House Democrats have formally joined a Senate effort to halt the growth of artificial intelligence data centers.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., introduced the House companion to Sen. Bernie Sanders‘ (I-Vt.) AI Data Center Moratorium Act on Tuesday, expanding a bicameral effort to halt new development pending federal safeguards.
Fierce Network points out that networks patterns are changing…
For 30 years, network traffic followed a rhythm you could set a clock by. A lull in the morning, a peak through the business day, demand falling off in the evening. And it flowed overwhelmingly in one direction: down, toward users pulling web pages, video and files. Networks were engineered around both assumptions. AI is breaking them. …
AI is driving the change, because AI doesn’t take lunch breaks. Human users generate requests intermittently and wait for responses, producing the peaks and valleys networks were built to anticipate. AI operates continuously, at machine speed, around the clock. As more traffic originates from machines rather than people, the daily curve loses its shape and demand approaches a constant load.
Not only are peak times changing – the direction of traffic is changing too…
Upstream bandwidth is now growing disproportionately faster than downstream. At MetTel, total bandwidth grew 30-40% annually, and last year 75-80% of that growth was upstream. For an industry that spent decades optimizing for heavy downstream and light upstream — asymmetry baked into everything from broadband tiers to consumer plans — that’s a striking reversal.
The source of the upstream surge is the edge. AI video processing at retail locations, camera-equipped wearables, and operational technology at oil and gas companies using cloud-based video analysis for asset management — all of it generates data that flows up and out of those environments, not down into them. As industry pushes AI inference closer to where data is generated — in factories, in the field, in the store — the return traffic is upstream by nature.
There’s more and the article looks at the implications for network engineers but I’m also wondering about implications for policymakers and local planners. Right now, the speed goals in Minnesota in 100 Mbps down and 20 up by 2026. Earlier this week, Bree Maki mentioned at the Tribal Telecommunications conference that we won’t make it and that it may be time to rethink that goal.
The National Tribal Telecommunications Association hosted the 2026 Tribal Broadband Midwest Summit in Minnesota. I wrote about the first full day yesterday; today the conversation is all about AI. We got a practical introduction to AI and tribal leaders spoke about using AI to help preserve native languages. The presenters spoke about the difference between AI is a public for private environment.
Welcome from Godrey Enjady
Understanding AI
Understanding AI in Tribal Broadband (language preservation)
Q: Is one AI tool (ChatGPT vs GROK…) and is paid worth it?
Each tool has a different benefit. Some folks have subscriptions to all; some none.
You get faster results and more use available if you pay. Creating code? You might want to pay. Simple question? Free is probably OK.
Try out a few tools and see what you like.
You do get different results if you use different tools.
Be cautious of uploading/sharing intellectual data with AI tools – even to have them help you figure something out. (Upload it becomes internalized with AI)
Q: Wat guard rails to you institute to keep data good?
It is a concern. Can’t let AI run amok.
From Benton Institute for Broadband & Society…
Rural broadband operators are navigating a moment of real change. AI is reshaping how networks are used, how they’re managed, and how providers can stay competitive. But sorting useful strategies from empty buzzwords isn’t easy.
A panel of industry leaders will share proven approaches to using AI and automation to improve network efficiency, deliver better customer experiences, and open new revenue streams.
Hyperscaler capex is poised to set records in 2026, as cloud giants scramble to build enough compute capacity to meet growing demand. Energy remains a key constraint – and point of public contention – but an upcoming regulatory decision is poised to offer either grief or relief.
There are two key energy issues: power generation and years-long interconnection queues, and how large-load customers like data centers impact other users on the grid. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is poised to act on both sometime this month.
It’s not yet clear what changes FERC will make to existing regulations. But in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in October, FERC said it was seeking input on rule changes that would speed interconnection study timelines to 60 days for customers that agree to flexibly curtail usage and whether large load customers should pay the full cost of any grid upgrades needed for their interconnection.
The Trump Administration reports…
Under my Administration, the United States can and will responsibly accelerate the use of AI across intelligence and warfighting domains in line with American values. The United States possesses the most effective and moral military in the history of world. It is also among the most trusted institutions in American life. That trust is rooted in an unbroken chain of command and accountability, from our democratic process through civilian and military leadership, to the men and women who carry out the mission.
This is their policy:
Sec. 2. Policy. My Administration will accelerate the development and use of AI for national security applications, guided by the following four pillars:
(a) Adoption. The national security enterprise shall accelerate AI adoption by identifying mission areas where AI can enhance operational effectiveness and eliminating unnecessary barriers to rapid deployment. To this end, the national security enterprise shall maintain deep, proactive partnerships with industry, to make the most advanced frontier models broadly available to national security professionals without delay, ensuring technological overmatch while driving rapid experimentation and validation across potential applications.
