NTIA Streamlines BEAD Program, But Risks Further Delays

NTIA Streamlines BEAD Program, But Risks Further Delays

On June 6, the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) issued its long-awaited overhaul of the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This new policy notice repeals many administrative burdens imposed by Biden-era NTIA oversight and aligns the program more closely with Congress’s original intent. This revised guidance promises to enhance broadband deployment by increasing flexibility and r…

North Dakota, Idaho, and American Samoa Unite for a Game-Changing Broadband Expansion!

North Dakota, Idaho, and American Samoa Secure BEAD Funding to Enhance Broadband Access In a significant advancement for digital connectivity, North Dakota, Idaho, and American Samoa have successfully obtained funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by allocating essential financial resources to expand broadband [...]

NY Broadband Report Shows Gains in Coverage, Affordability

The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) released its fourth annual broadband report and updated interactive map Thursday, showing improvements in high-speed internet access across the state. The report, developed under the 2021 Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act, found that...

Putting 'Visceral' Reactions Aside, State Broadband Officers Plan to Make BEAD Work

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2025 – After setting aside “visceral” reactions against the NTIA’s June 6 restructuring policy notice governing the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, state broadband officials Thursday expressed willingness to roll up their sleeves and make it work.“It appeared to be much more of a mess last week, when we were all very visceral in our reactions to it,” Eric Frederick, Chief Connectivity Officer a…

NTIA Loosens BEAD Letter of Credit Requirement

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has announced that it will reduce the letter of credit (LoC) requirements for the $42.5 billion BEAD rural broadband funding program. Here is what you need to learn about NTIA’s recent initiative. NTIA Loosens BEAD Letter of Credit Requirement On Wednesday, the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) announced that the BEAD program will no longer requ…

Doug Dawson: NTIA is RDOFing the BEAD Process - Inside Towers

CCG Consulting President Doug Dawson thinks NTIA chose the worst features of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) in its new BEAD restructuring notice. The notice makes the following major changes to the process of choosing BEAD grant winners, Dawson notes in his Pots and Pans Broadband for All blog: Any technology that can deliver 100/20 Mbps broadband today is now eligible to win a BEAD grant. While there is a caveat that a winning techn…