Broadband Breakfast Club Exclusive Report
September 2023
Following announcements from large fiber equipment providers that they are building fiber equipment manufacturing plants in the United States, the telecommunications industry is turning its focus from domestic manufacturing requirements to other regulatory burdens that have the potential to bar Broadband Equity Access and Deployment projects.
Broadband Adoption Slipping, Researchers Warn Pennsylvania Lawmakers
Cuts to federal benefits could push 233,000 households off broadband, researcher warns.
Bhavin Gandecha: The Permitting Bills Won’t Fix What’s Actually Broken
Congress keeps asking how to build faster, but nobody has defined how much delay or funding variance the system will tolerate before escalation is automatic.
AI Buildout Worsening Supply Costs, Permit Worries, ISPs Say
Lumen said it was laying middle mile fiber next to strands reserved by hyperscalers
Bob Bartz: The Broadband Map Is Getting Better. Here’s What Still Needs to Change
Faster provider reporting and engineering field data would make FCC broadband maps more accurate, and that matters for investment decisions well beyond BEAD.
Mark Vasconi: A Growing Reality Check for BEAD
I’m a former State Broadband Officer. Here's what other SBOs are saying about BEAD.
States Can’t Unilaterally Alter BEAD Contracts, NTIA Says
The agency asked states to reduce satellite awards, but some had already signed their agreements
Texas Governor Halts Data Center Grid Connections Pending Audit
The data center interconnection freeze is separate from the state's halting the disbursements of billions in broadband funding.
With House Effort Stalled, NCTA Presses Senate on Broadband Permitting
Cable group asks Senate committee leaders to include broadband reforms in any permitting package.
Texas Halts BEAD Disbursements as New Comptroller Recasts Broadband Office
A broadband mess in Texas
Broadband Grants Paused as Critics Allege Favoritism Toward Elon Musk’s Starlink
An audit is underway, but no completion date has been set.
Watch Out for Pole Disputes, Environmental Permits, Experts say
One engineer suggested outside consultants to support local permitting agencies
Bartlett Cleland: The Market Is Already Solving Dead Zones; BEAD Shouldn't Fund Them
Now that the big three carriers are jointly building satellite direct-to-device coverage, BEAD should stop chasing rural mobile and stick to connecting unserved homes.
How Corning is Making Fiber Available for BEAD Winners
Fellow U.S. fiber manufacturer Psyrmian announced Wednesday it was spending $1 billion to expand its capacity at four facilities
Hawaiʻi Begins $30.7 Million BEAD Broadband Buildout
Once envisioned at $95 million, the buildout will now reach the same locations for a third that cost.
States Working on BEAD Project Costs, Permits
Equipment costs are rising as projects get underway
The Farm Bill Fight That Will Shape Rural Broadband
Republicans were unable to move their bill forward. The measure will determine the future of the USDA’s ReConnect Broadband program.
RiverStreet Networks Loses Virginia Contracts After Numerous Delays
Virginia has stripped the company from multiple state-subsidized broadband projects after years of missed deadlines and funding shortfalls.
BEAD Projects Could Require 86,000 Permits Nationwide, Analysts Say
ACLP researchers said that was likely an undercount
Virginia Moves Forward on BEAD Contracts
One ISP backed out of a small project, but other winners are scooping up those locations
Federal Broadband Funding Is Expanding Coverage and Competition
New CostQuest analysis found federally funded areas are increasingly served by multiple providers
BEAD Participants Could Face Tough Finances: Moffett
NTIA has been adamant that it’s preventing defaults
Minnesota’s First BEAD Contract Lands
The state office must execute 93 more contracts by October 2026.
NTIA Extends Tribal Broadband Grant Deadlines Following Chickasaw Nation Visit
The agency announced a 60-day extension to align with BEAD and other funding.
Rural Carriers Appeal FCC for Deadline Relief
Rural providers participating in a federal program say ‘unforeseen circumstances’ are making a 2028 deadline unworkable.
Colorado Eyes $31.5 Million Middle Mile Build
The state’s interconnected backhaul vision depends on uncertain federal funding and expanded legal authority.
Questions Remain After NTIA’s Review of Billions in Broadband Grants, GAO Says
Watchdog says NTIA did not provide updated data or outcomes for awards flagged during Trump administration review.
