Beware these common pitfalls that can bedevil BEAD projects

Procurement, permitting and people. Those are the three Ps to remember if you want to ensure a smooth broadband build. Steven Greene, Technical Program Manager at the Utah Broadband Center, said broadband builders often assume they can readily get the supplies they need for their projects. But without a solid procurement plan in place, shortages can quickly become problematic. That’s especially true of upcoming Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) projects. Steve Kristan, Lumos Fiber’s Director of Market Development for the state of Ohio, pointed to permitting as another key hurdle. Kristan also said builders should use lidar technology to assess the lay of the land underground rather than relying on municipal records, which are often inaccurate. And when builders inevitably hit a buried gas or power line, that’s when relationships with the people in local markets will really matter.