News

The NTIA has granted a 90-day extension for final BEAD proposals ahead of a planned policy notice that will “streamline the program.”

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

Final BEAD proposals have been given a 90-day extension as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) allures to future action they say will “streamline the program.”

The extension was posted last week on the NTIA’s website. It argues that “extraordinary circumstances” have befallen the nation’s massive $42.45 billion effort to deploy broadband to all Americans.

“A comprehensive review of the BEAD Program is underway,” a notice announcing the extension on NTIA’s website also read. “And a Policy Notice will be issued to improve and streamline the program, necessitating additional time for Eligible Entities to submit their Final Proposal to NTIA.”

The notice also says eligible entities will need “additional time to implement the forthcoming programmatic improvements.”

The waived requirement mandated that final proposals be submitted no later than 365 days following Initial Proposal approval.

No date was given in the notice announcing the waiver regarding when forthcoming improvements to BEAD would be announced.

Louisiana was the first state to gain approval for their initial BEAD proposal.

In 2024, Louisiana also became the first to award BEAD funds through a state program called GUMBO 2.0.

The state has been highly impacted by an ongoing review to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The review was called by Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in March.

As was reported yesterday by Broadband Communities, delays to BEAD have already forced a Louisiana broadband construction firm to layoff 80% of subcontractors, according to the organization’s co-owner.

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