Two great organizations are combining for one great event that promises to be bigger and better than ever! Registration is open for the CBAN/IAMU 2025 Spring Summit on April 22-23, 2025 at Gateway Hotel in Ames, Iowa. Join us for two full days of amazing speakers and panels, engaging networking opportunities, and access to some of the biggest and most innovative broadband solutions providers in the nation. Here come our sponsors!CBAN is excited to welcome a number of great Summit sponsors! Wanna Sponsor or Exhibit?CLICK HERE to learn about amazing marketing opportunities at the Spring Summit! Wanna Attend?Now is the best time to register! CLICK HERE to get all the information you need to know and to register your team for the Spring Summit. If your organization is a member of either CBAN or IAMU, you get a $50 discount on registration!
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CBAN's small but passionate team will be hopping around the country in 2025 to network with our members, seek new members, and continue our advocacy for community-focused broadband. In February, Curtis Dean will be attending the Harmonic Broadband Summit in Miami. March will be a busy month for our outreach efforts. Curtis Dean will attend and moderate a panel at the Connected America event in Dallas, Texas. And Marlena Pfeiffer, CBAN's Development Manager, will be making connections at the ITA Showcase in Portland, Oregon. And although it's closer to home, CBAN will be represented at the ICA Annual Meeting and Expo in Des Moines. After a travel pause in April while we focus on the CBAN/IAMU 2025 Spring Summit, we're back on the road in May for the 2025 Merit Member Conference near Detroit, MI. Jon Willow will participate. June sees Curtis Dean heading to Nashville, Tennessee for Fiber Connect, where he will be serving as a session moderator. Also leading a panel will be Jon Willow at the Broadband Communities Summit in Houston, Texas. CBAN Ambassador Sponsors Needed!CBAN believes that it is vital for our continued growth and service to the membership, we need to be where our members and potential members are. But sending the team to these events is not an inexpensive proposition, especially for a nonprofit. So we'd like to appeal to our members to help us out by becoming a CBAN Ambassador Sponsor to underwrite these costs. To learn more about how you can help as a CBAN Ambassador, please reach out to Marlena Pfeiffer, [email protected]. Thank you all for your tremendous support!
![]() There's a leadership change at Mahaska Communications Group, a CBAN provider member based in Okaloosa, Iowa. After 23 years as General Manager of MCG, Frank Hansen has retired, succeeded by Matt Tippett effective January 1, 2025. Tippett, a 16-year MCG veteran who rose from Fiber Install Technician to Assistant General Manager, brings extensive operational experience. Joe Milledge, former Director at Cargill specializing in digital transformation, fills Tippett's previous role as Assistant General Manager. Hansen expressed full confidence in Tippett's leadership, while Tippett emphasized MCG's strong foundation and commitment to community service. The transition marks a new chapter for MCG in delivering communication services to South Central Iowa, combining Tippett's seasoned leadership with Milledge's innovation expertise. Watch your inbox on Monday, February 3rd for important information about how to register for the 2025 CBAN/IAMU Spring Summit, to be held April 22 and 23, 2025 at Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames! This year's Summit is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever - a must attend event for everyone with a stake in broadband access and adoption in the Midwest. Confirmed Keynote SpeakersDeb Socia, formerly with The Enterpise Center in Chattanooga, TN
Dr. Christopher Ali, Pioneers Chair in Telecommunications, Penn State University In a recent communication to Fiber Broadband Association members, FBA President and CEO Gary Bolton outlined the anticipated trajectory of BEAD funding under the new administration. He expects several key developments in the near term:
A potential pause in the BEAD program is likely, with efforts to reform its existing structure. Howard Lutnick is anticipated to be quickly confirmed as Secretary of Commerce, though the nomination of an Assistant Secretary of Commerce and NTIA Administrator may take additional time. Bolton predicts that NTIA will review the program, focusing on streamlining broadband deployment by removing previous administration mandates related to labor, climate, and low-income provisions. Despite potential administrative changes, Bolton emphasizes ongoing bipartisan support for broadband infrastructure investment. The Fiber Broadband Association continues to engage with individual states, recognizing their unique approaches to designing and implementing broadband programs tailored to local resident needs. Bolton's key message is a call to action for industry members. He urges continued engagement with state broadband offices, state leaders, and federal representatives to maintain momentum in the BEAD program. The overarching goal remains ensuring universal connectivity and the broader societal benefits of a digitally connected nation. The White House Office of Management and Budget has issued a directive ordering federal agencies to temporarily halt all federal grant and loan disbursements, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post. The pause, which took effect Tuesday, could impact tens of billions of dollars in federal funding. It also makes it uncertain if states will be allowed to move forward with the BEAD program for new broadband deployment and digital equity activities.
