Category Archives: Vendors

Fiber supply threatens US broadband targets

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Light Reading reports…

Warnings about a US fiber crunch that could slow down broadband deployment have intensified since the summer. In August, Incab America, a Texan maker of fiber-optic cable, notified customers that “a significant fiber shortage is emerging” in a statement signed by Mike Riddle, its president, who blamed data centers for “sucking up all the fiber production capacity.” The situation reminded him of 2000, when lead times lengthened to a year. They have now risen to the same level, said a separate industry source who requested anonymity.

That compares with normal lead times of between eight and 12 weeks, according to the same source. Even when there is some tightness in the supply chain, they never usually exceed 15 to 20 weeks, he said. But a wave of investment in data centers, built to train AI’s large language models (LLMs), has quickly gobbled supplies of glass and other materials used in fiber-optic cables. “The three leading glass manufacturers in the United States are experiencing challenges in meeting this heightened demand,” observed Riddle in August. “Notably, one manufacturer has already sold all of its fiber inventory through the year 2026.”

Policies may also have an impact…

Yet surging demand from AI data centers is not the only problem. Sourcing components from overseas has also become harder because of the tariff restrictions Trump has slapped on imports of foreign goods. There is some industry frustration, too, about the need to comply with the rules of the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act signed into law by Joe Biden, Trump’s White House predecessor, in November 2021.

Under BABA’s provisions, initiatives are ineligible for government financial aid “unless all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States.” That has ramifications for companies participating in the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which draws on government funds to extend network coverage into hard-to-reach and underserved communities.

Update on cable expansion in Minnesota

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NCTA – The Internet & Television Association tracks cable broadband expansion in the Midwest, including Minnesota…

Comcast has expanded its fiber network to more than 600 homes and businesses in Stillwater Township through a public-private partnership funded by the Minnesota Office of Broadband, Washington County and the local community.

Midco is expanding its fiber network across the West Metro area, bringing service to homes and businesses in Long Lake, Maple Plain, Medina, Mound, Orono, Shorewood and St. Bonifacius, following completed construction in Loretto and ongoing work in Independence and Minnetrista.

Mediacom has launched multi-gig and symmetrical speed broadband services to more than 2,400 households in the rural communities of Howard Lake and Winsted, upgrading the region using its existing fiber-rich network.

EVENT Jan 13-15: Clearfield launches Tribal broadband technician training program in Brooklyn Park MN

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Telecompetitor reports…

Tribal residents will have access to certified broadband training through fiber optic equipment company Clearfield Inc.’s new Tribal Broadband Training Initiative.

The free three-day course is accredited by the Fiber Optic Association for Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) training. It combines hands-on elements with classroom learning. The course covers inside plant, outside plant, and access network applications.

The goal is to offer a broadband training session each quarter near Tribal lands. The inaugural session will be held January 13–15 at Clearfield’s headquarters in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Subsequent sessions will be held from April 7–9 at the Hopi Telecommunications office in Keams Canyon, Arizona, and from July 21–23 at Tri County Tech in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Brooking Institution looks at the Future of White Earth Nation’s advancing broadband connectivity,

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Description of the event from the hosts:

America’s Rural Future: Brookings–AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity is a bipartisan initiative co-chaired by former Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat, and former Governor Chris Sununu, a Republican. America’s Rural Future brings together a cross-section of the country—spanning diverse backgrounds, regions, values, and industries—to inform its work to develop policy solutions for rural prosperity. On October 23, the America’s Rural Future visited White Earth Nation in Minnesota for a conversation on how tribal communities are advancing broadband connectivity, capital access, and small business development. Speakers discussed the role of the community college, particularly as it relates to building pathways for youth to remain in place or to return home. Expert panelists: Nate Mathews, Executive Director of Tribal Utility Commission, White Earth Nation Bridget Guiza, Customized Education Coordinator, White Earth Tribal and Community College Mary Metelak, Co-Owner and Vice-President, B&T Meats Nearly one in five Americans lives in rural communities, and their contributions are vital to the nation’s economic, cultural, and social fabric. The Commission brings together leaders from across industries to develop long-term, pragmatic solutions grounded in rural realities—focused on ensuring a fair shot, no matter the zip code. Senior Fellow Tony Pipa (Brookings) and Brent Orrell (AEI) lead the research efforts supporting the Commission’s work. To learn more about our research, visit: brookings.edu/americasruralfuture

 

Benton looks at WISPs’ place in BEAD

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The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society took a look at whether WISPs are sufficient for BEAD funds…

Sue Marek, Editorial Director of Ookla, has been looking at the speed performance of a variety of broadband technologies over time, including Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite providers. This week, Marek analyzed the performance of eight of the largest U.S. wireless internet service providers (WISPs) over several quarters from Q1 2021 until Q2 2025.

