communications is based in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and serves 197 communities in multiple states. Rightfiber is tentatively planned to be based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Read more.3. LOGIX announces Texas long-haul route. LOGIX Fiber Networks — which serves Texas — has deployed a multi-terabit wavelength route for an enterprise client. The network enables scalable connectivity between Houston, Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth. LOGIX declined to identify the client. LOGIX said that its network spans more than 300,000 fiber miles and connects to thousands of enterprise locations and more than 80 data centers in the Lonestar State. Read more.4. School connectivity advocates push back against E-Rate scrutiny. Earlier this month, the FCC released two notices of proposed rulemaking, proposing a renewed focus on—and potentially a sunset of—the agency’s E-Rate program. According to the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB), E-Rate advocates this month have met with FCC officials, advising them the FCC lacks the statutory authority to cancel the Congressionally conceived program. The FCC will further consider the matter at their open meeting on June 25. Read more.5. Telecom associations warn of US memory chip shortage.  A coalition of telecom trade associations is warning that rapid AI expansion is causing a critical shortage of U.S. memory chips. In a June 3 letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the groups outlined the critical challenges posed by surging demand for memory chips driven by the rapid expansion of AI data centers. The letter emphasizes the “unprecedented surge in the price of memory chips and reduced supply of these chips for manufacturing and consumer-facing industries.”  It also warns of immediate and near-term impacts, including rising prices for everyday electronics, increased costs for telecommunications infrastructure, and risks to other market sectors. Read more.6. FCC Questioning State Pole Regulation Continued. An FCC Public Notice asks for comments on the effectiveness of regulations in States that have chosen to regulate pole attachments, meaning rules that regulate how telcos and others get access to poles that are in the public right-of-way. Comments are due on the Public Notice by July 13, 2026. States were given the right to regulate pole attachments in Section 224 of the 1934 Communications Act. Twenty-three States have elected to regulate poles over the years, and the FCC has created regulations for the States that have not done so. Read more.7. Astound, other ISPs, decline Oregon BEAD awards. The Oregon Broadband Office (OBO) announced that while most selected providers accepted their funding under the BEAD Program, several declined.  Sixteen providers—including Comcast, Starlink, and various local co-ops—accepted their awards to bring reliable connectivity to thousands of underserved households and businesses. However, a handful of providers rejected contracts, leaving 13,381 broadband-serviceable locations temporarily in limbo. Astound, which announced plans to merge with GFiber this year in March, walked away from the majority of these projects, declining fiber and mixed technology builds across ten different district grant areas. State officials noted that a backup plan is already underway to find new takers for the orphaned zones. Read more. FUNDING AWARDS, FIBER EXPANSIONS1. Conexon Connect nears completion of third Florida fiber project. Conexon Connect, the ISP formed by Conexon, has neared completion of its FTTH network project in partnership with Glades Electric Cooperative. The 1,600-mile Connect fiber network now spans Glades, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee counties, covering the vast majority of the Moore Haven, Florida-based cooperative’s footprint. Conexon Connect continues to expand its footprint in the state, now reaching more than 40,000 homes and businesses across rural Florida. Read more.2. California grants $18.2M for rural fiber. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved more than $18.2 million in broadband grants to support broadband infrastructure, regional planning, and digital inclusion programs across the state. The funding covers fiber construction in rural Northern California, planning grants reaching 16 counties, and digital literacy efforts in underserved communities. Nearly $14.7 million went to four fiber-optic projects from Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications. The awards will bring service to 460 unserved homes across Lassen, Plumas, and Sierra counties. Read more.3. Sertex Broadband grows in Maine and acquires Trenchworks Inc. Sertex Broadband Solutions has acquired Trenchworks Inc., a Maine-based telecommunications construction company well-versed in aerial and underground fiber optic infrastructure deployment. With the addition of Trenchworks, Sertex says they’ve immediately increased their construction capacity in the region. Read more.4. ImOn Communications breaks ground on $100 million fiber network in Duluth. ImOn Communications is breaking ground on a new fiber network in Duluth, part of what the company estimates is a $100 million investment in local internet infrastructure. The company says the new fiber build will reach about 25,000 homes this year. In 2027, it expects to connect another 26,000. Crews will install both underground and aerial fiber using existing utility poles. The project will roll out in sections, with work already underway. Read more.5. Application window opens for $790M in Tribal broadband grants. Application windows for two NOFO’s opened June 17 as the NTIA takes steps to make $790 million available for Tribal broadband. The NTIA’s June 17 release underscored the intent behind these funding opportunities is to help Tribal and Native nations focus on connecting their communities rather than struggling with bureaucratic processes. The application process for both funding opportunities opened on June 17, 2026, and will remain open until September 17, 2026. The NTIA also said they plan to award funds on a rolling basis, beginning in the spring of 2027. Read more.6. Intrepid Fiber Networks California Expansion. Wholesale open-access fiber provider Intrepid Fiber Networks, announced an expansion of its California network with a major investment to build FTTP infrastructure across the cities of Corona and Riverside in Riverside County. The deployment will bring fiber broadband to over 50,000 homes and businesses.  Construction is expected to begin immediately, with service available to residents and businesses in 2026. Read more.7. GoNetspeed fiber expansion into Salem, MA and more ISP news. ISP Roundup: Broadband Communitiess   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. 

