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2 weeks ago | 
telecompetitor.com | Joan Engebretson |Joan Engebreston
AST SpaceMobile came a step close to offering faster direct-to-device (D2D) satellite service with the news Friday that it expects to gain access to more spectrum. The additional spectrum is expected to boost the speeds that AST SpaceMobile can offer. The company will be playing a key role in a pending settlement involving litigation between the spectrum holder — Ligado Networks — and Inmarsat/Viasat.
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3 weeks ago | 
telecompetitor.com | Joan Engebretson |Joan Engebreston
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released the long-awaited new rules for the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) rural broadband funding program today. The new rules eliminate the preference for fiber that was part of the initial rules. The rules establish new scoring criteria that states must follow in selecting funding recipients and direct states to select the lowest-cost applicants (with a few caveats).
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1 month ago | 
telecompetitor.com | Joan Engebretson |Joan Engebreston
Consolidated Communications is the latest provider to obtain financing based on asset-backed securitization (ABS). The company said today that the transaction consists of asset-backed term notes totaling $1.34 billion. In addition, the company gained a commitment for a $500 million variable funding note facility. And an affiliate of the company entered into a $1.5 billion secured, revolving warehouse facility.
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1 month ago | 
telecompetitor.com | Joan Engebretson |Joan Engebreston
The news today that AT&T plans to purchase the Lumen Mass Markets Fiber Business illustrates just how important the bundle of mobile service and high-speed home internet has become. “We know customers appreciate having both wireless and broadband services delivered by just one provider,” says AT&T CEO John Stankey in a video announcing the acquisition.
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1 month ago | 
telecompetitor.com | Joan Engebretson |Joan Engebreston
The prospects for telecom mergers and acquisitions are generally strong — with a few caveats. That was the key takeaway from a panel of telecom investors at the Connect(X) event in Chicago this week. Indeed, the title of the panel was “Are You Ready for the ‘Year of M&A’ in Telecom?”“Transactions are up,” said Scott Soden, managing partner at Alpina Capital.
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1 month ago | 
telecompetitor.com | Joan Engebretson |Joan Engebreston
GoNetspeed said it now offers fiber broadband in four Vermont communities, referencing a partnership with the Otter Creek Communications Union District in a press release about the buildout. Telecompetitor got some additional information about the buildout from GoNetspeed Government Affairs Manager Heidi Mahoney in an email exchange. GoNetspeed invested $3.5 million in the upgrade, which includes Benson, Castleton, Hubbardton, and Sudbury.
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1 month ago | 
telecompetitor.com | Joan Engebretson |Joan Engebreston
GoNetspeed hopes that a change in Massachusetts pole attachment rules will enable the company to complete its planned $250 million fiber build in the state more quickly. Telecompetitor spoke with Jamie Hoare, GoNetspeed Chief Legal Counsel, for more details. As Hoare explained, Massachusetts is one of multiple states where communications network operators are not bound by FCC One-Touch-Make-Ready rules. Instead, the state sets its own pole attachment rules.
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1 month ago | 
telecompetitor.com | Joan Engebretson |Joan Engebreston
The U.S. Commerce Department is not likely to announce changes to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) rural broadband funding program until June or July, according to a research note from Blair Levin, policy advisor for financial analyst firm New Street Research. Previously, an announcement had been expected around mid-May. Levin pointed to the Senate’s recent nomination hearing for Arielle Roth as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
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1 month ago | 
telecompetitor.com | Joan Engebretson |Joan Engebreston
The state of New York has extended the deadline for applications for the third round of its BEAD-funded rural broadband deployment program until May 12. Meanwhile, Florida has begun registering qualified parties for various broadband funding programs, including BEAD. New York uses the name “ConnectALL” for a range of broadband funding programs.
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1 month ago | 
telecompetitor.com | Joan Engebretson |Joan Engebreston
Brightspeed was the biggest winner, measured by number of grants, in the latest round of North Carolina broadband funding. The company won awards for 10 counties. The state didn’t reveal the amount of funding going to each of the 10 providers that won grants. But the total funding awarded was $63 million. The next biggest awardee, measured by the number of grants, was Charter, which will take home funding for five counties.
