Communications and Technology Alert: Senate NG911 Legislation Introduced; Enforcement Bureau Issues Robocall Final Orders; NTIA Op-Ed BEAD Comments; 2025 Fiber Deployment Cost Annual Report [Vol. XXIII, Issue 11]
Senators Introduce NG911 Legislation
Last Wednesday, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Catherine Cortez Mastro (D-NV) introduced the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act (S. 4062) following similar legislation introduced in the House of Representatives in January. The NG9-1-1 Act would establish a next-generation Cybersecurity Center and an advisory board to coordinate national, state, and local transitions. While the bill also identifies entities who would qualify for grant funding to support NG9-1-1 deployments, it does not identify a funding total for grant programs. House and Senate leaders plan to coordinate with NTIA to reach funding amounts for the programs. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271).
Enforcement Bureau Issues Order Blocking Provider from Connecting with US Networks
Last Thursday, the Enforcement Bureau released a Final Determination Order and Removal Order requiring all voice service providers immediately block and cease accepting all traffic from Belthrough LLC for violations of the Commission’s robocall rules. Additionally, Belthrough LLC was also removed from the Robocall Mitigation Database, and all providers are required to comply with the Orders within 30 days. These Orders follow a previous Notification of Suspected Illegal Traffic and Initial Determination made by the Bureau, finding that Belthrough had facilitated and, in some instances, served as the originator of voice message calls made without the called party’s consent that impersonated Internet Service Providers (ISPs). For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271).
NTIA Administrator Criticizes D.C. BEAD Proposal in Op-Ed
Last week, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator Arielle Roth published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal announcing that NTIA would not be approving any of the BEAD funds that Washington, D.C. requested. Roth criticized D.C.'s requested $4 million of funding in order to connect 55 locations, around $70,000 per site, as a case study in wasteful spending. Roth stated that D.C. later adjusted their request to only 11 locations, before eventually acknowledging that there are no unserved or underserved location in the District. Roth sites this progression as an example of how the Trump Administration is creating savings via changes to the BEAD program. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4193).
Fiber Association Releases 2025 Cost Report
Last week, the Fiber Broadband Association released its 2025 Fiber Deployment Cost Annual Report. The report shows that fiber deployment continues to expand across the U.S., with more than 60% of households now having access to fiber, but builders are facing rising costs driven primarily by labor, materials, permitting delays, and make ready work. Underground construction remains more than twice as expensive as aerial deployment, with median costs of roughly $18/ft and $8/ft respectively, and labor accounting for the majority of total build costs. Most operators reported cost increases in 2025, and 88–92% expect continued cost escalation in 2026 due to workforce constraints, rising wages, and regulatory hurdles. The report provides detailed benchmarks and insights to help providers plan budgets, manage risk, and adapt deployment strategies as cost pressures intensify. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4193).
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