BEAD
A new round of BEAD funding has been announced by the NTIA, clearing the way for additional unserved locations (including at least 5,000 in Alaska) to be addressed.
By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Over $21 billion clawed back during Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s Benefit of the Bargain initiative for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program can now be used to address more locations unserved by broadband, NTIA announced this month.
The money represents the billions of dollars shaved off of revised broadband plans from U.S. states and territories following new guidance from the Trump Administration last year.
The NTIA’s announcement comes after the agency said one consistent theme emerged during listening sessions that solicited ideas regarding the best uses of the money remaining in BEAD’s Congressional allocation: a desire to connect locations that were identified after final proposals were submitted by states and territories.
In Alaska alone, the NTIA’s Sept. 4 release says over 5,000 additional locations could now be eligible for BEAD funding.
NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth announced the news in Alaska during her trip to review connectivity progress in the state.
Among the places she visited, Roth toured a future BEAD project site in Palmer, Alaska, where 10,000 locations are set to be connected in three project areas.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said Roth’s announcement was great news for Alaska.
“Thousands of Alaskans’ homes will be connected with high-speed internet at affordable prices,” Dunleavy said, according to NTIA’s release. “I want to thank the NTIA and the Trump Administration for all of their help improving internet connectivity, building new infrastructure, and growing our economy.”
Roth’s announcement makes good on Lutnick’s pledge to direct the unspent BEAD money to broadband deployment.
In February, Lutnick was pressed by Congress about his intent for the unspent BEAD funds.
“We are going to hew closely, or exactly, actually the easiest way to say this — we are going to hew exactly to the statute,” Lutnick said at the time.
