Bill Callahan
@cycbill.bsky.social
NE Ohio / Old grassroots digital equity hand / Data has its uses / Don't mourn, organize!
Ohio's original $793 million in BEAD rural broadband funding has been whittled down to just $240 million, partly by relegating 35,000 rural households to Musk satellite vouchers. Trump's people are pushing to claw back the other $550 mil. Maybe Sherrod Brown or Amy Acton should say something?
US states could lose $21 billion of broadband grants after Trump overhaul
Ernst bill would send broadband grant money to Treasury for deficit reduction.
arstechnica.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Ohio's original $793 million in BEAD rural broadband funding has been whittled down to just $240 million, partly by relegating 35,000 rural households to Musk satellite vouchers. Trump's people are pushing to claw back the other $550 mil. Maybe Sherrod Brown or Amy Acton should say something?
"The rural health care 'Hunger Games'" -- $50 billion in MAHA patronage that won't cover rural providers' losses from looming Medicaid and ACA cuts, but will keep proposal writers busy at megasystems like Cleveland Clinic. And also make lots of work for consultants and conference promoters.
Only a Fraction of Republicans’ Much-Touted $50 Billion Rural Health Fund Can Help Struggling Hospitals Pay Their Bills
As President Donald Trump’s deadline for a massive budget bill drew near...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:24 PM
"The rural health care 'Hunger Games'" -- $50 billion in MAHA patronage that won't cover rural providers' losses from looming Medicaid and ACA cuts, but will keep proposal writers busy at megasystems like Cleveland Clinic. And also make lots of work for consultants and conference promoters.
Cleveland.com (online Plain Dealer) does a daily podcast of Editor Chris Quinn and a few colleagues yakking about various topics. Then they publish one or more AI summaries of each yak session packaged as actual news stories -- with Quinn's takes always quoted at length. Do other papers do this?
November 8, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Cleveland.com (online Plain Dealer) does a daily podcast of Editor Chris Quinn and a few colleagues yakking about various topics. Then they publish one or more AI summaries of each yak session packaged as actual news stories -- with Quinn's takes always quoted at length. Do other papers do this?
Reposted by Bill Callahan
NTIA admin Arielle Roth recently said her agency will withhold federal broadband deployment funds fr any state that enacts affordability laws
Legal experts say it should be "laughed out of the room"
But it may be enough to dissuade some states from moving bills forward. Our story here 💻🌐📶⬇️
Legal experts say it should be "laughed out of the room"
But it may be enough to dissuade some states from moving bills forward. Our story here 💻🌐📶⬇️
Experts: Withholding BEAD Funds Because of State Affordability Laws On Shaky Legal Ground | Welcome to Community Networks
Legal analysts are questioning the recent assertion by the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that the agency can legally withhold federal broadband deployme...
communitynetworks.org
November 4, 2025 at 12:43 AM
NTIA admin Arielle Roth recently said her agency will withhold federal broadband deployment funds fr any state that enacts affordability laws
Legal experts say it should be "laughed out of the room"
But it may be enough to dissuade some states from moving bills forward. Our story here 💻🌐📶⬇️
Legal experts say it should be "laughed out of the room"
But it may be enough to dissuade some states from moving bills forward. Our story here 💻🌐📶⬇️
Guess there are no quiet parts now, it's all out loud. "By abolishing the FCC’s ownership cap, the Trump administration can allow the opportunity for more right-leaning affiliate owners to become more influential... Yet, puzzlingly, some people who should get this point are actually fighting it."
Former Newsmax Host Sean Spicer Backs Nexstar-TEGNA Deal Opposed by Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy
Trump 45’s first Press Secretary says abolishing the 39% cap allows more right-leaning affiliate owners to become more influential
broadbandbreakfast.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Guess there are no quiet parts now, it's all out loud. "By abolishing the FCC’s ownership cap, the Trump administration can allow the opportunity for more right-leaning affiliate owners to become more influential... Yet, puzzlingly, some people who should get this point are actually fighting it."
the benevolence of predators
will always blow my mind
will always blow my mind
Technopagans
YouTube video by Jesse Welles
www.youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:05 AM
the benevolence of predators
will always blow my mind
will always blow my mind
Trump bureaucrats keep making up new rules for states' use of rural broadband grants. This one means a NY law mandating $15-$20/mo Internet options for a million+ low income households wouldn't apply to Verizon and Spectrum, NY's two biggest ISPs, because they're taking BEAD $ to connect 7000 homes.