House Republicans Question Future of Federal Broadband Programs
GAO tells lawmakers fewer broadband programs may be needed after BEAD
Texas Broadband Office Pushes Back Against SpaceX Favoritism Accusations
The department says claims have been driven by misinformation.
Samantha Schartman: AI Will Widen the Digital Divide — Cross-Sector Co-Investment Could Provide a Bridge
We need new ways to fund programs, and the Alt Funding Field Guide makes the case that digital inclusion creates economic value
AT&T Fixed Wireless Back in New York
The carrier had pulled the service over the state’s Affordable Broadband Act
State Broadband Chiefs Await Guidance on $21 Billion of Remaining BEAD Funds
Four state broadband directors, still awaiting federal guidance on billions in remaining BEAD funds, speak at Broadband Breakfast Live Online event.
Senate Commerce Clears Bill Requiring BEAD Project Dashboard
NTIA would have to publish states’ semiannual reports
California BEAD Plan Approved
The state’s LEO locations decreased by nearly half compared to its draft plan. Fiber and fixed wireless didn’t significantly change.
Wisconsin Continues to Report $60 Million Gap in BEAD Funding
State officials say they will have to use state funds to connect the remaining 31,000 locations.
BEAD Satellite Locations Could Drop 35-42%, Analysts Say
NTIA is asking states to remove locations based on new broadband mapping data
Michelle Yin: America is Fighting About the Wrong End of the Wire
The real broadband fight isn't over data centers but over whether $21 billion in leftover BEAD savings goes toward helping people actually use the networks being built.
Broad Coalition Urges NTIA to Make BEAD Network Performance Data Public
Labor and public interest groups concerned over LEO providers' ability to carry out their commitments.
Broadband Trade Groups Not Fans of Proposed Federal Grant Update
OMB is proposing making it easier for agencies to cancel awards and eliminating milestone-based payments
West Virginia BEAD Projects Kick Off as Other Broadband Projects Finish
The state is wrapping up projects under the American Rescue Plan Act and working with ISPs to navigate permitting for BEAD.
North Dakota Senator Thanks the State for its Connectivity Efforts
To date, 95 percent North Dakota households have access to internet speeds of 100 Mbps.
Satellite BEAD Awards to be Reduced
NTIA said the new FCC broadband coverage map showed expanded terrestrial service in rural areas
States Tell FCC to Leave Pole Attachment Authority Intact
Utility regulators in Washington, Ohio, and Connecticut call FCC’s proposed recertification unnecessary.
Wireless Infrastructure Association Nabs $30 Million for Workforce Development
Pew said in a recent paper that states have multiple avenues for shoring up their workforces ahead of BEAD
Texas AG Candidate Vows to Investigate SpaceX’s BEAD Awards
Nathan Johnson says the state’s subgrant selection process ‘sure looks like’ corruption.
Navajo Nation Council Approves $244.6 million Broadband Investment
The plan pairs immediate Starlink service with a 1,265-mile fiber and 5G buildout.
Oregon Re-Awards Refused BEAD Locations
Amazon Leo picked up more than 5,000 locations
South Carolina Cuts BEAD Recipients in Half
State and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds take eight ISPs out of the BEAD program.
Texas Governor Denies SpaceX Favoritism
The Texas Governor’s office is pushing back against allegations of favoritism and sweetheart deals.
House Bill Seeks to Avoid Another ‘Rip-and-Replace’ with Foreign Fiber Ban
The bipartisan FIREWALL Act would restrict federal broadband funding to domestically sourced or allied fiber-optic cable.
Colorado Governor Unveils Dashboard Disclosing BEAD Funding
The portal discloses how $1.3 billion in federal funding is being used throughout the state.
Oregon Moves Forward on BEAD Contracts, But Astound Backs Out
The company was set to receive more than $90 million to serve 11,000 locations
Tom Ferree: The Connection is Coming. The Question is Whether We’re Ready.
From education to healthcare, the ripple effects on our economy and daily lives will be monumental. But there’s a catch.
