Federal Communications Commission Jessica Rosenworcel welcomed the start of a new era in broadband price and service transparency. The nationwide launch of the Broadband Consumer Labels means internet service providers are now required to display consumer-friendly labels at the point of sale. The Broadband Consumer Labels resemble the well-known nutrition labels that appear on food products. To ensure the label benefits all consumers, the FCC adopted language and accessibility requirements for the label's display. Labels are required for all standalone home or fixed internet service or mobile broadband plans. Providers must display the label—not simply an icon or link to the label—in close proximity to an associated plan’s advertisement.  Accurate, simple-to-understand information about broadband internet access services helps consumers make informed choices. Transparency is central to a well-functioning marketplace that encourages competition, innovation, low prices, and high-quality service. The labels are designed to provide clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information about the cost and performance of standalone high-speed internet services. 

The federal government is investing billions of dollars in expanding broadband access. Some new infrastructure—such as broadband towers—will be situated on federal lands. Federal agencies are required to process applications for such permits within 270 days. The Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service process most of these applications. Between 2018-2022, both agencies missed the deadline for some applications and for others couldn't determine if they processed the applications on time. GAO analyzed federal permitting data; reviewed laws and reports on the application review process; and interviewed agency officials. Based on this analysis, GAO is making six recommendations—three to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and three to Forest Service—to improve their processing of communications use applications, so that they are better able to meet the 270-day deadline. BLM and the Forest Service agreed with the recommendations.

1. The Director of BLM should develop controls to ensure BLM data are sufficiently accurate and complete to track processing times for all communications use applications
2. The Chief of the Forest Service should develop controls to ensure Forest Service data are sufficiently accurate and complete to track processing times for all communications use applications
3. The Director of BLM should continue to analyze the factors that contribute to delays in processing communications use applications as they occur and take actions to address those factors
4. The Chief of the Forest Service should continue to analyze the factors that contribute to delays in processing communications use applications as they occur, as well as the efficacy of the actions the agency has taken to address those factors, and take additional actions as necessary
5. The Director of BLM should establish a method to alert staff to communications use applications at risk of exceeding the 270-day deadline
6. The Chief of the Forest Service should establish a method to alert staff to communications use applications at risk of exceeding the 270-day deadline

What does future demand for broadband speed and usage mean for last mile technologies? The fastest broadband technology today is fiber, and the most common fiber technology is passive optical network (PON), which brings broadband to local clusters of customers. The original PON technology deployed in the early 2000s was BPON, which had the capability to deliver 622 megabits of speed to share in a cluster of 32 homes. The industry has pivoted in the last few years to XGS-PON, which can deliver 10 gigabits of bandwidth to a neighborhood cluster of homes. XGS-PON is a great upgrade, but it is not going to satisfy broadband needs in 25 years when demand is at least 12 to 15 times greater than today. Something that cable executives all know but don’t want to say out loud is that cable networks will not be able to keep up with expected future demand over 25 years. A few cable companies have already acknowledged this reality. Altice announced a transition to fiber years ago but doesn’t seem to have the financial strength to complete the upgrades. Cox has quietly started to upgrade its largest markets to fiber. All big cable companies are using fiber for expansion. By 25 years from now, all cable companies will have made the transition to fiber. There is no possibility for wireless technology to keep up with the increased demand that will be expected in 25 years. Unless satellite technology finds a way to get a lot faster, it won’t be a technology of choice except for folks in remote areas. Mobile data is always going to be vital, but there will be major pressure on wireless companies to finally deliver on the promises of 5G to keep up with future demand for speed and bandwidth.

The Utah Broadband Center (UBC), part of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, is launching the Utah Broadband Availability Challenge Process to finalize identifying broadband serviceable locations in Utah without access to reliable high-speed internet infrastructure. These locations will be eligible for some of the approximately $317 million of federal funding allocated to Utah through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Eligible entities, including local and tribal governments, nonprofits, qualified education organizations, and internet service providers, can participate by verifying existing broadband service for households, businesses, and community anchor institutions and challenge locations reported incorrectly. The broadband availability map, registration, and Challenge Process Portal are open for review by eligible entities here. Official challenges can be submitted beginning April 18, 2024. Individuals wishing to challenge their home or business speeds can also participate by submitting speed tests in the portal until the challenge closes on May 28, 2024. Completing a survey and taking three separate speed tests on different days are required for an eligible challenge to a provider’s advertised speed.

Officials with ACA Connects and EducationSuperHighway spelled out a series of concerns they have about a proposal from FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel that aims to ban "bulk billing" for broadband in apartments, condos and other types of multiple-dwelling units (MDUs). Bulk billing agreements typically enable MDUs to negotiate discounted rates for broadband services on behalf of their residents. Both ACA Connects, an organization that represents hundreds of small and midsized independent US broadband service providers, and EducationSuperHighway, a national nonprofit focused on closing the digital divide for about 17 million low-income households, are asking the FCC to effectively "pump the brakes" on the item and to spend more time reconsidering and reassessing the proposed ban. Under Rosenworcel's proposal, the updated rules would allow tenants to opt out of bulk billing. Education SuperHighway and ACA Connects believe a ban will actually raise broadband prices. ACA Connects and EducationSuperHighway also don't believe a proposed opt-out option is workable because it undermines the business models that bulk billing agreements are based upon, including penetration rates that enable lower-cost options for MDU residents.