The Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (PITFA) made permanent the moratorium on state and local internet access taxes and on multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce. The legislation, which was signed into law on February 24, 2016, continues to protect consumers from taxation on their internet services and taxes on internet advertising that could be […]
Cox-Charter Merger Leaps Over Final Hurdle
The proposed $34.5 billion merger between Cox Communications and Charter Communications made it through the last review needed to finalize the deal when it was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Citizens Against Government Waste wrote to the CPUC on February 4, 2026, spotlighting the consumer benefits that would be derived from the […]
Permitting Reform Is Key to BEAD Success
Funding is heading to the states from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The expeditious and efficient use of these funds to connect unserved and underserved areas of the country depends on state and local governments ensuring that the permitting process does not impede or […]
World Wi-Fi Week Is a Reminder to Protect Unlicensed Spectrum
World Wi-Fi Day has been celebrated every year since 2007 on June 20, and in 2026, it has turned into World Wi-Fi Week. It was established to commemorate Wi-Fi’s ability to connect people and help bridge the digital divide as well as reinforce how Wi-Fi is used in homes, businesses, and public areas. According to […]
Broadband Continues to Be a Bargain
American consumers are worried about affordability, but their list of serious concerns does not include broadband. According to US Telecom’s May 19, 2026, Broadband Pricing Index (BPI) report, for the 11th straight year broadband prices have decreased and speeds have increased. It was therefore not surprising that the nationwide poll included in the BPI report […]
BEAD Renders USDA Broadband Programs Obsolete
Connecting unserved and underserved communities across the country to high-speed internet has long been a laudable goal. But after a May 10, 2023, Government Accountability Office (GAO) report exposed more than 133 broadband related programs across 15 federal agencies, now-Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr said that up to $800 billion was available for […]
Copper Wire Retirement at the Forefront of Next FCC Meeting
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has long called for the reduction of burdensome and outdated regulations, especially for technology and telecommunications. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been at the forefront of this effort, beginning with its March 23, 2025, “Delete, Delete, Delete” docket seeking comments on which rules, regulations and guidance should be eliminated […]
NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth Announces BEAD Savings
The Free State Foundation luncheon featuring National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator Arielle Roth included some welcome news for businesses, families, and taxpayers. At the December 2, 2025, event at the National Press Club, which included comments and questions from former Federal Communications Commissioner Michael O’Rielly and Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) Vice President […]
Private Broadband Investment Is At A Near Record High
Bridging the digital divide by connecting all unserved and underserved businesses and households that wish to have high-speed access to the internet is critically important to the economy and U.S. global leadership in telecommunications. Investment by the private sector in broadband has been a significant factor in getting closer to achieving this objective. USTelecom’s 2024 […]
FCC and Congress Work to Reduce Barriers to Broadband Deployment
The deployment of broadband to connect businesses and families to the internet requires every level of government to avoid imposing burdensome rules and regulations that impede that process. Ensuring that projects move forward expeditiously is critical as the $42.45 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding will be released to the states from the […]








