New hot job: State high-speed internet network director

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Ensuring that more than $40 billion in new funding connects every American to high-speed internet service is a job that's falling to the states — and they need help. Of all the job openings posted for states' burgeoning broadband offices, the "director" position is the most common vacancy, according to data from The Pew Charitable Trusts. Directors are often responsible for crafting state broadband plans and overseeing hundreds of millions in funding from multiple state and federal programs. The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) will provide $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs in all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories. The release of these funds will be tied to eligible entities' five-year action plans and initial and final proposals. In order to better facilitate this process, all 50 states have some sort of broadband office, and many are trying to expand. States have been able to use federal funding from COVID relief packages to start their broadband offices or add people to them. Applications for initial planning funds were due in August. Recipients of planning funds will have 270 days to create a five-year action plan, which should lay out their "goals and approaches to broadband access, affordability, equity, and adoption," according to BEAD's FAQ.


New hot job: State high-speed internet network director