All eight WISPs studied by Ookla improved their speed offerings over the observed period. But are their current speed offerings enough for BEAD?

They take a look at 8 providers representing a variety of WISP setups. You can check out the article for specifics; I’ll just share the results…

Using Speedtest data collected in Q2 2025, Ookla compared the median download and upload speeds of the eight WISPs to determine what percentage of their Speedtest users were receiving the Federal Communications Commission’s minimum standard for fixed broadband speeds (100/20 Mbps).

Ookla found that Starry is able to provide the FCC’s minimum standard for broadband to the highest percentage of users at 66.9 percent. Resound Networks, the second-highest of the eight WISPs and one of those receiving BEAD funds, still only comes in at 41.5 percent of Speedtest users achieving wireless broadband speeds of 100/20 Mbps. Wisper and Nextlink, the other two WISPs to receive BEAD funding, have users achieving 100/20 Mbps speeds at rates of 26.0 percent and 24.4 percent, respectively. The rest of the WISPs have lower percentages, with Rise Broadband being the lowest at just 6.7 percent.

So, according to Ookla’s analysis, most broadband consumers who will receive BEAD-funded fixed-wireless internet access service will not achieve the minimum speeds of 100/20 Mbps.

Of the providers mentioned only one is poised to get BEAD funding in Minnesota:

NextLink BEAD awards: Minnesota: $1,541,073 for 2,401 locations

Sherburne County to expands Arvig Elk River and Haven/Clear Lake Broadband Grant Program

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The Patriot News reports on Sherburne County business…

The board approved amendments to Arvig Elk River and Haven/Clear Lake Broadband Grant Program agreements

Arvig received ARPA Broadband Access Program grants for several projects in 2023. The Elk River Round #1, Elk River Round #2, and the Clear Lake/Haven Round #2 projects were completed (or are very near to completion) under budget.

Staff recommended utilizing the remaining funds ($453,300) to expand the original scope of each project. The revised project scope would serve an additional 71 passings, which include 10 unserved and 61 underserved properties in Elk River, Haven, and Clear Lake.

USTelecom 2025 Pricing Index shows lower costs and higher speeds for broadband

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USTelecom, an industry association, published their 2025 Pricing Index (Lower Bills, Faster Speeds: Family Budgets Get a Boost as Broadband Prices Decline )…

This sixth edition of USTelecom’s Broadband
Pricing Index (BPI) shows U.S. broadband services
have continued a long-running trend of pairing
faster speeds with lower bills. These price declines
stand in sharp contrast to overall U.S. inflation
(CPI-U), which stood at 2.4% from March 2024 to
March 2025.
The continued progress of broadband affordability
and quality over the past year adds to a 10
year record of soaring consumer value. Indeed,
broadband prices for today’s most popular services
(100-940 Mbps) have declined by 43.1% over the
past 10 years, while the cost of overall consumer
goods and services has risen by 35.8%.
As network investment and fiber deployment
continue at near-record levels—$89.6 billion last year alone —U.S. consumers have the powerful dual advantage
of some of the world’s most advanced and increasingly affordable high-speed connections. This connectivity is
foundational so that more Americans can participate in our modern digital economy—from accessing medical
specialists, remote work and educational opportunities to realizing the promise of AI and quantum networks.

Midco Acquires SCI Broadband in Minnesota Network Expansion

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Midco shares…

Today, Midco finalized the acquisition of Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) Broadband, a purchase that expands Midco’s Minnesota network and prepares the company for continued fiber expansion in the state.

“We are excited to officially welcome the SCI Broadband team into the Midco family,” said Midco Chair & CEO Pat McAdaragh. “To our new customers, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve you. Our Midco Customer Commitment extends to each of you, and we look forward to continuing the best-in-class experience the SCI team has provided.”

SCI Broadband was founded in 1984 by Ron Savage and grew to serve nearly 12,000 data customers in central Minnesota. By the end of this year, the network built by SCI will reach nearly 28,000 passings.

“It’s been an honor to grow SCI alongside so many talented team members, and I’m confident the integration of SCI into Midco will serve our customers well,” said SCI Broadband President & Founder Ron Savage. “I’m grateful for the smooth transition and warm welcome our team has received from Midco.”

