Initial BEAD Proposals and Five Year Action Plans Come Into Focus

The key for states to unlock their portion of the $42.5 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funds is the submission and approval of their Five Year Action Plans and Final Proposal. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) requires states to first file an action plan, and then prepare more detailed Initial Proposals. Maine, Louisiana, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Vermont have all filed their draft Five Year Action Plans. Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming are in the process of completing their Initial Proposals.