News

Two additional states, New York and Wyoming, have been given seals of approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for their initial Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program proposals.

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

New York and Wyoming have become the latest states to gain approvals for their initial BEAD program proposals.

The approvals, granted by the NTIA this month, will allow New York to request access to over $664 million in BEAD funds. Similarly, Wyoming’s approval will allow state officials to request access to over $347 million set aside for the state’s broadband efforts, according to releases from the NTIA this month.

NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson, in comments included with the NTIA’s announcements, said the approvals are key hurdles to be crossed by both states.

“Today, New York can move their Internet for All efforts from planning to action,” he said, and offered similar comments regarding Wyoming’s approval.

Davidson also congratulated both state’s broadband offices.

Late last year, Louisiana became the first state to have their initial BEAD proposal approved by the NTIA.

In the months since, states like Colorado, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Maine, and Illinois have also gained initial proposal approval.

States to receive initial BEAD proposal approvals will now be expected to submit their final BEAD proposals within a year, which will detail the subgrantees that were chosen and how the state will ensure service to unserved and underserved locations.

According to the National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA), once deployment goals are met, remaining funding can be used on internet adoption, training, and workforce development efforts.

The BEAD program, part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative, plans to spend $42.45 billion in state grant program funds authorized by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

To get content like this delivered to your inbox, subscribe to the Broadband Communities newsletter.