National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC)

Articles

FCC Lifts Certified Professional Engineer Requirement for BDC Filings

2 days ago | nrtc.coop | Randy Sukow

The FCC today streamlined the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) process by eliminating a requirement that data submissions be certified by a “certified professional engineer.” The new rule adopted 3-0 by the new Republican-majority Commission allows certification by a “qualified engineer” familiar with the specific broadband network’s design.
NRTC Partner DIRECTV Intros Streaming Video Referral Service

4 days ago | nrtc.coop | Randy Sukow

NRTC members offering broadband internet now have access to a DIRECTV streaming video referral service designed to help subscribers find the video package that suits them. Streaming video bundles are one of the most effective tools broadband providers can use to attract and retain long-term subscribers.
Supreme Court Weakens Influence of FCC Policy on Lower Courts

1 week ago | nrtc.coop | Randy Sukow

The U.S. Supreme Court today in the case of McLaughlin Chiropractic Associates v. McKesson Corp., said that FCC policy decisions are not exclusively reviewable by federal courts of appeal. Lower courts are free to interpret statues without accepting FCC interpretations. The decision follows a pattern of opinions reducing the influence of federal agencies on judicial review, most notably the 2024 Loper Bright Enterprises V. Raimondo, which struck down the 40-year-old Chevron deference.
State Broadband Offices Believe They’ll Meet New BEAD Deadlines

2 weeks ago | nrtc.coop | Randy Sukow

In state broadband offices across the nation a week ago, staffers felt alarm when the federal government announced major changes to the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
NTIA Announces BEAD Reforms; States to Refile Implementation Plans

3 weeks ago | nrtc.coop | Randy Sukow

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today released a policy notice, making significant changes to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. NTIA said the goal is to improve the cost-efficiency of the program, remove regulatory burdens on applicants for BEAD funding and to reset the fiber-favoring rules under the Biden Administration’s original Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) document to technology-neutral rules.
House Debate on AI Regulation Moratorium Splits on Party Lines

3 weeks ago | nrtc.coop | Randy Sukow

A recent addition to the draft budget reconciliation bill (One Big Beautiful Bill) dominated a hearing yesterday of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. In late May, House Republicans passed a 10-year moratorium on state and local regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). The moratorium would include a ban on enforcement of regulations some states have already adopted.
When Will Starlink Have LEO Competition in the Home Internet Market?

4 weeks ago | nrtc.coop | Randy Sukow

On April 28, Amazon’s Project Kuiper launched an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida (pictured above) and sent 27 satellites into low earth orbit (LEO). The ground personal rapidly established contact with the satellites. It was the first of a series of planned launches to an altitude of 280 miles, working toward a future constellation of 3,200 satellites beaming broadband service worldwide with extremely low latency.
Cybersecurity May Come Down to Fighting AI Fire with AI Fire

1 month ago | nrtc.coop | Randy Sukow

The ongoing cybersecurity battle between the attackers and companies and governments doing their best to defend against cyber-attacks has entered a new and potentially more dangerous phase. Both attackers and defenders now have access to artificial intelligence (AI). Attacks are becoming more sophisticated, but could new AI-based defensive tools do a better job of anticipating what is coming?
NRTC/NRECA Benchmarking Report Updates Electrics’ Broadband Progress

1 month ago | nrtc.coop | Randy Sukow

Several electric cooperatives have established broadband services for their members in recent years, so much so that many of the current broadband construction projects in progress aim to expand on existing services. That is one of the findings in the Rural Broadband Benchmarking Report, the latest of a series of reports from NRTC and NRECA that track broadband business trends among co-ops. The report is a “refresh” updating a previous report published in 2002.
CFC Advises “Flexibility and Adaptability” to Deal with Data Centers

1 month ago | nrtc.coop | Randy Sukow

CFC released a brief video earlier this week, giving electric cooperatives its take on the growing demand for electricity as internet data centers appear in rural America. It is difficult to predict what will happen, said Chris Whittle an energy industry analyst for CFC Utility Research & Policy, but cooperatives will have to remain aware and be ready to make strategic decisions to meet future demand.