The latest edition of "Broadband Action" focuses on what happens next with the Universal Service Fund, or USF. The Universal Service Fund has played a huge role in getting Americans connected, first with telephone service and later with broadband. But legal challenges to the USF could put the program in jeopardy.

In this episode of Broadband Action, we chat with Christopher Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Sean Stokes with Keller & Heckman LLP.

• CLICK HERE to watch the video podcast on the CBAN YouTube Channel
• CLICK HERE to listen to the audio on Spotify, or search "Broadband Action" on your favorite podcast app.

https://communitynets.org
https://www.khlaw.com

As we count down the final 6 weeks until the CBAN/IAMU 2025 Spring Summit, we want to thank the amazing companies that have signed up as sponsors! Please plan to spend some time with each of these companies when you attend the Summit on April 22-23, 2025 at Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames!

We still have sponsorships and exhibit spaces available! CLICK HERE to learn more about the Summit, or reach out to CBAN Development Manager Marlena Pfeiffer - [email protected] - to reserve your space or sponsorship!

State officials are calling on Washington to allow continuity in the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program amid uncertainty following Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's announcement of a "rigorous review." While House Republicans criticized the program during a recent subcommittee hearing, state leaders from both parties are urging federal officials not to disrupt progress.
Missouri State Representative Louis Riggs, a Republican, bluntly stated: "Leave it alone; let the states do what they've done." He emphasized that states have developed expertise and infrastructure to deploy broadband effectively, expanding offices and refining maps to ensure accurate service delivery.
Vermont's Community Broadband Board officials expressed concern about potential federal interference, with Deputy Director Robert Fish noting that changes to the program "keeps me up at night." West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito supports improvements but doesn't want her state to face delays or redoing applications.
Several states have already begun awarding grants, though others like Texas have paused programs amid federal uncertainty. Former NTIA Deputy Administrator Sarah Morris captured the sentiment: "States are on the one-yard line... anything that will set that back or create more redundant work... will be frustrating."

Patrick Moreland has been appointed as the new executive director of DVFiber, a Communications Union District bringing high-speed fiber internet to 24 towns in southern Vermont. DVFiber recently joined CBAN as a Provider Member.

Previously Assistant Town Manager for Brattleboro since 2011, Moreland has extensive experience in public service, municipal management, and broadband expansion. As a founding member of DVFiber's Governing Board, he helped bring Brattleboro into the district.
DVFiber President Steven John praised Moreland's project management skills and commitment to public service. Moreland expressed honor in taking the leadership role with the community-owned, municipal fiber-optic provider that aims to support economic development, telemedicine, education, and local businesses by delivering reliable internet to rural southeastern Vermont.
For more information about DVFiber, visit their website: https://dvfiber.net

The CBAN/IAMU 2025 Spring Summit is a can't miss event for midwestern broadband providers and community leaders. In the next few issues of Broadband Bytes we'll be focusing on some of the amazing sessions we have planned for the Summit on April 22-23, 2025 at Gateway Hotel in Ames, Iowa.

Our moderator is Kim McKinley of TAK Communications, long-time marketing manager for Utopia Fiber, America's largest community-owned open access networks. She's a nationally-recognized broadband expert and frequent presenter/panelist at events across America.

Kyle Box is City Operations Director for the City of Willmar, Minnesota. This week, the WIllmar City Council voted to decline an offer from Charter to build fiber in their industrial park and instead to continue their plans to build an open access network. Kyle will discuss Willmar's long journey to a key decision point.

Josh Orlowitz is Director of Strategy and Planning for Bonfire Fiber, which is building open access fiber networks in several areas. They are looking to work with additional communities who want to bring the consumer choice advantages of open access to their residents.

Dan Tracy, the Technology Director for the City of Ammon, Idaho will talk about his project-one of the very first open access networks in the nation, it's financing model, and how it has changed the broadband landscape in their community. Dan will be joining us virtually through the magic of FIBER OPTIC BROADBAND!

It's time to lock in your plans to join us for the Spring Summit! CLICK HERE to read more about the Summit, Including our full Spring Summit schedule, and to get registered. You'll also want to reserve your room at Gateway Hotel before the end of March so you can take advantage of our group rate. We'll see you in Ames!

The Trump administration has announced plans to revamp the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, shifting to a "tech-neutral approach" that removes previous preferences for fiber-optic infrastructure. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's announcement signals a significant policy change from the Biden-era rules, which prioritized fiber for its superior speed capabilities.