Jun 30, 2026

General

Broadband Bytes, June 2026 Issue 1

BROADBAND NEWS: 1. Updated, Comprehensive List: BEAD Provisional Awards. Updated: May 18, 2026 8:15 am Pacific time. Updated Comprehensive BEAD Awards.  BEAD Progress Dashboard.2. AT&T is investing big in California. AT&T has announced a $19 billion investment commitment to modernize their telecommunications infrastructure in California by 2030. The push from AT&T in California aims to connect more than 4 million new households and businesses with fiber internet. The investment underscores how AT&T plans to transition from obsolete copper networks to fiber and wireless services, responding to the state’s growing demand for faster, more reliable, and affordable connectivity.  Besides infrastructure upgrades, AT&T is looking to bolster its workforce to support their objectives in the state. The company said they plan to hire hundreds of technicians for fiber expansion and copper decommissioning while investing in training programs to maintain a skilled workforce. Read more.3. Nation’s fiber-lit buildings over 2M by year’s end. U.S. fiber-lit buildings will exceed 2 million by year’s end, according to a Vertical Systems Group report.  The majority of fiber-connected commercial buildings in the U.S. have only one provider today — but that’s starting to change as redundancy becomes a higher priority for business customers.  The companies with the most fiber-lit commercial properties at the end of last year were (In descending order): AT&T, Verizon, Charter (Spectrum Business), Comcast Business, Lumen, Cox Business, Zayo, Crown Castle, Frontier, Uniti, Breezeline, Brightspeed, and Segra. Each had 25,000 or more on-net fiber-lit buildings. Read more.4. Electric co-ops 'not happy' with BEAD. Electric cooperatives are disappointed with a number of policy changes to the BEAD program, from its dropped fiber preference to the NTIA's move to impose FCC pole attachment regs on co-ops. Some are declining their grants. "Quite frankly, some decisions have been made in the BEAD program that we are not happy with," said Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). NRECA represents the interests of the country's electric co-ops, of which roughly 200 offer retail broadband service in the US. "We were pretty disappointed that the preference for fiber was removed. We think that shifts the program's focus from what would be more of a proven, durable, scalable broadband technology. So, we were not in favor of that decision. Read more.5. FCC eyes new steps to streamline broadband deployments. Local and state permitting processes can tie up network deployment projects in delays and red tape but new steps being considered by the FCC could change everything. Chairman Brendan Carr, who has been spearheading a broader deregulation effort during his chairmanship, is behind the new proposal. “It is clear from the input we’ve received in the public record that in far too many cases, America’s broadband builders are facing excessive fees and unnecessary delays,” Carr said in a June 3 release. If the FCC moves forward with Carr’s proposal, the agency will eventually seek comment on rules that would give state and local governments 120 days to process infrastructure authorization requests and limit fees. Read more.6. National Advertising Division allows Comcast Xfinity’s “fiber-powered” language. Comcast advertising sufficiently explains that the company’s Xfinity internet service does not deliver fiber to the home, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division (NAD) ruled. However, NAD recommended that Xfinity modify its advertising disclosures to ensure that “fiber-powered” claims are clear and conspicuous. The ruling came following a challenge brought by AT&T.  In a related recent case, Charter agreed to modify their “fiber-powered” claims in website and video advertising too. Read more.7. FCC-announces review-of-e-rate. The FCC announced it is conducting a full evaluation of its $3 billion annual E-Rate program that supports internet access for schools and libraries. The FCC is considering reforming or ending the three-decade program altogether as part of its review. The FCC will vote June 25 on the proposal, which will be posted for public comment on various aspects of the program. Read more.8. OMB Proposed New Rules for Federal Grants. These proposed rules would apply to a large percentage of federal grants awarded to States or directly to grantees. In the broadband world, the new rules would apply to grants made by the FCC, NTIA, U.S. Treasury, and the USDA. That means these rules impact BEAD, RDOF, ReConnect, Capital Project Fund grants, and the various NTIA broadband grants. The big picture is that this is a clear attempt by OMB, which is part of the Executive branch, to take over the grant process. The vast majority of grants are created by federal legislation, and this would allow the executive branch to override grant rules created by Congress. Read more.9. More providers default on RDOF awards. More service providers participating in the RDOF Fund have backed out of commitments, with the latest defaults hitting Kansas, Maryland and Texas. Like other ISPs that have defaulted on their RDOF awards in recent years, two of the providers in this latest group of defaulters (MSEC and Easton