Wireless internet service providers (WISPs) hit a homerun when federal officials clarified that areas covered by broadband running on Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum could be marked as served for purposes of BEAD. Many folks in the fiber broadband community are not familiar with wireless internet service and the rules regarding wireless spectrum. But CBRS spectrum has become a factor in the FCC’s national broadband map, and it is affecting the determination of BEAD-eligible locations. The first BEAD rules from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) said that for wireless broadband, only service providers who owned their own licensed spectrum could apply for BEAD funds in unserved locations. But later, the NTIA clarified its rules and said that service providers who had access to general authorized access (GAA) CBRS spectrum could apply for BEAD funds in unserved locations. Previously, GAA CBRS spectrum had been considered as unlicensed. But after the rule change, it is considered as licensed-by-rule.

The Michigan High Speed Internet Office kicked off its BEAD challenge process this week, and it’s doing everything in its power to scrub the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) map of locations where providers are overstating their coverage. The state is receiving a historic $1.56 billion BEAD funding allocation—the fourth highest in the nation. Starting March 26, it is accepting challenges to the FCC's broadband map for the state through its interactive state challenge portal until April 25. However, the state is aware of potential misrepresentations on its broadband map. Specifically, questions have arisen about Mercury Broadband’s fixed wireless access (FWA) coverage in 12 counties in Michigan. Mercury has claimed practically ubiquitous FWA coverage in those counties. Mercury made similar statements about its coverage in Kansas, which were left on the FCC map after the challenge process, leaving unserved or underserved areas ineligible for BEAD funding.

Blink and it’s easy to miss Google Fiber news. In March, the company offered progress reports on multiple GFiber markets, including some that hadn’t been previously announced. On March 11, the company said it was working in Pocatello and Chubbuck, Idaho. On March 18, the company noted that service was available in an apartment and condo building in Hillsborough, North Carolina, which is near Duke University. This is the first location where service will be available in Hillsborough. On March 19, the company said the City of Blue Springs, Missouri city council approved a license agreement to allow GFiber to expand into the community. Blue Springs is located 19 miles east of Kansas City, which was Google Fiber’s first market more than a decade ago.