The Wireless ISP Association urged Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to sign a broadband bill (AB-2749) to update the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) grant review process and require wireless eligibility for funding. “An inclusive approach to broadband deployment smartly enlists the help of those on the ground, such as WISPA’s community-based providers, many of whom employ both fiber and fixed wireless technologies in their networks,” WISPA State Advocacy Manager Steven Schwerbel said Thursday. Consumer advocates earlier urged Newsom to veto the bill, saying it would hurt underserved communities (see 2209120062). Other industry supporters of AB-2749 include USTelecom and CTIA (see 2208290020).

Private communications networks are critical to utilities, Sheryl Riggs, president of the Utilities Technology Council, said at the start of a UTC broadband workshop, which runs through Friday. “Many people don’t give a lot of thought to the utility industry; they just assume they’re always there,” Riggs said. “A big reason for this is because of the communications systems -- they’re the invisible infrastructure that utilities rely on to ensure the power, the gas and water is on and available at all times,” she said. Clean energy and the power grid of the future are in the news daily, she said. “All these new technologies … rely on private communications networks that utilities and UTC members develop and operate every day,” she said. Utilities are also increasingly focused on broadband, Riggs said: “More and more utilities of all kinds are becoming key players in connecting people through broadband networks. As important as these networks are to modernizing our energy system, they’re also critical in bridging the digital divide.” UTC recognizes the need to connect more Americans to broadband, Riggs said. “There are unserved and underserved communities in rural and urban areas, shut off for far too long from the exciting world that broadband opens up,” she said. “We need broadband equity and inclusion to all communities,” she said. Utility investments in fiber as they modernize the grid also position them to be broadband players, Riggs said. Public power companies and electric co-ops are offering broadband service to their customers “providing GB speeds at affordable prices,” she said. Some UTC members in rural areas are offering faster, more reliable service than what’s available in urban and suburban areas, she said. Larger investor-owned utilities are mainly leasing part of their fiber networks to ISPs through middle-mile deployments, she said: “This trend is accelerating … and we can see that because more grant money is coming down the pipeline.” Riggs noted utilities are likely to pursue middle-mile broadband infrastructure program funding being made available through NTIA. Attendees heard presentations from NTIA, the Rural Utilities Service and the FCC on funding opportunities.

Intel and Broadcom demonstrated Wi-Fi 7 at over-the-air speeds of more than 5 Gbps, they said Thursday. The trial used an Intel Core processor-based laptop with Wi-Fi 7 connected to a Broadcom Wi-Fi 7 access point. The companies called Wi-Fi 7 the platform for "the next 10 years of wireless experiences" requiring higher speeds, lower latency, improved reliability and greater capacity. The next-generation Wi-Fi standard uses wider 320 MHz channels in unlicensed 6 GHz spectrum, higher order 4K QAM data modulation, simultaneous connections across multiple bands with multilink operation and improved channel utilization efficiency with multiresource unit puncturing, they said. Wi-Fi 7 will enable new product classes, including augmented and virtual reality, “ultra-high-definition” 16K media streaming and more responsive and reliable gaming, while supporting large numbers of connected devices on the network, they said.

National industry groups plan monthly webinars for states about the NTIA’s broadband equity, access and development (BEAD) program starting next week, the Fiber Broadband Association said Wednesday. The hosting associations are ACA Connects, the Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA, FBA, Incompas, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, NCTA, NTCA, USTelecom and the Wireless Infrastructure Association. The first 30-minute webinar is on supply chain and will be Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. “Our primary goal is to make it as easy and efficient as possible to navigate through the BEAD program’s requirements and potential deployment challenges,” the associations said.

Colorado awarded $22.8 million in broadband grants to 15 projects meant to connect 4,267 additional homes in 11 counties, the state broadband office said Tuesday. The Colorado Broadband Deployment Board funded 10 projects through the America Rescue Plan Act and five though the state’s high-cost support mechanism.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced $20 million in grants to ISPs to pay for utility pole replacement. The money must be used to expand high-speed internet access in unserved areas. “By reimbursing a portion of utility pole replacement costs needed to support high-speed internet expansion, we can help bring that internet service to more individuals, businesses and communities across Kentucky,” said Beshear. The application window opens Thursday.

The Colorado Broadband Office wants challenges by Monday to initial decisions for the winter 2022 grant cycle. The Broadband Deployment Board posted decisions Friday on applicants’ ability to meet minimum requirements for high-cost support mechanism and American Rescue Plan Act funding. The board decided Thursday to cancel the summer 2022 grant cycle because it said recent changes to state law and federal rules “created delay.” Funding carries over from one cycle to the next, “so this decision does not impact funding availability,” it said. “The Board believes this will allow staff, the Board, and the public to reconvene to assess Board processes, deliberate issues, and prepare for a better upcoming cycle.” Applications for the winter 2023 grant cycle are due Jan. 15.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) unveiled more than $26 million in state broadband grants Friday. With nine grants from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the state aims to expand high-speed internet to 15,000 households, businesses and public facilities, Ivey’s office said. Comcast received five grants totaling about $11.6 million. Alabama gave two grants totaling about $7.8 million to Farmers Telecom and two grants totaling nearly $7.3 million to Charter Communications.

Florida’s broadband office plans regional workshops this and next week on $400 million in state broadband funding, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said Thursday. The broadband office wants community input on developing administrative rules for implementing the Florida Broadband Opportunity Program, said the department. The hearings will be Monday in Polk County, Thursday in Santa Rosa County and Aug. 29 in Glades County. All start at 3 p.m.

Brightspeed plans to expand fiber to 10,000 customers in three Kansas counties by the end of 2023, and reach another 45,000 state customers in coming years, the company said Tuesday. Brightspeed’s network is in 20 states and includes ILEC assets that Apollo bought from Lumen (see 2206290041). Brightspeed earlier detailed fiber plans in several other states (see 2208160010).