{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreicm6qyztlrnqw6rzpruxjsxbwpiwg5x6u5gzeotctmdchjcrer5cu",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:mg5ozsljpp6t5b4lvwys4t72/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7szhdg3zuh2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreielmjboafecn3j7tp4dktsp2z6ilpfxbyyy6jsiseawv4e5w42bmm"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/png",
    "size": 109981
  },
  "description": "In spite of the political salience of 'affordability,' federal rollbacks, industry pressure, and stalled state efforts took a toll on low-income Americans' broadband.\n",
  "path": "/broadband-affordability-falters-in-2025/",
  "publishedAt": "2025-12-12T21:21:58.000Z",
  "site": "https://broadbandbreakfast.com",
  "tags": [
    "_****One Carr driving the Federal Communications Commission****_",
    "_****Two superpowers racing toward AI superintelligence dominance****_",
    "_****Three branches of government (and some formerly independent agencies)****_",
    "_****Four programs with Universal Service Funds****_",
    "_****56 states and territories without digital equity grants****_",
    "_****Less than 6 months for a broadband permit****_",
    "_****Data center-powered electricity bills up 70 percent****_",
    "_****800 megahertz of spectrum to sell at auction****_",
    "_****$9 billion + 12 billion (or $21 billion) in BEAD remaining funds****_",
    "_****Not even $10/month for an affordable connectivity program****_",
    "_****Through BEAD and broadband, 110 million locations served****_",
    "_****More than 1200 megahertz of spectrum for unlicensed wireless****_",
    "_****Click to read each of the 12 Days of Broadband articles!****_",
    "_conversation that dominated 2024_",
    "_skipped the topic in_",
    "_did not broach it_",
    "_in 2024_",
    "Subscribe now"
  ],
  "textContent": "_Editor's Note: Published on Dec. 12, 2025; republished on Jan. 4, 2026._\n\nAffordability was the political buzzword of 2025.\n\n#### 12 Days of Broadband 2025 (click to open)\n\n  * _****On the First Day of Broadband, my true love sent to me:****__****One Carr driving the Federal Communications Commission****_ _****.****_\n  * _****On the Second Day of Broadband, my true love sent to me:****__****Two superpowers racing toward AI superintelligence dominance****_ _****.****_\n  * _****On the Third Day of Broadband, my true love sent to me:****__****Three branches of government (and some formerly independent agencies)****__****.****_\n  * _****On the Fourth Day of Broadband, my true love sent to me:****__****Four programs with Universal Service Funds****_ _****.****_\n  * _****On the Fifth Day of Broadband, my true love sent to me:****__****56 states and territories without digital equity grants****_.\n  * _****On the Sixth Day of Broadband, my true level sent to me:****__****Less than 6 months for a broadband permit****_ _****.****_\n  * _****On the Seventh Day of Broadband, my true love sent to me:****__****Data center-powered electricity bills up 70 percent****_ _****.****_\n  * _****On the Eighth Day of Broadband, my true love sent to me:****__****800 megahertz of spectrum to sell at auction****_ _****.****_\n  * _****On the Ninth Day of Broadband, my true love sent to me:****__****$9 billion + 12 billion (or $21 billion) in BEAD remaining funds****_ _****.****_\n  * _****On the Tenth Day of Broadband, my true love sent to me:****__****Not even $10/month for an affordable connectivity program****_ _****.****_\n  * _****On the Eleventh Day of Broadband, my true love sent to me:****__****Through BEAD and broadband, 110 million locations served****_ _****.****_\n  * _****On the Twelfth Day of Broadband, my true love sent to me:****__****More than 1200 megahertz of spectrum for unlicensed wireless****_ _****.****_\n\n\n\n_****Click to read each of the 12 Days of Broadband articles!****_\n\nBut when it came to the affordability of broadband, a _conversation that dominated 2024_ after a federal subsidy helping one in six U.S. families afford Internet service expired – the topic barely surfaced in 2025.\n\nGovernors _skipped the topic in_ their State of the State addresses this year; New York City’s newly elected Mayor **Zohran Mamdani** _did not broach it_ on the campaign trail, despite his platform centered on affordable housing, transit, and other cost-of-living issues; and Vice President**J.D. Vance** , who campaigned on the issue _in 2024_, made little mention in his first year in office.\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "Broadband Affordability Falters in 2025",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-11T03:18:02.286Z"
}