BEAD Report: Grading States’ Initial Proposals for Federal Broadband Funds

If all goes well, the $42.5 billion in BEAD funding that Congress allotted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act should be enough to extend broadband coverage across the country. But it will depend on how states and territories use the money. The first half of 2024 is a critical juncture as states solicit feedback and approval of their Initial Proposals from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which administers the BEAD program. There are three major criteria that state policymakers and federal administrators should focus on to ensure BEAD funding is used to the greatest possible benefit. First, states should plan to rely on a range of technologies to maximize their broadband coverage, from fiber optic networks to low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites where the cost of a fixed connection is prohibitive. Second, states should create a streamlined regulatory environment that minimizes funds wasted on overcoming disjointed policies or inefficient regulations. Third, states should express a focus on—and articulate a plan for—digital inclusion within their BEAD plans.