Roth: No State Net Neutrality, Affordability Laws for BEAD Participants
She said grantees would also have to forgo federal opex subsidies for BEAD builds.
broadbandbreakfast.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Trump bureaucrats keep making up new rules for states' use of rural broadband grants. This one means a NY law mandating $15-$20/mo Internet options for a million+ low income households wouldn't apply to Verizon and Spectrum, NY's two biggest ISPs, because they're taking BEAD $ to connect 7000 homes.
No Kings rally this afternoon in Meadville (pop 12-13K), Crawford County, PA.
October 18, 2025 at 7:38 PM
No Kings rally this afternoon in Meadville (pop 12-13K), Crawford County, PA.
Fight, not flight.
Trump Administration Sued Over Canceled Digital Inclusion and Skills Grants
Termination of $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act programs ‘unconstitutional and unlawful,’ attorneys argue.
broadbandbreakfast.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Fight, not flight.
National Digital Inclusion Alliance sues Trump Admin to restore national competitive grant program in support of community efforts to close digital divide.
National Digital Inclusion Alliance Files Lawsuit Seeking Reinstatement of Bipartisan Digital Equity Act’s Competitive Grant Program - National Digital Inclusion Alliance
The lawsuit alleges that the termination of an entire congressionally mandated grant program under the Digital Equity Act is an unconstitutional overreach and strikes a blow to communities, leaving th...
www.digitalinclusion.org
October 8, 2025 at 2:21 PM
National Digital Inclusion Alliance sues Trump Admin to restore national competitive grant program in support of community efforts to close digital divide.
As quoted by @neotrans.bsky.social today, Gov DeWine and Dev't Director Mihalik eloquently point out that Ohio has a serious digital divide in cities as well as rural areas. Great! So please tell us how you plan to replace the $24 mil in cancelled Federal $$ for the OH Digital Opportunity Plan... /1
October 3, 2025 at 4:44 AM
As quoted by @neotrans.bsky.social today, Gov DeWine and Dev't Director Mihalik eloquently point out that Ohio has a serious digital divide in cities as well as rural areas. Great! So please tell us how you plan to replace the $24 mil in cancelled Federal $$ for the OH Digital Opportunity Plan... /1
This is what can happen when regulators and advocates have a legal basis to insist that ISP mergers serve the public interest. But look for FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who thinks the "public interest" means network censorship of jokes he doesn't like, to try to squelch this pro-consumer agreement.
Verizon to offer $20 broadband in California to obtain merger approval
State review of Verizon/Frontier deal targets low-income plans, fiber expansion.
arstechnica.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This is what can happen when regulators and advocates have a legal basis to insist that ISP mergers serve the public interest. But look for FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who thinks the "public interest" means network censorship of jokes he doesn't like, to try to squelch this pro-consumer agreement.
DigitalC, Cleveland's nonprofit wireless broadband network, is now serving 6,000 households @ $18/mo.
DigitalC Connects Cleveland’s 6,000th Household to Canopy | The Cleveland Model
YouTube video by DigitalC
www.youtube.com
September 14, 2025 at 2:04 PM
DigitalC, Cleveland's nonprofit wireless broadband network, is now serving 6,000 households @ $18/mo.
New American Community Survey: More than a million Ohio households still lacked home wireline broadband at any speed in 2024, and most lived in urban areas.
September 12, 2025 at 4:21 PM
New American Community Survey: More than a million Ohio households still lacked home wireline broadband at any speed in 2024, and most lived in urban areas.
New CYC blog post: Ohio's Gov DeWine needs to either fight for Ohio's $24 million in Digital Equity Act funding, or else find state dollars to replace it.
After four months of silence, it’s time for DeWine to stand up for Ohio’s Digital Opportunity Plan – Connect Your Community
connectyourcommunity.org
September 12, 2025 at 4:12 PM
New CYC blog post: Ohio's Gov DeWine needs to either fight for Ohio's $24 million in Digital Equity Act funding, or else find state dollars to replace it.
Approps subcommittee chaired by Dave Joyce (my Congressman) blocks FCC spending to stop digital discrimination, nixes restoration of Affordable Connectivity Program. Joyce says he opposes ACP $$ but won't say why. There were 71,000+ ACP households in his district when the program ran out of money.