(b) Adaptation. The national security enterprise shall adapt commercial or open-source AI technologies, leveraging the most cutting-edge capabilities available from diverse suppliers across the private sector, large and small, while ensuring that AI technologies chosen are optimized for their intended use. In cases where the use of a commercial solution is not appropriate due to security or mission limitations, executive departments and agencies (agencies) may deploy commercially or internally customized AI technologies or develop AI technologies internally. Such technologies shall be made available across the national security enterprise to support multiple missions where possible.
(c) Assurance. The national security enterprise shall assure that all AI technologies adopted are designed to be reliable, robust, steerable, and controllable, and that they operate, in accordance with applicable laws, government policies, and guidance. To protect American warfighters, the national security enterprise shall ensure, through contractual clauses or other means, that no commercial entity or adversary possesses the capability to prevent use of, disable or degrade, or materially modify without Federal Government knowledge and approval, an AI system that our men and women depend on for their missions. In addition, rigorous security and functionality measures, including testing, evaluation, validation, and verification, shall be implemented to assure the appropriate confidentiality, integrity, reliability, availability, and interoperability of AI systems across the national security enterprise.
(d) Accountability. American AI technologies shall neither be developed nor used by the national security enterprise to censor free speech, embed ideological bias, or conduct unauthorized or unlawful surveillance activities. The use of AI by the national security enterprise must always be consistent with United States civil liberties and protections afforded by the Constitution and laws and regulations safeguarding the privacy of American citizens. Commanders, directors, and heads of agencies shall remain responsible and accountable for ensuring that these obligations are met at every level of command, and that such accountability keeps pace with the evolution of AI capabilities and regulations governing the privacy and civil liberties of American citizens.
About this event
This isn’t just another webinar — it’s a meeting with nonprofits from around the world coming together to learn, share, and explore how AI can support their missions. If your organization has used AI in any way (big or small), or if you’re just getting started, we want to hear from you.
AI Impact Hour is a practical, interactive conversation designed for executive directors, staff, board members, and volunteers who want to understand what AI can realistically do in a nonprofit setting. You’ll see simple demonstrations and real examples, and you’ll have a chance to share your experiences, challenges, and insights with the group.
What makes this different:
- It’s for you — small to large nonprofits from around the world
- We want to hear from you — how your nonprofit has been experimenting with AI
- You’ll learn from each other — not just from the presentation
Who should attend:
- Nonprofit leaders, staff, volunteers, and anyone curious about how AI can support their work, regardless of experience level.
Would you like to be a guest panelist to share your experience with AI?
Email Aretha Simons asimons@techsoup.org and put “panelist” in the subject line.
The Institute for Local Self Reliance (aka Community Networks) reports…
As reported by Telecompetitor, Bolton said, there are now over 1,500 active fiber providers operating nationally, with 42 new market entrants and 715 providers that doubled their footprints in just the past six months.
Meanwhile, he said, independent ISPs, electric cooperatives, and municipal networks together accounted for about 40 percent of all fiber deployment in 2025 – “a sign that the buildout is increasingly being driven by community-rooted operators, not just national giants.”
But the conference’s panel sessions made it clear that translating increased fiber demand into deploying networks is getting harder and more expensive, with one panelist describing it like going “from a sprint into a marathon.”
During a Broadband Breakfast Live event at the conference, Josh Summit, director of outside plant engineering and construction at Glo Fiber/Shentel, said that there has been a roughly 300 percent increase in pole make-ready costs over the past five years and that rural fiber deployments that once cost between $20,000 and $25,000 per mile are as expensive as $100,000 per mile, which he attributed to stricter pole loading requirements and “preexisting noncompliance being charged to new attachers.”
The conference also highlighted the mounting opposition and tensions related to the construction of AI hyperscale data centers, which panelists said are increasingly following cheap rural electricity away from traditional hubs like Loudoun County, Virginia while running into local opposition in communities across the country, as some states consider data center moratoriums.
Still, despite the challenges, there was an air of optimism from conference organizers, as the FBA said it is seeing record membership growth – up 16 percent year-over-year, with more than 8,000 broadband professionals now represented.
Minnesota Star Tribune columnist compares growth of AI and data centers with expansion of broadband in 2000. He starts with the history…
Everyone in business these days seems to be searching for a tale from history to meaningfully describe the growing importance of AI. I personally think it will transform the way people work with their digital devices and information. But we’re at a very confusing time in its development.
So the tale in history I’m going to invoke comes from the late 1990s and early 2000s: the time when the internet was in its hockey-stick period of fast adoption.
The buildout of the commercial internet had enormous effects on company valuations, but also on the nation’s physical environment, just as AI now does. Many people have forgotten how much the nation was ripped up to build what was initially called an “information superhighway” but eventually became known as the broadband network.
