Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel delivered remarks on April 6th, 2023, about the state of communications infrastructure in Indian Country to the 2023 Reservation Economic Summit. "I believe affordable broadband access is a prerequisite for full participation in our society and economy." This statement made by Rosenworcel in her speech highlights the importance of universal broadband access. Rosenworcel discusses the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has brought attention to the digital divide affecting low-income families and rural communities. She calls for a comprehensive approach that includes investment in broadband infrastructure, promotion of competition, and access to affordable service. Digital literacy and inclusion efforts must also be improved to ensure that everyone can participate in the digital economy. Rosenworcel urges the FCC to take action to address the digital divide and promote universal broadband access.

New York City is shutting down NYC Mesh, a community-run low-cost broadband network that provided affordable internet access to underserved areas. The network relied on a decentralized model where users helped expand it. The city's Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) cited safety concerns and a lack of proper permits for the dismantling. It’s being replaced by a $90 million, three-year government subsidy, called “Big Apple Connect” that instead gives a contract to big internet providers Optimum and Spectrum Communications (Charter). Critics argue that the city should work with community broadband providers like NYC Mesh to expand internet access, rather than shutting them down. This move is seen as a blow to efforts to bridge the digital divide and provide affordable internet access to those who need it most.

Delaware has been vocal about its universal broadband efforts, as it hopes to become the first state to connect every resident and business with high-speed internet. But there is still work to be done before and after universal coverage happens. Delaware’s Chief Information Officer, Roddy Flynn, has announced that the state's broadband target is now 100/100 Megabits per second (Mbps) speeds for every citizen, up from a previous target of 25 Mbps. The state has set aside $100 million in funding to achieve this goal and plans to focus on building fiber optic infrastructure to support it. The 100/100 Mbps speed threshold may not suffice in the long-term, Flynn noted, due to increasing demands put on internet infrastructure. The Chief Information Officer emphasized the importance of broadband access for economic growth and job creation. Delaware has also launched a new website to help residents track the state's progress in achieving its broadband goals. The state plans to work with internet service providers to ensure that all Delaware residents have access to affordable high-speed internet.

T-Mobile has long been a participant in the Federal Communications Commission's spectrum auctions, which the Commission has used for 30 years to rapidly assign licenses. These auctions fuel the U.S. economy—they’ve returned $233 billion to taxpayers so far, and once armed with this spectrum, wireless companies have spent another $635 billion building out networks. American consumers benefit from these investments—they’ve resulted in the world’s best 5G service that is now a platform for innovators and has created millions of jobs. That’s why Congress must act now to renew the FCC’s spectrum auction authority, which lapsed in March for the first time in 30 years. Without such authority, the FCC can’t auction licenses, and there’s no other practical way to bring more spectrum to market. That’s a massive competitive disadvantage for the United States and a disadvantage for American consumers.