How far might the broadband funding go? An update with data from the new maps

An earlier model estimated how far the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding might go, using estimates of the unserved and underserved from the old Form 477 data. The prediction was that with an optimal allocation between states, there would be almost enough money to reach all the unserved and underserved. Well, we’re getting closer to real and final data, and an update is in: $41.4 billion at an average national cost of $6,214 per location should reach 6.7 million locations. Considering the 3.5 million locations already committed to by Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), we should be able to reach 10.1 million locations, or 79% of the total unserved and underserved nationally.  As of this writing, 3.5 million locations have been authorized for RDOF funding. These are locations that are intended to be rural and unserved. There should be a 100% overlap between RDOF locations and BEAD-eligible locations. While RDOF-authorized locations are counted as unserved for the purposes of the allocation of money, by rule BEAD money can’t be used to fund a project for the same location. In the fall I was optimistic about how far the BEAD money can go in closing the Digital Divide. The new maps, if anything, make me more optimistic.