As part of the acquisition, all SCI team members received a job offer from Midco.

“This acquisition supports Midco’s strategy of fiber expansion, fiber upgrades and convergence,” said Midco President and Chief Operating Officer Ben Dold. “Our fiber expansion will continue in new Minnesota markets in 2026. Meantime, our Beyond Gig upgrades are bringing high-split symmetrical speeds to more homes and businesses across the five-state footprint. Plus, Midco Mobile is on track to launch at the end of the year. It’s been an ambitious year for Midco, and we’re not slowing down in 2026.”

“Over the next three years, we will be making significant investments in the network we acquired from SCI to enhance product offerings for our customers,” said Midco Senior VP of Technology Bill Chatwell. “These investments include fiber-to-the-premises upgrades with higher speed tiers in the legacy coax service areas, the introduction of our advanced IPTV-based video product MidcoTV and enhancing the core network to offer our full suite of residential and business products.”

 

The FCC and Congress make moves to streamline broadband permitting at federal level

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State Scoop reports…

The Federal Communications Commission and Congress are considering reforms to numerous broadband permitting processes across the country, with the aim of accelerating deployment. Most changes would potentially preempt state and local government rules.

The House Energy Subcommittee on Communications and Technology on Tuesday heard amendments and marked up 28 bills that would streamline broadband permitting, passing several Republican-led measures to rollback regulations.

And the FCC this week has formally kicked off consideration of new measures to reform broadband permitting. That process includes public comments solicited through a notice of inquiry published in September. The agency’s deadline for initial comments passed on Monday, and reply comments are due in mid-December.

Both efforts follow frustrations over the last several years with the broadband infrastructure permitting process, magnified by billions of dollars of federal investment across the states. The Biden administration created a number of federal broadband programs to expand access to high-speed, broadband internet through the former president’s Internet for All initiative, which was created by the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

The article goes on to explain the impact on some proposed changes on state and local role…

Following roll call votes, the subcommittee voted favorably on seven bills, sending them to the full committee for consideration, including one that would set “shot clocks” for permitting, giving state and local agencies 150 days to approve or deny new construction permits, and 90 days to respond to permit applications to modify existing broadband infrastructure. Requests that don’t receive responses within those timeframes would be automatically approved.

Industry Association (ACA) wants FCC to preempt state laws on permitting, rates

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Light Reading reports…

ACA Connects plans to submit comments to the FCC urging the Commission to use its authority under section 253 of the Communications Act to preempt state and local laws on permitting and rate regulation.

ACA Connects, the industry group representing small and midsize cable and broadband providers, is hoping to use an FCC proceeding to secure reforms on permitting and rate regulation, issues the group sees as prohibitive to its members.

The FCC in September opened a notice of inquiry (NOI) on “Eliminating barriers to wireline deployment,” seeking industry input on how the Commission can use its authority under section 253 of the Communications Act to preempt state and local laws that “have a prohibitive effect on wireline telecommunications deployments and services.”

ACA expects to submit its comments to the FCC’s proceeding in the coming days, but the group’s leadership held a press briefing on Wednesday (November 12) offering a summary of those comments and ACA’s top priorities.

The priorities, as summarized by ACA’s Brian Hurley, senior vice president of legal and regulatory affairs, include streamlining permitting and public rights of way, broadband price regulation (as in, laws like New York’s Affordable Broadband Act) and enforcement.

Mediacom Communications today announces multi-gig broadband in Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Meeker, Nicollet, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Scott, Waseca, Watonwan Counties and Lower Sioux Reservation

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CBS 42 reports…

Mediacom Communications today announced the launch of multi-gig and symmetrical-speed broadband services to more than 28,000 households across 13 counties in rural Minnesota. The network upgrades extend to residents in the communities of Pemberton, Lake Crystal, Springfield, Sleepy Eye, Mountain Lake, Montgomery, Silver Lake, Lester Prairie, Dassel, Darwin, Litchfield, Lafayette, North Redwood, Redwood Falls, Lower Sioux, Hector, Franklin, Morton, Buffalo Lake, Bird Island, Danube, Veseli, Lonsdale, Belle Plaine, Waldorf, Janesville, Butterfield, and St. James.

Lismore Coop talking to Nobles County about extending FTTH to Rushmore and Ellsworth

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The Worthington Globe reports…

Travis Halbur of Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company met with the Nobles County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning to discuss a new project endeavor with intent to request funding assistance from the county.