This evolution of the BEAD program continues to fuel uncertainty among providers who had aligned their strategies with the original fiber-centric guidelines. The policy shift could particularly benefit Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service, which provides connectivity via low-altitude satellites.
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Musk, who serves as a close adviser to President Trump and leads a government efficiency initiative, could see his SpaceX subsidiary gain increased access to federal funding despite concerns from broadband experts. Critics like Drew Garner from the Benton Institute note that fiber delivers "significantly faster speeds" than satellite alternatives, highlighting the ongoing debate about optimal approaches for connecting remote areas of the nation.

The USDA's Rural Utilities Service has announced approximately $26 million in grants through the Community Connect Grant Program for fiscal year 2025. The program aims to deliver broadband services to economically challenged rural communities currently lacking internet access, fostering economic growth and improving education and healthcare opportunities.

Eligible applicants include incorporated organizations, Indian Tribes, state and local governments, and legal entities such as cooperatives and corporations (for-profit or non-profit). The program requires matching contributions as specified in federal regulations.

Grant awards range from $100,000 to $5 million, with announcements expected in September 2025. The application window opened February 20, 2025, and closes April 21, 2025, at 11:59 a.m. ET. Applications must be submitted electronically. CLICK HERE for more information about the program.

This initiative is one of several USDA broadband programs, including the ReConnect Program which recently allocated over $313 million to connect rural communities across 18 states.

Based on the provided document, here's a concise 200-word summary of the SPEED for BEAD Act:
On March 5, 2025, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced the SPEED for BEAD Act, the first major legislative proposal to amend the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.
The bill proposes several significant changes, including renaming the program to "Broadband Expansion, Access, and Deployment." Unused funds would be returned to the Treasury rather than reallocated to other states. Digital inclusion activities would no longer be eligible for funding, though telecommunications workforce development would be added.
The legislation would allow internet service providers to remove locations that would "unreasonably increase costs" from service areas. It would prohibit numerous award conditions related to labor practices, climate change, and network management.
The bill would redefine "reliable broadband service" to include any technology meeting performance criteria, enabling technologies like LEO satellites to compete alongside cable and fiber options. It would also prevent regulation of broadband rates, including low-cost plans for low-income households.
While the bill could soon receive a legislative hearing, it lacks a Senate companion. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has indicated interest in similar reforms. Critics note the legislation could delay deployment by requiring states to rewrite their BEAD plans, potentially taking over a year.

In a tight 4-3 vote, the Willmar City Council has approved moving forward with the Connect Willmar Initiative, a $24.5 million project to build an open-access, city-owned fiber optic network. The decision came despite a last-minute offer from Charter Communications (Spectrum) to build up its fiber-optic network in the city's industrial park at no cost if the council would pause the municipal project.

The Connect Willmar Initiative aims to provide high-speed internet access to all homes and businesses in this agricultural city of 21,000 residents. Construction costs will be funded through bonds, with internet service providers paying leasing fees to use the network, generating revenue to repay the bonds.

Supporters of the project, including Council Members Vicki Davis, Tom Gilbertson, Justin Ask, and Carl Shuldes, believe the potential community growth outweighs the financial risks. They also noted that the city's fiber network would be useful for up to 40 years, longer than Charter's proposed coaxial cable infrastructure.

To learn more about Willmar's planned open access fiber network, join us for the CBAN/IAMU 2025 Spring Summit on April 22-23, 2025 at Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. Kyle Box, the Willmar City Operations Director, will participate in a panel discussion "Open Access Fiber Networks: Many Models, One Goal" along with Josh Orlowitze with Bonfire Networks and Dan Tracy with the City of Ammon, Idaho. The panel, moderated by Kim McKinley of TAK Communications, will outline how the open access model can help communities bring fiber services to residents with an emphasis on consumer choice. Join us!

There are so many reasons why broadband providers, community leaders, advocates, and vendors should attend the CBAN/IAMU 2025 Spring Summit on April 22-23, 2025 at Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. Here are just a few reasons you should register today!

Other confirmed speakers and moderators

• Kim McKinley, TAK Communications
• David Hollingsworth, Allo Fiber
• Dan Davis, Consortia Consulting
• Jon Willow, CBAN
• Ben Stineman, FuseTechnic
• Tom Esselman, DEPOT-KC

...and many more to be announced in the coming weeks!

We're going all out to make the 2025 Spring Summit the biggest and best ever. Here are some of the confirmed topics for our various sessions.

The Vendor Expo is always a highlight of the Spring Summit. This year,we're excited to have several amazing companies already signed up as major sponsors!

This year's Spring Summit has so much to offer, and we're expecting record attendance. So, what are you waiting for? Register today and reserve your seat at the table!