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With ACP Gone, New Mexico Creates First State-Level Internet Affordability Program

An aerial view of a city in New Mexico at dusk with a picturesque mountain scape in the background
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New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law today new legislation that aims to provide tens of thousands of low-income households in “The Land of Enchantment” an Internet lifeline similar to the now-expired federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

It makes the state the first to step up in the absence of federal action to support households that just can’t afford to pay for monthly service, and will directly support 173,000 households.

Headshot of NM State Sen Michael Padilla

Senate Bill 152 – first filed on January 26 of this year by State Sen. Michael Padilla, (D) Majority Whip – will update the state’s Rural Telecommunications Act and empower the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) to offer up to $30/month for qualified households to pay for Internet service.

The broadband bill, known as the Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program (LITAP), passed through the formal legislative session in high-speed fashion. It was first introduced at the end of January, passed by the House, and then the Senate by a 38-0 margin last Thursday (Feb. 12), making its way to the governor’s desk to be signed into law today. That’s a 25-day marathon from legislative start-to-finish.

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NTIA Signals It Will Follow Law on Non-Deployment Funds, But Wants More Ideas

NTIA logo
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Close to a 1,000 broadband-minded registrants attended yesterday’s listening session on how to spend an estimated $21 billion in “non-deployment” funds states should have at their disposal from the federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) program.

Hosted by the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA), the Commerce Department agency administering the program, the online listening session featured about 50 selected speakers. Most of those who spoke advocated using the money to tackle the array of non-infrastructure barriers to expand broadband (affordability, device distribution, and digital skills programs) – made all the more urgent in light of the Trump administration’s sudden “termination” of the Digital Equity Act last year.

Though it runs counter to the bipartisan infrastructure law that established the program, a handful of speakers actually suggested the funds simply be returned to the U.S. Treasury, presumably to “save taxpayer dollars.”

One speaker even tried to make the case that money Congress explicitly intended to address the nation’s massive digital divide should instead be given to Air Traffic Controllers.

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Mergers, Monopoly Prices, and Accountability - Episode 676 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

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In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined again by Doug Dawson and Sean Gonsalves for a fast-moving discussion of the latest developments reshaping the broadband landscape. 

The trio unpacks a wave of major telecom mergers, including AT&T’s acquisition of Lumen assets and Frontier’s consolidation, and what growing market power means for prices, competition, and consumers.

They dig into new research from Chattanooga showing the long-term economic and community benefits of municipal fiber, alongside a major California Public Utilities Commission study revealing how lack of competition drives higher broadband prices—especially for low-income households. 

Doug explains how ISPs increasingly use neighborhood-by-neighborhood pricing tactics, leaving long-time customers paying the most for the slowest speeds.

The conversation also revisits Starlink’s controversial demands to rewrite BEAD program rules, the uncertain future of non-deployment funds, and why satellite solutions continue to fall short of their promises. 

Rounding out the episode, the group explores emerging pressures from AI-driven bandwidth demands, consolidation in wholesale fiber markets, and troubling legal trends that raise questions about accountability, regulation, and consumer protections.

This show is 51 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed. 

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

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Starlink Demands Less Oversight As It Receives Hundreds Of Millions In New Subsidies

Starlink satellite orbits above Earth
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Elon Musk’s Starlink is making new demands of states with an eye on eroding accountability and oversight, reheating concerns about whether spending big money on the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) network is the best possible use of taxpayer resources.

Last year, the Trump administration made revisions to NTIA rules surrounding the $42.5 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, And Deployment (BEAD) program, demanding that states de-prioritize fiber and dole out significantly more money to LEO satellite providers – a move broadly seen as a personal gift to one of the President’s biggest financial donors.

This subsidy reward, slated to be at least $733 million to start, is money that in some cases is being redirected away from higher-capacity, more affordable local options like open access community-owned fiber networks.

The NTIA changes introduced significant new delays in a program already rife with them. The Trump administration’s threat to withhold grant awards from states that focus on affordability – and the high consumer costs, environmental impact, and capacity constraints of the LEO network – risks undermining BEAD’s promise of faster, more affordable access.

Standoff Orbits 'LEO participation' 

Last week, Broadband.io and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society obtained a copy of a letter Starlink parent company SpaceX sent to individual states, demanding freedom from state oversight and monitoring should they bungle installs or fail to deliver acceptable bandwidth.

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When Starlink Rewrites the Rules of Broadband Funding - Episode 675 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

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In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by Doug Adams, head of Broadband Marketers and writer at Broadband.io, and Karl Bode for a wide-ranging discussion on recent developments reshaping federal broadband policy.

The conversation centers on Starlink’s latest efforts to reshape BEAD program requirements through confidential riders sent to state broadband offices—requests that would dramatically reduce accountability, alter performance standards, and deliver large sums of public funding upfront. 

Doug breaks down what states are being asked to accept, why NTIA has reportedly warned states not to sign on, and how these demands differ from the obligations placed on fiber and fixed wireless providers.

Chris and Karl place the moment in historical context, comparing it to past telecom subsidy failures and raising concerns about affordability, capacity limits, consumer protections, and long-term resilience. 

The discussion also touches on broader themes: the erosion of federal oversight, the future of municipal broadband, how ARPA funds are still quietly delivering results in states like New York, and why community-driven fiber networks may once again become the fallback as federal promises falter.

