January 8, 2026
2026 is shaping up to be a big year for our nation and for connectivity.
As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, and root for Team USA at the Winter Olympics and FIFA World Cup, we’re reminded that big achievements don’t just happen. They’re powered by grit, heart, and the broadband networks that connect communities, economies, and people.
For those of us doing the work of connecting the country, 2026 is especially consequential. This is the year BEAD-funded broadband builds transition from policies on paper to shovels in the ground—when public and private investment begins building the foundation for real jobs and economic opportunity, powered by real broadband networks.
In 2026, policy must rise to meet the moment to propel our nation to global leadership in a connected world.
First, we need more green lights and less red tape when it comes to federal and state permitting. With resources and work crews standing by, timely permitting means connecting more Americans to all the opportunities we know high-speed broadband options like fiber make possible.
Second, it’s time to accelerate the transition to modern, digital networks by ending outdated regulations that force providers to maintain aging copper lines. Legacy copper networks are unreliable, insecure, and increasingly targeted by criminal activity. The folks who maintain them are retiring. Replacements parts are no longer being made. The rules need to catch up with these realities.
Third, we must keep building a stronger foundation for digital trust. As technology gets smarter, so do the bad guys. This requires deep partnerships across government, network providers and other critical sectors to lock arms and all wear the same Team USA jersey, presenting a united front against the cyber criminals and scammers who wish our country and our people harm.
Finally, we must move beyond the mindset that superior terrestrial connectivity options should be reserved for higher density areas rather than the very foundation of a growth-oriented U.S. economy. In rural areas, local GDP can rise by as much as 44% with fiber broadband adoption. We can’t afford outdated policies (or policy inaction) that split America into digital haves and have nots.
We have come so far as a nation with our commitment to connectivity. Unforced errors this late in the game would leave behind too many Americans living near ranches and farms, mountains, plains and hollows, consigning them to second class digital citizenship and harming our economy.
2026 is a foundational year for next-generation connectivity. The choices we make now will shape our digital future for decades.
What a year ahead of us. Let’s get to work.