In July 2001, the longtime tech writer of the Star Tribune, Steve Alexander, wrote, “The information superhighway is getting wider in the Twin Cities.” He then described plans to lay fiber-optic lines along Interstate 94 and Interstate 35E in St. Paul — at a cost of around $10 million.
How quaint that seems when set against the multibillion-dollar expense of a single data center in 2026.
And talks about what he sees today…
Today, I’m very reluctant to say AI is being overhyped or overbuilt. And I wouldn’t even try to predict the effect AI will have on jobs and the environment.
AI may very well turn out to be overinvested in, however. The entire case for massive data centers may be overturned by an advance in software programming or by the decentralization of processing power as chip technology advances. AI companies’ debt loads may become too much to bear, even if the companies turn fabulously profitable. I remember stories about broadband buildouts appeared not long before a big crash in internet-related stocks.
The commercial internet did justify its investment, despite the bursting of an initial bubble that wiped out billions in shareholder value.
At the moment, however, the numbers on AI investments are jaw-dropping, even if you’ve got the mouth of a hippo.
DCN, Range, and WIN Technology, three regional backbone fiber providers, today announced a joint investment to expand high‑capacity fiber infrastructure across the America’s heartland. The initiative, known as the Heartland Fiber Project, will create a new long‑haul fiber route designed to increase network capacity, resiliency, and flexibility to support the rapidly growing connectivity requirements across the industry and meet demand from AI hyperscale data center development in the region.
The Heartland Fiber Project will span seven states – Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois – establishing a route containing high fiber count and future path conduit to support future growth between Denver and Chicago. The $700 million investment represents a 2,000-mile expansion of regional network infrastructure that is designed to deliver the scale, resiliency, and performance demanded by next‑generation AI workloads and hyperscale computing environments.
Artificial intelligence has dramatically increased the amount of data that must move quickly and reliably between data centers. Hyperscale operators are increasingly turning to America’s heartland due to available land, access to power, and favorable climate conditions that help improve energy efficiency. These developments are driving the need for purpose‑built fiber infrastructure capable of supporting massive, sustained bandwidth requirements.
The expanded network created through the Heartland Fiber Project is designed to help meet these evolving requirements while allowing DCN, Range, and WIN to continue delivering high‑quality service to customers across healthcare, education, government, finance, manufacturing, and wholesale and wireless markets.
This highlights our neighbors in North Dakota more than Minnesota, but MidCo announces…
Midco and Switch are proud to announce a five-year, multistate connectivity agreement supporting critical AI infrastructure in Ellendale, North Dakota.
“This connectivity deal strengthens Midco’s position as the nation’s largest 400G circuit provider1, enabling hyperscalers and data centers to grow with confidence,” said Midco President and Chief Operating Officer Ben Dold. “With unmatched network customization, engineering responsiveness and high-capacity transport reach, Midco is redefining what high-bandwidth fiber connectivity can deliver.”
The agreement includes more than 500 individual 400 gigabit-per-second (Gbps) circuits delivered across two geographically diverse routes, providing full path redundancy between Ellendale, ND and Chicago, IL. In total, the network enables 200 terabits of capacity.
They do frame it from a regional level…
“This partnership demonstrates that the Midwest is open for business,” said Midco Director of Wholesale Jeff Sanders. “It shows that our region, with its favorable climate, abundant natural resources, renewable energy and strong business environment, continues to be the optimal location for data centers and hyperscalers. Our network covers the heart of the region, and our long-haul routes connect business customers to major points of presence sites like Minneapolis, Omaha, Chicago and Denver, allowing the transmission of massive volumes of voice, video and data at reliable 400G speeds.”
The U.S. State of State of EdTech 2026 “provides insights into the state of K-12 education through the lens of education technology leaders—professionals who play a critical role ensuring technology is safe, reliable, and effective in supporting student learning, teaching, and district operations.” I have taught every age, from preschool to graduate school so I am always interested in what’s going on with education. When it comes to the world of education and technology it feels like so much has changes in the last 20 years and that the pace of change keep quickening. Here are the key findings from the report…
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity continues to rank as the No. 1 priority for education technology leaders, reflecting the essential role secure digital systems play in modern education. Most districts are actively investing in monitoring, detection, identity protection, and firewall technologies to safeguard networks, data, and learning continuity.
However, nearly two-thirds (65%) identify insufficient cybersecurity staffing and the lack of a dedicated budget as the top barriers to addressing cybersecurity challenges—highlighting the potential for a gap between responsibility and readiness. With increasing cyber insurance costs putting additional strain on budgets and new forms of AI-enabled cyberattacks increasing risks, districts must navigate how to best align funding decisions to keep up with ongoing pressures in the cybersecurity landscape.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Districts are making significant progress in establishing guidance for the responsible use of AI. More than three-quarters of districts (79%) report having AI guidelines in place, compared to 57% in 2025, reflecting growing clarity around AI’s role in education. The majority of education technology leaders welcome guidance and recommendations from state education agencies (SEAs) on these AI policies. Nevertheless, the vast majority report they do not want their SEA to issue AI mandates, underscoring the value of local decision making.