Acting OMB Director Matthew J. Vaeth's memo requires agencies to conduct a "comprehensive analysis" to ensure their grant and loan programs align with President Trump's executive orders on diversity initiatives and clean energy spending. While the order explicitly excludes direct assistance to individuals, including Social Security and Medicare benefits, it affects a broad range of recipients including universities, research programs, nonprofits, and healthcare organizations. The memo specifically mentions targeting financial assistance for "foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal." Federal agencies must submit detailed lists of suspended projects by February 10, with oversight assigned to senior political appointees rather than career officials. Democratic leaders have criticized the move, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for immediate reversal. Budget experts note that while presidents can temporarily defer spending, the legality and scope of this pause may face challenges. The order creates significant uncertainty for grant recipients who depend on federal funding for operational expenses. Read the full story at The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/27/white-house-pauses-federal-grants/ The new FCC Chairman is pulling the plug on a bulk billing ban initiated by his predecessor.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced on January 24, 2025, that the Commission has ended its review of a Biden-era proposal regarding bulk billing arrangements for internet service in multi-tenant buildings. The proposal, introduced in 2024, would have affected how internet services are billed in apartments and similar residential settings. Carr strongly criticized the initiative, claiming it could have led to significant price increases of up to 50 percent for apartment residents' internet services. He argued that such increases would have particularly impacted vulnerable groups, including seniors, students, and low-income individuals, who already benefit from the current bulk billing arrangements that typically offer reduced rates. The decision to halt the review was supported by what Carr described as a "broad and bipartisan coalition" opposing the plan. He framed the move as a step toward reversing what he characterized as costly regulatory overreach from the previous administration, linking the proposal to broader concerns about inflationary pressures during the Biden-Harris presidency. The Chairman indicated this decision marks the beginning of broader efforts to address what he views as excessive regulations from the previous administration. ![]() Industry observers are anticipating potential shifts in US broadband policy that could favor 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) providers over traditional fiber and cable operators under President Trump's second term. While no concrete policies have been announced, several signs point to a possible pivot in how federal broadband funds are allocated. A key focus is the $42 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, initiated under the Biden administration primarily to support fiber deployments. Policy experts and Washington insiders suggest the program could be modified to embrace cheaper alternatives like fixed wireless and satellite broadband. Arielle Roth, rumored to be Trump's pick to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), could play a crucial role in this shift. Roth's current boss, Senator Ted Cruz, has already urged the NTIA to eliminate what he calls "extreme technology bias" in BEAD and reduce "excessive per-location costs" - essentially advocating for a move away from fiber toward wireless solutions. The wireless industry appears optimistic about the potential changes. Patrick Halley, CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association, noted Trump's familiarity with 5G issues from his first term and expressed hope for continued support. The appointment of Brendan Carr to lead the FCC, known for his pro-wireless stance, further bolsters these expectations. Such policy changes would benefit major 5G carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile, along with smaller FWA providers. However, they could potentially disadvantage traditional broadband providers like AT&T, Comcast, and Charter Communications, who are already facing increasing competition from FWA operators. While Trump's initial executive orders didn't directly address telecommunications policy, industry experts anticipate more relevant directives in the coming months as the administration settles in. CLICK HERE for more at Light Reading. ![]() A new survey from the National Lifeline Association (NaLA) highlights the challenges faced by Americans after the expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The survey received over 68,000 responses from Lifeline and former ACP participants. Key findings include:
NaLA Chairman David Dorwart said the testimonies are "heartbreaking" and called for lawmakers to refund the ACP and fix the Lifeline program to ensure affordable access for all. The latest episode of Member Spotlight features ECC Technologies. Our guest, Mark Meyerhofer, chats with host Curtis Dean about their efforts to develop both middle mile and last mile networks in New York State and other areas.
Thank you to ECC Technologies for being a CBAN Associate Member! Check them out at https://www.ecctec.comwww.ecctec.com. |
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