Carter Grupp, consulting project manager at Finley Engineering Company, was also present to offer more information on the project, which is intended to bring a fiber line into Rushmore, Ellsworth and other non-grant subscribers throughout the county.

Some specifics on the proposal…

The total cost of the project is estimated at $682,000. Nobles County was asked to provide 20%, or $136,400, as a local commitment toward an application to secure more funding through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Broadband Line Extension Connection program . The program awards grants for the extension of existing broadband infrastructure to unserved locations, which includes Ellsworth, Rushmore, Worthington and Fulda. …

With the line extension grant application due Nov. 25, there isn’t much time to gather funds. Though, the project is not meant to be a large-scale investment.

The proposed project would include about 18.74 miles of mainline cable, serving about 55 passings, which is an umbrella term to define an end user, such as a home, business, school, library or farm. Of those, 53 would be in Nobles County, while two would be in Murray County.

The cost per subscriber comes in at around $12,400, with the cost per mile at $36,000, which is pretty standard according to Grupp.

“We’re looking to leverage existing state funding to not only build last mile fiber, but also feed potentially four communities in Nobles County that don’t have access to fiber,” Grupp said.

 

Paul Bunyan Communications’ broadband Expansion continues in Itasca and St. Louis Counties

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Another update from Paul Bunyan Communications…

The end of construction season is near but Paul Bunyan Communications is still on track to complete its planned broadband expansion projects across parts of Itasca and St. Louis Counties.
Status of Paul Bunyan Communications Broadband Expansion projects:
• Itasca County:
City of Coleraine- COMPLETED. Network is operational and services are now available.
City of Bovey- Construction is in progress. Services expected to become available by mid-December
Bearville(s) Township- COMPLETED. Network is operational and services are now available.
• St. Louis County:
Sandy Pike, & Wuori Township- COMPLETED. Network is operational and services are now available.
Alango, Angora, & Owens Township- Network testing in progress. Services should become available by end of November.
Balkan Township- Construction is in progress. Services expected to become available by end of December
French Township- COMPLETED. Network is operational and services are now available.
Great Scott Township & unorganized township north of Great Scott- Construction has started. Services projected to be available by end of January
Once the network is operational in a project area, customers who signed up for service will be contacted to schedule service installations.
Service Applications Still Accepted for Fiber Optic Connection
Residents and businesses in these expansion areas who did not sign up for services already are welcome to do so at any time, The cooperative will still install the fiber optic connection up to the location with no construction fee. When the network can be installed depends upon when the service application is received. Service applications can be completed online at http://www.paulbunyan.net, by phone, or in person at our Grand Rapids Customer Service & Technology Center.
Services Available Upon Completion
Once the network is live, customers will have access to Paul Bunyan’s GigaZone® services, including high-speed fiber-optic Internet with speeds up to 10 Gig and dependable, low-cost unlimited local and long-distance GigaZone® voice services.

BEAD recipients can continue to receive opex Subsidies for existing networks

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

Participants in the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program won’t have to forego their existing federal subsidies in non-BEAD areas, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

Rural broadband providers have expressed concerns over the newly announced plan to prevent BEAD winners from taking operational subsidies to support their deployment projects in the future. …

A National Telecommunications and Information Administration spokesperson said the prohibition on operational subsidies ‘applies only to BEAD-funded projects and does not affect existing subsidies in non-BEAD areas to which a provider is already entitled.’

 

Trend indicates that broadband providers are focusing on customer service

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Telecompetitor reports…

Fast, reliable connectivity will always be the heart of telecom, but 2025 has seen a shift — whether it’s enormous national companies or small rural cooperatives. Rather than hawking lightning-fast speeds and bargain basement prices, broadband service providers (BSPs) are increasingly touting customer service.

Mergers were mentioned as a tactic…

What’s the best way to retain customers (and find new ones) in a merger between two telecom providers? If the press releases we saw in 2025 are to be believed, the answer is to promise a better customer experience.

The T-Mobile/USI acquisition…

In the latter half of the year, mergers continued apace. T-Mobile teamed up with KKR to buy Metronet, Ezee Fiber purchased Tachus Fiber Internet, Greenlight Networks purchased Loop Internet in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Brightspeed purchased fiber assets from Cincinnati Communications, T-Mobile acquired U.S. Internet in Minnesota, and Verizon bought fixed wireless provider Starry.