Jim Hyde

Great reporting from Doug Adams on the problematic micro-management of this grant program by NTIA. Once envisioned as a “decentralized” program in which the federal Government recognized the states know their own markets better than a DC bureaucrat, BEAD is now looking more and more like a badly run reverse auction. This needs to be stopped.

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Ouch! Two competing FTTH networks in a town of only ~230 households. 🫣 This is now a recurring theme in the state of Maine. From Arrowsic to Vienna and everywhere in between. Every city, town, island, and township that was once served by FairPoint/Consolidated DSL has been converted or is being converted to fiber. These Telco overbuilds are a siren song for any ISP or Municipality that is planning to invest millions to serve the remaining unserved locations in Maine, which are few and far between. Be advised, those once unserved BSLs may already be well-served through multiple different networks, including ftth, cable, fwa, and Leo, before you have your build-permits in hand. 🦉 #broadband #fiber #ftth #internet #BEAD #unserved #competition #rural #town #city #township #island #community #municipalbroadband The next frontier in Maine’s ‘David and Goliath’ fight over broadband expansion https://lnkd.in/eTeXSGTN

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Let’s keep BEAD from building yesterday’s networks tomorrow... Congress defined Priority Broadband Projects with two prongs: 100/20 Mbps today, and the ability to easily scale for tomorrow. That second prong only applies to PBPs — and it’s what makes them “priority.” If states don’t enforce it in SUBGRANTEE AGREEMENTS, they risk legal challenges, clawbacks of provisional awards, and wasted taxpayer dollars. (Full explanation in the first comment ↓)

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The game changes before most leaders see it. Fibre broadband isn’t an upgrade—it’s a strategic asset. Those who think several moves ahead shape the market. The rest respond to it.

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Headline: 📡 Broadband Bytes: January 2026 Industry Update The fiber industry isn’t slowing down. As we kick off 2026, the latest issue of Broadband Bytes from UCL Swift NA highlights a massive wave of M&A activity and infrastructure expansion. Key takeaways from this month's issue: 🚀 Record Growth: 2025 set a new record with 11.8M new homes passed. Fiber now reaches over 60% of U.S. households. 🤝 M&A Heatwave: Major moves from Cable One (Mega Broadband & Clearwave), the completion of the WOW! take-private deal, and TDS Telecom's shift toward strategic fiber acquisitions. ⚖️ Regulatory Roadblocks: The GAO has ruled that recent BEAD program changes require Congressional approval, adding a layer of uncertainty to federal funding timelines. 🌎 Global Impact: Starlink steps in to provide free internet in Venezuela following recent geopolitical shifts. Check out the full breakdown of funding, expansions, and technical news here: https://lnkd.in/eJNmD9gW #UCLSwift #Broadband #FiberOptics #Telecommunications #BEAD #Fiber #BroadbandBytes

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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has approached the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for recommendations on pricing and auction modalities for several spectrum bands, including 800 MHz, 900 MHz, and 1800 MHz, among others. Spectrum Bands Under Review: The DoT seeks TRAI's input on reserve prices, band plans, block sizes, quantum of spectrum to be auctioned, and associated conditions for the following bands: 800 MHz 900 MHz 1800 MHz 2100 MHz 2300 MHz 2500 MHz 3300 MHz 26 GHz 600 MHz (specifically, the 612-652 MHz and 663-703 MHz ranges) The 600 MHz Band Consideration: The 600 MHz band, which saw no takers in the 2022 auction, is being reconsidered. The DoT noted that this band has not been identified at the regional or global level for International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) in the ITU Radio Regulations. Therefore, fresh consultations with TRAI are deemed necessary before putting this band up for auction. Newly Identified Bands: TRAI has also been asked to examine the possibility of auctioning the newly identified 6,425-6,725 MHz and 7,025-7,125 MHz bands. Recommendations are sought on auction timing, band plans, reserve prices, and terms and conditions for these bands.

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📈 U.S. Fiber Deployment Hits an All-Time High — Are We About to Overtake Cable? 📌 In 2025, U.S. fiber broadband providers passed 11.8 million new homes, pushing total FTTH passings to ~98.3 million — nearing the 100 million milestone and now covering over 60% of U.S. households. Average take rates climbed to ~46.5%, with even higher penetration where competitive fiber exists, signaling that fiber-to-fiber competition boosts adoption. 👉 This isn’t just a build number — it suggests fiber could surpass cable broadband as the dominant U.S. platform by ~2028, reshaping competitive strategy and prioritizing investment in both new builds and overbuilds. 🔗 Source: Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) annual deployment survey—a record-breaking year. https://lnkd.in/eVyE-gFW

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Stop letting bureaucracy kill your project's timeline and budget. Independent broadband operators are ditching bloated turnkey providers for the speed and value of mid-sized contractors. Here's why: •Faster Execution: No more layers of management. Go from plan to buildout in record time. •Better Value: Your investment goes into the ground, not into corporate overhead. •True Partnership: Work with an agile team that's as invested in your success as you are. Ready to build smarter, not harder? #SCTETechExpo25 #BOI #TechInnovation Click on article link, below.

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