BEAD Disparities: As Some States Struggle to Get Everyone Connected, Others May Have Leftover Funds

Over a quarter of states are expected to be able to have enough Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding to get broadband to all their unserved and underserved areas and still have money left. At the other end of the spectrum, some states are struggling to meet national goals of making broadband available to everyone and to deploy fiber to the maximum extent possible. In a letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), fixed wireless provider association WISPA noted several states–including Minnesota, New York and North Carolina—that have indicated they don’t expect to have enough BEAD funding to reach everyone. Those states that don’t need all their BEAD funding to make broadband available to everyone will be able to use the funds for other purposes. Subject to NTIA approval, the states can use the money toward connectivity for anchor institutions or local governmental facilities or possibly for broadband adoption purposes.