The episode closes with reflections on accountability, public trust, and the real-world impacts of policy decisions on rural communities.

This show is 50 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed. 

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

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Maryland Lawmakers Advance Broadband Affordability Bill Despite Federal Pushback

Maryland State Capitol building in the day time
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Despite a memo issued by the NTIA last summer that sought to discourage states from passing affordable broadband legislation similar to New York State’s Affordable Broadband Act, two dozen state lawmakers in Maryland have signed on to the Broadband Opportunity and Fairness Act, state legislation that seeks to address the single biggest barrier to Internet access anywhere: affordability.

HB-382, if passed, would require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operating in Maryland to offer low-cost Internet service plans to eligible low-income households.

Introduced by Delegate Kris Fair (D-3A, Frederick Co.), the bill now has 25 co-sponsors and is slated for a Feb. 12 legislative hearing before the House Economic Matters Committee. Companion legislation has yet to be filed in the Senate, though Delegate Fair’s office says they are in discussions with state Senators about advancing a bill through that chamber as well.

Stepping Up and 'Doing Something'

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Serving the Overlooked: Building Broadband for Manufactured Housing Communities - Episode 674 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

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In this episode of the podcast, Chris and Sean Gonsalves are joined by Brendan Kelly, founder of REVinternet, a new Internet Service Provider focused on bringing better connectivity to manufactured housing communities. 

Brendan shares how years working inside large telecom companies—and later with smaller ISPs—revealed just how consistently these communities are overlooked, locked into aging coaxial networks, and offered little incentive for upgrades.

The conversation explores why manufactured housing parks present unique challenges for broadband deployment, from private land ownership and outdated infrastructure to stigma and lack of competition. 

Brendan explains REVinternet’s service-agnostic approach, combining fiber, fixed wireless, and other technologies to deliver affordable, reliable Internet while working directly with park owners and residents.

Chris, Sean, and Brendan also dig into the role of digital equity, customer support, and trust-building—discussing everything from payment flexibility and digital navigation to partnerships with municipal networks. 

The episode offers a thoughtful look at how targeted, community-centered broadband strategies can succeed where one-size-fits-all policies have failed, and why manufactured housing residents deserve the same quality connectivity as any other neighborhood.

This show is 28 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

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New York Expands Its Historic Investment In Municipal Broadband

Construction crew installs fiber in a right-of-way on side of the road in Dryden NY
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a dramatic expansion of the state’s Municipal Infrastructure Program (MIP), resulting in an additional $36 million cash infusion for the growing number of creative, community-owned and operated fiber expansion projects in the state.

According to a state announcement, the existing MIP program, launched in early 2024, has already funded more than $268 million in assorted open access fiber projects across the state. A state broadband office dashboard tracks all active municipal projects funded to date.

That includes efforts like the growing open access municipal fiber network in Dryden, New York, which has been steadily delivering affordable next-gen fiber to the long-underserved rural communities of Dryden and nearby Caroline (population 3,321).

New York State officials say the $268 million in MIP grant funding has funded active projects across 24 New York counties, resulting in more than 2,300 miles of new fiber optic infrastructure and 68 new wireless hubs serving more than 96,000 homes and businesses. Most of this funding was made possible by the 2021 federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The MIP program is part of New York state’s billion dollar ConnectALL Initiative, and was specifically designed to support municipal broadband projects proven to be a viable, and increasingly popular, way to bring affordable, high-quality Internet service to long-neglected U.S. communities.

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Predictions for 2026: CBN Edition - Episode 673 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

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In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined by CBN colleagues Ry Marcattilio, Sean Gonsalves, and Christine Parker for a lively conversation about what they expect to shape broadband and technology policy in 2026. 

The team shares forecasts on everything from how many new municipal networks may come online to which states will keep building with local funding even as federal programs remain uncertain.

The discussion digs into the ongoing turbulence surrounding BEAD, including shifting rules, state-level roadblocks, and growing concerns that more communities could be left waiting yet another year for funding to arrive. 

They also debate the rise of fixed wireless access, the risks and limits of satellite connectivity, and why long-term infrastructure decisions can’t ignore real-world constraints.

Beyond broadband, the group explores the growing backlash to AI and data centers, questions about trust in government and Big Tech, and why digital skills and media literacy may become even more essential in daily life.

This show is 45 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

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Broadband Reality Check: BEAD, Competition, and What Comes Next - Episode 672 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

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In this episode of the podcast, Chris is joined again by Doug Dawson for a candid conversation about where U.S. broadband policy stands as 2026 begins—and where it’s falling short.

The discussion takes a hard look at BEAD implementation delays, how uncertainty at the federal level is reshaping ISP behavior, and why many communities still struggle to plan amid shifting rules and political pressure. 

Doug explains what he’s hearing directly from providers on the ground, including concerns about overbuilding, affordability gaps, and the long-term sustainability of different network models.

Chris and Doug also explore the limits of satellite and fixed wireless solutions, the continuing importance of fiber infrastructure, and why policy debates often miss the practical realities of deployment and operations. 

The episode offers a grounded, experience-driven perspective on what communities should realistically expect in the coming years—and what questions they should be asking now.

This show is 41 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

You can also check out the video version via YouTube.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

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