Utilities) cited high construction costs in their letters notifying the FCC of their plans to withdraw from the program. Following recent news that Nebraska will reopen its bidding portal for the BEAD program after three providers declined to move forward with their grants, Texas last week issued a similar announcement confirming it finalized subgrantee agreements with 17 providers, or five fewer than the state previously said would be receiving BEAD grants, leaving 31,000 broadband serviceable locations uncovered. Read more.FUNDING AWARDS, FIBER EXPANSIONS1. Ripple Fiber strengthens presence in Illinois with Naperville launch. Ripple Fiber, a 100-percent fiber-optic internet provider and network operator, announced the launch of its new fiber internet service to homes and businesses in Naperville, Illinois. This comes less than one year after Ripple Fiber announced its expansion into Illinois. Construction also continues in areas of Elk Grove Village, Naperville, and Streamwood. Additional municipalities that are in the pre-construction phase include Aurora, Downers Grove, Glendale Heights, and Plainfield. The local Ripple Fiber office is located at 945 W. Hawthorn Dr., Itasca, IL. Read more.2. New Mexico approves $300K in broadband planning grants. New Mexico has awarded a total of $300,000 in broadband planning grants to Jemez Springs, Doña Ana County, and Santo Domingo Pueblo. The announcement was made by the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access & Expansion (OBAE). The broadband grants will come to the Tribal homelands through the OBAE’s Grant Writing, Engineering, and Planning Program (GWEP), to which New Mexico allocated $5 million to help Tribes, local governments, and cooperatives bring broadband to unserved locations.  So far, OBAE has awarded GWEP grants to 18 Tribal communities, 17 local governments, and four rural electric and telephone cooperatives. There is still $1 million available and OBAE welcomes applications. The maximum award is $100,000. There are no matching requirements. ISPs are not eligible to win grants. Read more.3. Brightspeed launches fiber service in rural Arkansas. Brightspeed, the nation’s third largest fiber builder, announced the launch of fiber internet in Coal Hill Arkansas, Hartman and surrounding rural areas. The broadband project was made possible through a combination of $470,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and Brightspeed’s continued investment in its fiber internet expansion across Arkansas. This funding is just a portion of the $294.6 million ARPA money Brightspeed was awarded to augment the company’s million-dollar fiber network deployment investment in 13 states, providing more than 140,000 Americans access to high-speed connectivity. Read more.4. Fox Fiber launches Kendall County IL Broadband initiative. Fox Fiber has launched the Kendall County Broadband initiative. The nonprofit was formed by Kendall County government to manage a community-owned broadband network meant to serve rural parts of the county.  The first loop will cover about 4,700 addresses in Lisbon, Millbrook, Millington, Montgomery, Oswego, Plattville and Yorkville. Permitting is underway, and construction could begin in the next few weeks. The project is funded through a $15 million grant from the Illinois Broadband Office and revenue bonds taken out by Fox Fiber. Read more.5. Omni Fiber acquires Citizens Fiber. Regional broadband operator Omni Fiber, which operates in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Texas, acquired local Pennsylvania provider Citizens Fiber. The move deepens Omni Fiber's footprint in Westmoreland County in the western part of the state. Omni Fiber said the move complements its plans to add 200,000 passings in Fayette, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington and Westmoreland Counties. Read more.6. ISP Roundup News: Latest ISP Headlines7. Texas final BEAD awards: Over $1B The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) announced that it had finalized its subgrantee agreements for the BEAD program. The BEAD funds are being awarded to 17 providers and will connect more than 208,000 underserved and unserved locations, and total over $1B. Texas is one of the few states to make their list of final BEAD awards public, as New York did in April. The 17 final Texas BEAD awards can be found here: Read more.8. Wire 3 $53M expansion in Martin County, FL. Daytona Beach FL based Wire 3 plans to expand its 100% fiber network into Martin County, bringing fiber connectivity to Ocean Breeze, Sewall’s Point, and Stuart. The privately funded $53 million investment will provide access to Wire 3’s fiber network for more than 53,000 residents and businesses, Construction is expected to start this summer. Read more.9. Shentel's fiber network surpasses 19,000 route miles. Shentel’s fiber network now spans over 19,000 miles with more than 700,000 passings across 8 states, aiming to reach 510,000 passings by 2026. In Q1, Shentel added approximately 6,000 new customers and grew its revenue by 4.8%, driven by Glo Fiber expansion and increased passings. Shentel plans to complete 1,800 additional government-subsidized passings in 2026, primarily in West Virginia, supporting its growth strategy. Read more.   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. 