In just one year, education technology leaders have become strikingly more optimistic about AI’s potential, nearly doubling their confidence in areas like productivity and personalized learning and showing especially sharp gains in student tutoring and workforce readiness. Productivity gains are seen as the area of greatest impact: a vast percentage (96%) of education technology leaders view AI as having the potential to positively affect education. More than half of districts have AI initiatives that focus on productivity, such as productivity suites for administrators and teachers as well as training in the use of those tools. Fewer districts (41%) have initiatives for instructional platforms to support teaching and learning. More districts (64%) are using AI in operations—a notable jump from the prior year’s 37%.
Procurement
Responses to procurement questions indicate that many districts have established baseline purchasing practices, particularly around product safety. A majority of districts (56%) require vendors to provide information on the safety of their products. Fewer require information on the other key education technology quality indicators—such as evidence based design, inclusivity, usability, and interoperability—pointing to an opportunity to further strengthen and standardize procurement practices.
Regulations for accessibility impact all local education systems, though only 11% of districts regard accessibility as a key priority. As the framework of the Five EdTech Quality Indicators becomes more widely known, and expectations for meeting accessibility requirements are more broadly understood, districts are well-positioned to refine adoption criteria in ways that support high-quality education technology implementation.
Teaching and Learning
Districts continue to demonstrate strong foundational capacity to support education technology. The majority of districts (66%) report adequate staffing for core technical functions such as network administration, application installation, and maintenance as access to digital learning has expanded, with 1:1 implementation at an all-time high.
At the same time, most districts (58%) report they are understaffed when it comes to supporting the technology used for teaching and learning. Strengthening instructional support presents a clear opportunity to maximize the value of education technology investments and reinforce confidence among educators and communities.
Community interest and engagement around instructional technology is high. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of districts report that their communities express moderate to high levels of concern about the technology used for teaching and learning. This finding underscores the importance of clear communication, thoughtful implementation, and ongoing professional support to ensure technology continues to advance teaching and learning goals.
Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) announces a strategic partnership with Doctronic to help independent pharmacies expand access to AI‐enabled telehealth. Building on IPC’s Digital Health investments, this collaboration supports care models that prioritize convenience, speed, and trusted support close to home, while keeping pharmacies central to the patient relationship.
Through this partnership, IPC and Doctronic will offer member pharmacies a practical on-ramp to digital care. Doctronic’s platform streamlines AI-assisted intake and connects patients to licensed clinicians, helping pharmacies expand access to care without losing the community connections patients rely on. For more, visit: https://www.ipcrx.com/digital-health-for-independent-pharmacies-2.
” AI is everywhere, and it can feel overwhelming,” said Kate Helf, VP of IPC Digital Health. “We see AI‐enabled telehealth as a foundational tool, we’ll continue to build on, supporting independent pharmacies as they expand access to care while staying central to the patient relationship.”
In many rural and underserved communities, independent pharmacies are often the most accessible healthcare touchpoints. Enabling digitally supported care options through the pharmacy, IPC and Doctronic aim to help close gaps in availability, strengthen continuity of care, and expand the support patients can receive, regardless of geography.
America, we have a problem: Young adults are scared and unprepared for the AI revolution upending their early career choices and prospects.
- They tell pollsters they’re frightened, even angry, about AI’s fast arrival. They’re rightly unnerved by a tough job market for college grads. And most aren’t remotely equipped by schools to be AI-savvy.
Why it matters: This is a growing problem for just about everyone — kids, educators, employers and politicians.
- The youngest, most technologically native age group should be among the biggest cheerleaders and beneficiaries of AI. They aren’t. If anything, their feelings are growing more sour.
By the numbers: Gen Z’s excitement about AI dropped 14 points over the last year to just 22%, according to Gallup polling released last week. Hopefulness about the technology fell nine points to 18%, while anger rose nine points to 31%.
The impact of AI on the job market is starting to show up in the data analyzed by Wall Street firms — so far it’s pretty modest, but certainly real.
What they found: AI has both created and destroyed jobs over the past year.
- It reduced employment in occupations that are easily substituted by AI, translating to a slight 0.16 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate.
- At the same time, AI decreased unemployment by 0.06 point in jobs that are “augmented” by AI — roles that rely on things that machines cannot replace, like human judgment, interpersonal interaction and accountability.
Zoom out: Overall, AI raised the unemployment rate by just 0.1 percentage point, they find.
The article goes on to explain that there are two sides to AI. It was help some professions and eliminate others…
The bottom line: AI’s impact on the labor market is small so far, and it’s more complicated than the doomers want you to think.