Vol. 22, No. 17

April 27, 2026

UPCOMING EVENTS


April 30 @ 1 p.m. ET

Navigating the Digital Infrastructure Deal: Key Considerations for Buyers, Sellers, and Targets in 2026, presented by Morgan Lewis


May 18-22

Branded Calling Summit

Virtual Conference


September 8-11

The Connected World Live

Chicago


September 15-17

SIPNOC 2026

Herndon, Va.


November 1-3

The 2026 INCOMPAS Show

Nashville, Tenn.

MEMBER NEWS


Bandwidth Named a Leader in Inaugural IDC MarketScape for Communications Engagement Platforms


Ezee Fiber Connects First Customers in Santa Fe, New Mexico


GoNetspeed to Power Up Two More Connecticut Communities: Derby & Shelton

COMMENT DEADLINES


May 4

Comments Due on Lifeline NPRM


May 6

Comments Due on Previously Authorized Equipment Added to Covered List


May 11

Comments Due on FNPRM Proposing Additional Safeguards to Protect Against Waste, Fraud and Abuse


May 15

Comments Due on Potential Reforms to USAC Operations and Management


May 21

Comments Due on State of Competition in the Communications Marketplace


May 26

Comments Due on ICC Reforms


Comments Due on Offshore Call Centers


June 2

Reply Comments Due on Lifeline NPRM


June 8

Reply Comments Due on FNPRM Proposing Additional Safeguards to Protect Against Waste, Fraud and Abuse


June 22

Reply Comments Due on ICC Reforms


Reply Comments Due on State of Competition in the Communications Marketplace


Reply Comments Due on Offshore Call Centers

This Thursday at 1 p.m. ET April 30


Navigating the Digital Infrastructure Deal: Key Considerations for Buyers, Sellers and Targets in 2026

Digital infrastructure transactions face increasing regulatory scrutiny, making it critical for operators and investors to understand the evolving landscape.


Join Morgan Lewis Partners Danielle Burt and Patricia Cave for insights from Washington on the key regulatory and strategic considerations for companies pursuing transactions as buyers, sellers or targets in 2026.


The webinar will feature key points for transaction parties as they diligence, negotiate and seek regulatory approvals for new deals. The webinar also will examine what recent regulatory developments—such as the FCC’s new foreign adversary ownership certifications—mean for telecom deal planning, approvals and post-closing compliance.


Thursday, April 30 | 1 p.m. ET


Advanced registration required.


Can't attend? Register here to get on-demand access.

INCOMPAS Welcomes Toni Broberg to Board of Directors

Join us in welcoming Toni Broberg, vice president of External Affairs at Gigapower, to the INCOMPAS Board of Directors.


“Toni is exactly the kind of experienced, forward-thinking leader that strengthens our board and sharpens our advocacy," said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering. "Her background spanning the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, AT&T and now Gigapower gives her a rare and valuable perspective on the intersection of infrastructure, policy and competition. As we work to advance broadband deployment and build the networks that will power America's AI future, Toni's voice and leadership will be a tremendous asset to INCOMPAS and the members we serve.”


In her current role at Gigapower, a joint venture between AT&T and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, Broberg leads strategic engagement with local, state and federal stakeholders to advance the company's broadband infrastructure expansion and public policy initiatives. Prior to joining Gigapower, she served as president of the Desert Southwest Region for AT&T, overseeing operations and external affairs across Arizona and New Mexico, and previously was director of External and Legislative Affairs, where she championed community partnerships and advanced key telecommunications and infrastructure policy objectives.


Broberg also brings extensive public sector experience to her board service, having served in the White House as deputy associate director for Communities at the Council on Environmental Quality, where she led environmental justice initiatives, and as senior advisor for Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Network Modernization Order Effective May 20

The March 2026 report and order on measures to reduce regulatory barriers and costs that hinder the transition from outdated legacy networks and services to next-generation, IP-based infrastructure was published in the Federal Register.


The rules are effective May 20, 2026, except sections 51.329, 51.333, 63.60, 63.62, 63.63, 63.71 and 63.602, which are delayed indefinitely.

Letters of Intent for Registered Consortium Due May 25

The FCC Enforcement Bureau issued a public notice requesting any new consortia seeking to be selected as the single registered consortium that conducts private-led efforts to trace back the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls file a letter of intent.


Interested consortia should provide letters of intent in accordance with FCC rules and the 2020 consortium registration order. Letters of intent are due May 25, 2026. Comments on the letters are due June 8, 2026; replies are due June 15, 2026.

Commerce Secretary Discusses BEAD at Appropriations Hearing

While testifying before the House Appropriations Committee this week, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated that the Department of Commerce has made significant progress on deploying the initial BEAD funds.


With respect to the remaining roughly $21 billion in non-deployment funds, he emphasized that NTIA has completed a broad stakeholder listening process—engaging over 1,000 participants and receiving more than 280 comments—which is now informing the development of forthcoming guidance.


While no final framework has been released yet, Lutnick stated NTIA is actively reviewing input and expects to issue a plan within two months that ensures remaining funds are used to achieve full broadband access and address outstanding gaps.

House Approves Broadband Deployment Bills

The House approved several broadband bills under suspension of the rules. Under suspension, floor debate is limited, all floor amendments are prohibited, points of order against the bill are waived and final passage requires a two-thirds majority vote.


The bills include:

  • Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 (S. 98), which would require the FCC to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding.
  • Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act (H.R. 1343), which would require NTIA to submit a plan to Congress for tracking the acceptance, processing and disposition of applications for communications use authorizations on public lands or National Forest System land
  • Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act (H.R. 1681), which would require NTIA to establish an interagency strike force to support federal land management agencies' review of requests for communications use authorizations. Votes for the American Broadband Deployment Act (ABDA) were delayed.

House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Satellite Licensing

Last week, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing to examine the need to modernize satellite licensing through the proposed Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act.


The hearing focused on the rapid expansion of the satellite industry (now exceeding 11,000 U.S. satellites) and the strain this growth places on the FCC’s existing regulatory framework. 

INCOMPAS | www.incompas.org
Facebook  X  Linkedin  Youtube  Instagram