2026: Interest in Public Broadband Grows in a Post-BEAD World

When the history books are written, 2026 may be known as the turning point for community-owned broadband. For the preceding two years, many communities had faith that the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity Act funding programs would close the digital divide, once and for all. Unfortunately, thanks to an overly deliberate previous Administration and a current Administration that has changed the rules numerous times in just 11 months, these programs will not accomplish Congress’ goal of universal, affordable and robust broadband connectivity in the United States. Ironically, that presents a golden opportunity for AAPB and its members, as it makes public broadband an increasingly attractive option for the rural and urban communities that these government programs will inevitably leave behind. 

In 2026, AAPB will look to take advantage of this situation by actively seeking out communities and their public officials to provide them the information and resources they need to make a considered decision to own broadband infrastructure. We’ll provide a number of opportunities for communities to talk to and learn from those who have successfully built public networks, and we’ll build a library of materials that will guide them on how to build public support and counter incumbent attacks. In addition, we’ll work with groups like the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, and the US Conference of Mayors not only to inform their members, but also provide opportunities for our members to promote public broadband. We will do the same with State Broadband Offices, many of which will be looking for new projects once the BEAD money is disbursed.

In 2025, AAPB’s first ever conference and advocacy day not only gave community broadband advocates an opportunity to meet and plan future collaboration, it also taught participants how to talk to policymakers. Participants then put it into practice in nearly two dozen meetings with members of Congress and their staffers. In 2026, AAPB will have two conferences, both of which will seek to put the “community” back into community broadband.

• In March, we will travel to Chattanooga, TN for our first ever regional conference, titled “Impact in Action: Southeastern Public Broadband Conference.” This will not be your run-of-the-mill, panel heavy conference. Instead, participants will break into roundtables to discuss some of the most pressing issues affecting public broadband for the purpose of identifying challenges and opportunities and setting plans for future action. 

• In September, our national DC conference will focus on advocacy training and opportunities to meet with policymakers. 

While our conference was the highlight of 2025, AAPB did so much more, including:

• Started a webinar and film series with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance that addressed issues like financing and the benefits of being a “smart city” and featured successful networks from Holland, Michigan, Bozeman Montana, Bountiful, Utah and Loveland, Colorado; 

• Traveled to Oklahoma, Michigan, Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Arizona and North Carolina to speak and assist members with public broadband projects; 

• Spoke at the National Association of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners Winter Meeting and the US Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting about the benefits of public broadband; 

• For the second year in a row, presented a workshop at the Broadband Communities Summit that focused, among other things, on changes to the BEAD program and financing public networks; 

• Continued to debunk myths about public broadband in campaigns and papers funded by dark money groups with ties to incumbent cable companies; and

• Appeared in dozens of news articles and webinars about the growth of public broadband and changes to the BEAD and Digital Equity Act funding programs.

None of this work is possible without you and your support. So if you’re a member already, we are so grateful. If you aren’t, please consider joining today. And as always, I welcome your feedback about what AAPB should be doing to advance the cause of community-owned broadband networks. 

Wishing you the best for a joyous and relaxing holiday season. See you in 2026!

Gigi