Your network plans face new realities. AI adoption looms ahead. Cybersecurity needs are escalating. Digital Adoption’s future is uncertain. Meet, talk with, and learn from fellow members, peers and experts across three tracks:

NEW PATHWAYS FOR PROVIDERS
Shifting funding, new deployment options, and rapidly evolving technology - how are you navigating? Learn what's working in communities that share your challenges and goals.

NETWORK TRANSFORMATION
Practical advice on AI integration and cybersecurity improvements that make sense for community broadband operations.

DIGITAL ADOPTION
Sustainable approaches to digital adoption that strengthen both community access and your customer base.

Whether you're running a community broadband network, leading a municipality, or working for digital empowerment, you'll walk away with new ideas and solutions for today's challenges. No fluff - just practical strategies that work.

The Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN) is pleased to announce that co-founder Jon Willow has been selected as a 2025 Innovation Fellow by Michigan State University's Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI). The fellowship will support Willow's research into leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance the effectiveness of community-based coalitions, with a specific focus on Michigan's digital equity initiatives.

New York's law requiring Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer affordable internet plans to low-income residents took effect this week, following a lengthy legal battle that concluded when the Supreme Court declined to hear the broadband industry's challenge after an appeals court upheld the law in April 2024.

The legislation mandates that ISPs provide internet service plans priced at either $15 or $20 per month for low-income households. The timing is particularly crucial as it coincides with the expiration of a federal FCC program that previously provided internet discounts to approximately 1.7 million New York households and 23 million households nationwide.

Small ISPs serving 20,000 or fewer households can apply for exemptions if they can demonstrate that compliance would create an "unreasonable or unsustainable financial impact." Over 40 small providers who filed for exemptions in 2021 can receive one-month exemptions by filing paperwork by Wednesday, with longer-term exemptions requiring detailed financial documentation by February 15.

Larger ISPs must comply with the Affordable Broadband Act (ABA) by January 15, 2025, or face civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation. The law applies to wireline, fixed wireless, and satellite providers. Several major providers already offer low-income plans, including Charter Spectrum ($25/month for 50Mbps), Comcast and Optimum ($15 plans), and Verizon (plans as low as $20/month).

CLICK HERE for an in-depth story about the law at Ars Technica.

Louisiana has become the first state to receive federal approval for its $1.355 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding plan, to be implemented through the state's GUMBO 2.0 program. Governor Jeff Landry announced that this initiative will connect approximately 140,000 locations to high-speed internet through partnerships with 20 internet service providers, with 70% of funds going to Louisiana-based companies.

The program, administered by ConnectLA, is expected to generate significant economic benefits, including 8,000 to 10,000 new jobs and $2-3 billion in new revenue for Louisiana companies. ConnectLA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar anticipates construction to begin within 100 days.

Beyond infrastructure deployment, the state is allocating over $500 million for complementary initiatives in education, workforce development, healthcare, agriculture, and economic development. The comprehensive plan aims to transform communities across all 64 parishes by ensuring universal access to digital opportunities.

The "Internet Statistics in 2025" report from HighSpeedInternet.com provides comprehensive data about internet usage and perceptions in the United States. According to the report, internet usage has reached near-universal levels, with 97% of Americans (333.1 million people) using the internet, representing an increase of 51 million users over the past decade.

The report highlights Americans' dependency on internet access, with 25% of users unable to go more than four hours without internet access, and another 20% maxing out at 24 hours. This reliance is reflected in public perception, with 85% of Americans viewing the internet as a utility similar to electricity or water.

The national average internet speeds stand at 209.01 Mbps for downloads and 61.98 Mbps for uploads. Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida boast the fastest speeds, while Alaska, West Virginia, and Montana have the slowest. While 99.98% of areas have access to advertised broadband speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps, approximately 10 million U.S. households still lack home internet connections.

Connection types vary among Americans, with 76.3% using broadband, fiber, or DSL, and 86.8% having cellular data plans. The average monthly cost for internet service is $77, though prices vary significantly by connection type, ranging from $59 for cable internet to $121 for satellite internet. Rural residents typically pay more for lower-quality connections compared to urban and suburban users.

Device access is high, with 96% of Americans having access to a home computer and 92% to a smartphone. Notably, 9.9% of Americans rely solely on smartphones for internet access. The report also revealed that 8.25 million people are unaware of their monthly internet costs, highlighting potential issues with transparency in internet service pricing.

As we reflect on 2024, the Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN) marks a year of significant achievement and growth in our mission to advance community-based broadband solutions. Throughout the year, our organization maintained an energetic pace of activities, from expanding our Digital Navigator program to strengthening our partnerships across multiple states.

The momentum we built in 2024 has positioned us for an even more impactful 2025. Our work continues to demonstrate that community-driven approaches to broadband development not only succeed but often exceed expectations in meeting local connectivity needs. As we look ahead, we're excited to build upon our achievements and expand our reach in supporting communities working to improve their broadband future.
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This annual review highlights our key accomplishments, celebrates our members' successes, and outlines our vision for the coming year. We invite you to explore how CBAN and our partners are working together to create more connected, equitable communities across America.

CBAN also welcomes individual donations to all that support the work we do! CLICK HERE to make a donation to CBAN and help us grow!