House Panel Keeps FCC Budget Flat in 2026
Full committee denies FCC’s $26M budget raise request.
broadbandbreakfast.com
September 6, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Approps subcommittee chaired by Dave Joyce (my Congressman) blocks FCC spending to stop digital discrimination, nixes restoration of Affordable Connectivity Program. Joyce says he opposes ACP $$ but won't say why. There were 71,000+ ACP households in his district when the program ran out of money.
Spent the morning productively. Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day rallies in Warren, Grove City call for workers' rights
The event, titled
www.wfmj.com
September 1, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Spent the morning productively. Happy Labor Day!
Of 30 states that posted their BEAD "Final Proposals" by Friday, Ohio is WAY ahead of the pack in diverting its underconnected rural residents from fiber to SpaceX. FYI @karlbode.com @dougdawsonccg.bsky.social @seangon.bsky.social @daviddewitt.bsky.social @sportshotchris.bsky.social
August 31, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Of 30 states that posted their BEAD "Final Proposals" by Friday, Ohio is WAY ahead of the pack in diverting its underconnected rural residents from fiber to SpaceX. FYI @karlbode.com @dougdawsonccg.bsky.social @seangon.bsky.social @daviddewitt.bsky.social @sportshotchris.bsky.social
So 31,000 rural Ohio households that were on track six months ago to see gigabit fiber broadband extended to their homes will have to settle for $120/mo satellite service they could already get, but now government will pay Elon $1650 each to get them free $400 dishes. "Benefit of the bargain" LOL.
Ohio Picks SpaceX's Starlink to Bring Internet to 31,000 Underserved Locations
Starlink emerges as the top provider in Ohio’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) proposal and will serve 41% of all eligible locations, more than any other participating ISP.
www.pcmag.com
August 31, 2025 at 1:08 PM
So 31,000 rural Ohio households that were on track six months ago to see gigabit fiber broadband extended to their homes will have to settle for $120/mo satellite service they could already get, but now government will pay Elon $1650 each to get them free $400 dishes. "Benefit of the bargain" LOL.
BroadbandOhio published its BEAD Final Proposal "for public comment" yesterday. No press release and so far, no press. (Comment period ends next Wednesday.) Proposal only covers 72K of Ohio's 114K eligible locations, and awards 31K of those (43%) to StarLink @ $1652 each. Train wreck in progress.
August 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
BroadbandOhio published its BEAD Final Proposal "for public comment" yesterday. No press release and so far, no press. (Comment period ends next Wednesday.) Proposal only covers 72K of Ohio's 114K eligible locations, and awards 31K of those (43%) to StarLink @ $1652 each. Train wreck in progress.
Governor Huckabee Sanders has joined the BEAD Resistance.
Arkansas Releases BEAD Plan with 76% Fiber Coverage, 16% LEO
Arkansas’s $3,889 per-location average compares to Louisiana’s revised average of about $3,900 per location in that state’s draft plan.
broadbandbreakfast.com
August 25, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Governor Huckabee Sanders has joined the BEAD Resistance.
The price of Trump's Bolsonaro Tariff at the Pierpont, OH Dollar General, 8/23/25.
August 24, 2025 at 9:15 PM
The price of Trump's Bolsonaro Tariff at the Pierpont, OH Dollar General, 8/23/25.
Good nuts-and-bolts "economic development" analysis from Ohio River Valley Institute via @ohiocapitaljournal.com.
Ohio's data center fever needs to break • Ohio Capital Journal
Before the data center boom, there was the natural gas boom. Whatever changes the natural gas industry’s massive expansion brought to Ohio, it did not bring job growth and prosperity. Similarly, data ...
ohiocapitaljournal.com
August 24, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Good nuts-and-bolts "economic development" analysis from Ohio River Valley Institute via @ohiocapitaljournal.com.
The two big winners in West VA's BEAD Final Proposal are CityNet, in-state fiber provider HQ'd in Bridgeport, and Frontier, WV's biggest telco (currently being acquired by Verizon). Interesting problem for Lutnick and Roth. Will probably get even more so when Ohio's proposal comes out next week.
Is Elon Musk Ready to Go to War with His Third GOP Governor over BEAD?
The results in West Virginia tracked with recent BEAD awards in Virginia under GOP Gov. Glen Youngkin.
broadbandbreakfast.com
August 21, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The two big winners in West VA's BEAD Final Proposal are CityNet, in-state fiber provider HQ'd in Bridgeport, and Frontier, WV's biggest telco (currently being acquired by Verizon). Interesting problem for Lutnick and Roth. Will probably get even more so when Ohio's proposal comes out next week.