Jun 18, 2026

General

Learning Alliance & UCL Swift Partner on Fiber Workforce Initiative

Tampa, Florida — April 24,2026 — Learning Alliance Corporation (LAC) announces a strategic partnership with UCL Swift North America in 2026, strengthening industry collaboration focused on fiber and broadband workforce development. The partnership aligns training programs with the tools, technologies, and real-world practices used in modern network deployment, helping prepare technicians for the growing demands of broadband infrastructure across the United States. As fiber expansion accelerates nationwide, the demand for trained technicians continues to rise. Industry analysts estimate that between 58,000 and 200,000 additional skilled workers will be needed to support upcoming fiber infrastructure projects. By bringing industry –grade equipment directly into training environments, this partnership ensures students gain hands– on experience with the tools they will encounter in the field. Steve Harris, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at UCL Swift North America, emphasized the importance of industry involvement in workforce preparation. “At UCL Swift, we look for partners who are directly connected to workforce outcomes, not just training delivery. LAC has built programs that consistently produce technicians ready for real deployment environments. This partnership allows us to place our tools in the hands of learners who will be using them in the field from day one.” Through the partnership, UCL Swift North America will provide fusion splicers, cleavers, and specialized fiber tools used in broadband and network construction. These tools will be incorporated into LAC training programs that support fiber technicians, broadband installers, and line workers. The collaboration also includes instructor support, technical training, advisory participation, and engagement with students and employers across the industry. Fred Arnold, Executive Director at LAC, noted that the partnership reflects a broader effort to align workforce education with industry needs. “This partnership strengthens how we deliver training at every level. By integrating UCL Swift equipment and expertise into our programs, we give students direct experience with the tools and standards used in today’s fiber builds. That level of alignment accelerates readiness and improves outcomes for both technicians and employers.” The partnership will introduce joint initiatives throughout 2026, including co– branded training programs, curriculum collaboration, industry advisory participation, and events designed to connect employers with trained technicians. Future initiatives may also include micro– credentials, educational media content, and expanded classroom engagement opportunities.About Learning Alliance  CorporationLearning Alliance Corporation partners with businesses, colleges, and universities to bring U.S. Veterans and civilians stronger training initiatives that equate to solid career growth. By partnering with employers nationwide, Learning Alliance Corporation has created workshops, labs, and simulation programs that align the theoretical concepts with real-world application learning. This adaptable approach creates learning solutions based on community-specific goals, industry, staff skill level, and corporate culture. Learning Alliance Corporation provides quality instructors who are highly trained and specialize in the areas they teach. Learn more at www.mylearningalliance.com or contact Lymaris Pabellon at lpabellon@mylearningalliance.com. About UCL Swift North AmericaUCL Swift North America is a leading provider of fiber-optic splicing and connectivity solutions serving broadband, enterprise, and data center markets across North America. As the U.S. division of UCL Swift, the company designs and manufactures high-precision fiber tools, including fusion splicers, cleavers, and fiber preparation equipment used in modern network deployment. Known for its innovative All-In-One fusion splicing technology, UCL Swift helps technicians streamline installation while improving reliability and performance in fiber infrastructure projects. Through ongoing product innovation and industry collaboration, UCL Swift North America supports the expansion of high-speed broadband networks and the advancement of the global telecommunications industry. Learn more at http://uclswiftna.com. 

Jun 07, 2026