Building Strong Communities

CBAN, established in 2018 as a membership organization, continues to drive broadband development through both direct and indirect support of our members. Our recent direct assistance projects include:

• Supporting Benzie County, Michigan's initiatives to expand digital equity and bridge existing access gaps
• Participating in the Region 2 MITTEN grant program team to enhance digital equity across northwest Michigan
• Collaborating with the City of Hudson to successfully attract a new fiber network provider

Digital Equity

We're excited to announce significant progress in our Digital Navigator program. In 2024, we welcomed Allison Ruhl as our new Digital Navigator for our NDIA-supported work in southern Iowa. Under her leadership, the program has gained substantial momentum in its final months. Looking ahead, we're actively pursuing additional funding sources to not only sustain but potentially expand this vital program. This expansion would allow us to continue breaking down digital barriers and fostering digital literacy in our communities.

Addressing Technology Needs

CBAN held a Tech Tune-Up and Fair in December. Held in conjunction with CBAN member GRM Networks, the event helped over ten families with tech needs, including providing them with new laptops and tablets needed to participate in the digital economy. CBAN is currently in the planning stages of additional Tech Tune-Up and Fairs in the service area in 2025.

CBAN also distributed several cellular hotspots to persons in the region without access to a reliable broadband connection. We want to thank US Cellular for helping make this program affordable for all.

Throughout 2024, CBAN shared our story and our members' successes at industry events across the nation. These gatherings allowed us to highlight the critical importance of Building Broadband Bridges while connecting with current members and meeting new advocates for community-focused broadband solutions. Our members' achievements in communities nationwide continue to demonstrate why local broadband initiatives are essential for America's digital future.

Net Inclusion 2024 – Held in February in Philadelphia, this annual event brought together Jon Willow and former digital navigator Bri Dillavou, along with representatives from 17 other NDIA digital navigator programs nationwide.  

Connected America – In March, Curtis Dean represented CBAN at this prominent industry gathering in Dallas. He engaged with current members and worked to expand CBAN’s network by connecting with prospective members.  

CBAN Spring Summit and IAMU Broadband Conference – Taking place in April in Johnston, Iowa, CBAN’s Spring Summit set a new record for attendance. Sessions were also streamed live for virtual participants. The highlight was a dynamic keynote address from Gigi Sohn of the American Association for Public Broadband.  

Merit Member Conference – In May, near Detroit, Curtis Dean and Jon Willow participated in this event. Jon led an engaging panel discussion titled “Build Your Own Broadband Bridge.”  

Fiber Connect 2024 – Curtis Dean moderated a session at this major event held in late July in Nashville.  

Regional Fiber Connect – In September, CBAN participated in the Regional Fiber Connect event in Des Moines, Iowa.  

NTCA Fall Conference – In late September and early October, CBAN was represented at the NTCA Fall Conference in Indianapolis.  

BBC Summit West – During the late October event in San Diego, Curtis Dean delivered a presentation about CBAN’s mission and initiatives.  

CBAN is excited to welcome the City of Willmar, MN as a community member of our growing network! Willmar becomes the 207th CBAN member!

Willmar is in the design phase of a community-owned fiber network. The City will own the open access network and have partnered with Hometown Fiber (a CBAN provider member) to operate the network. Willmar's project began before a state law change removing barriers to municipal fiber networks, a move which strengthened their case. They are aiming to start construction in spring 2024 and are negotiating with two ISPs for service level agreements. 

Alianza, a cloud platform provider for internet service providers (ISPs), has announced an agreement to acquire Metaswitch, a Microsoft-owned communications software company. The deal, expected to close in Q1 2025, would provide Alianza with a significant customer base of 1,000 new clients. Microsoft originally acquired Metaswitch in 2020 to advance its cloud strategy but recently shifted focus, leading to discussions with Alianza about the future of the company.

Alianza CEO Brian Beutler emphasized Metaswitch’s pivotal role in transitioning the industry from copper-line infrastructure to digital solutions. Metaswitch’s software supports over 800 global operators, including major providers like AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Comcast, connecting millions daily. Beutler likened Metaswitch’s role to Alianza’s as the “brand behind the brand,” powering essential communications services.

The acquisition aligns with Alianza’s mission to accelerate the transition to cloud-based, AI-driven platforms. While ISPs have invested heavily in network modernization, Beutler noted that revenue growth has stagnated despite exponential speed improvements. He sees the cloud as the next frontier, where Alianza operates as a native alternative to traditional telco infrastructure.

Beutler views Metaswitch’s strong customer portfolio as a solution to Alianza’s challenge of lacking an embedded client base. Under the agreement, Alianza will migrate Metaswitch’s operations to a cloud-based model and integrate AI-powered services, positioning the combined companies at the forefront of the digital communications transformation.

​For more on the Metaswich acquisition, CLICK HERE to read the story at Broadband Communities.

​The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed the *Access to Capital Creates Economic Strength and Supports (ACCESS) Rural America Act*, which aims to relieve small broadband providers of costly regulatory burdens. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.  

The legislation has garnered praise from NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, with CEO Shirley Bloomfield expressing gratitude to Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) for their bipartisan support. Bloomfield emphasized that current SEC registration and reporting rules, designed for large public companies, disproportionately burden smaller, locally owned broadband providers. She noted the bill would enable rural providers to focus on expanding broadband infrastructure instead of navigating onerous regulations.  

John Klatt, CEO of Lakeland Communications, echoed this sentiment, stating the bill would allow rural providers like his company in northwest Wisconsin to concentrate on building fiber networks and supporting rural communities. He urged the House to pass the act promptly.  

In addition to Senators Baldwin and Ernst, the bill was co-sponsored by Senators Krysten Sinema (I-AZ), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Supporters believe the legislation is essential for fostering broadband development in rural areas by alleviating unnecessary financial and administrative strain.

CLICK HERE for more about the bill at Broadband Communities, a CBAN advocate member and media partner.