States' BEAD excitement tempered by execution, mapping worries

Now that Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program allocations have been announced, each state has 180 days to submit initial proposals describing how they plan to run their grant programs. Initial proposals can be submitted beginning July 1, 2023. Once the National Telecommunications and Information Administration approves a state’s initial proposal, that state will be able to request access to 20% of its BEAD allotment. But as states pull together plans for the NTIA, there is still apprehension surrounding the extensive broadband buildouts needed across the country. Concerns linger over whether BEAD funding will be enough to truly bridge the digital divide, and there are doubts about the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission maps that will determine where funding is designated within each state.