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North Dakota has taken a major step forward with the recent execution of BEAD subgrantee agreements for hundreds of unserved locations.

Edited by Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

The North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) announced this week that it has finalized contracts with BEK Communications Cooperative and Midco to deliver broadband service to remaining unconnected areas in the state.

“With these agreements in place, North Dakota is among the first states in the nation to complete this critical step in the BEAD process, moving from planning to full execution of deployment partnerships,” said Brian Newby, broadband program director, in a release provided to Broadband Communities.

Additionally, he emphasized the strength of partnerships with providers, noting, “That progress reflects strong collaboration with our provider partners and positions us well as we move into the final phase of connecting remaining unserved locations.”

Unlike many states facing widespread broadband gaps, North Dakota’s focus is on a relatively small number of locations, about 279, thanks to years of previous infrastructure investments. The state’s BEAD projects primarily utilize fiber technology, aiming to ensure that connections offer both reliability and scalability over the long term.

Looking ahead, state officials, alongside BEK Communications and Midco, are now concentrating on permitting, engineering, and also construction tasks necessary to get the new broadband service deployed.

All BEAD-funded locations are expected to be fully connected by the end of 2027, NDIT said.

Some AI tools assisted in the crafting of this report.

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