Fiber Projects Capture Most of $18.2 Million California Broadband Investment
Four projects led by Plumas-Sierra Telecom awarded $14.7 million of approved funding
NTIA Defends BEAD Pole Rules
Providers anticipate understaffed cities, utilities being a deployment challenge.
Lawmakers Press Commerce over Withholding of Billions in Broadband Funds
House Democrats dispute characterization of $21 billion in unspent funds as ‘taxpayer savings.’
Arkansas First State to Execute BEAD Agreement with Amazon Leo
Arkansas also signed a grant agreement with SpaceX.
Louisiana Inks BEAD Contract with SpaceX
The satellite operator has signed agreements in multiple other states.
Astound Explains $165 Million BEAD Refusal in Texas
Resound also dropped out in the state.
Evan Swarztrauber: Congress Needs to Step In on Broadband Expansion
Aggressive FCC enforcement and congressional action is necessary to establish a uniform national standard on pole-attachment cost-sharing and timelines, the author writes.
Fiber Internet Companies to Reduce Prices Amid General U.S. Inflation
Wire 3 and NEK Broadband will offer discounted plans to internet users.
One Year After BEAD Restructured, Some States Still Can’t Access Infrastructure Funding
Despite federal promises to accelerate deployment, states are still waiting on approvals to access broadband funds.
NTIA Leader Roth Emphasizes Importance of BEAD Deployments
The Trump administration official expressed excitement over the program’s expansion and hopes to see more progress.
Winning Bidders Back Out of 31,000 BEAD Locations in Texas
The state was optimistic it would finalize a still-pending contract with Amazon, which refused its Nebraska award.
Roth Provides BEAD and Spectrum Updates
The NTIA administrator discussed some of the challenges and updates facing the administration.
ACLP: BEAD Winners Set to Put Up $11.4 Billion in Matching Funds
That’s more than 37 percent of the program’s total project costs, the group found.
Electric Co-ops Finding BEAD Rules Onerous, Especially on Poles
Two said they were turning down tentative BEAD awards.
Great Plains Communications Says Rural Providers Will Need Support Beyond BEAD
Executive says rising bandwidth demands and sparse population make long-term support necessary.
Panelists Consider BEAD Performance, Compliance and Affordability
Experts say connectivity gains are real, but affordability and oversight will determine BEAD's lasting impact.
Virginia Democrat Urges Spanberger to Resolve Pole Disputes
The governor can use existing rules to make BEAD funding accessible, the Democrat says.
Groups Push Back on Proposed Massachusetts Pole Attachment Timeline
Current processing timelines exceed what surrounding states and FCC timelines look like.
Jill Marx: The Marketing Fix Behind Multi-Gig Adoption
The number of homes a network passes is not the same as the number of homes that can realistically receive multi-gig service.
Gigi Sohn: The Town BEAD Forgot
In Louisiana's poorest parish, a $6 million BEAD fiber award became a $150,000 Starlink contract under the Trump administration's rewritten program, leaving Lake Providence behind.
Amazon, Two Local ISPs Back Out of BEAD in Nebraska
The state is opening a new round of bidding for 12 percent of its BEAD locations. SpaceX did sign a contract with the state.
Bottlenecks Slowing BEAD: Permits, Locates, Labor, and Materials
Fiber construction workers are increasingly being recruited by data center developers, tightening an already scarce labor pool.
NTCA Asks NTIA for BEAD ISP Receipts
The broadband trade association wants greater transparency for BEAD buildouts.
Wisconsin Fills BEAD Gaps With $60 Million Grant
The state says 30,000 locations are expected to remain unserved after federal deployments finish.
Beyond BEAD, Fiber Industry Reflects Upon Use Cases at Fiber Connect 2026
What is fiber's expanding role in telehealth, precision agriculture, quantum networks and data centers?
Fiber Industry Faces Competing Pressures From Data Centers and Workforce
Fiber industry speaking at BroadbandLive at Fiber Connect on Tuesday discussed BEAD delays, workforce shortages and data center demand.
New Mexico First to Replace Federal Broadband Subsidy
$10 million program takes effect Wednesday, with potential to expand to $45 million annually.
Arkansas Proposal Outlines Uses for Remaining BEAD Funds
With $650 million in unspent BEAD funds, Arkansas says it has a plan for how to use them.
BEAD Non-Deployment Funds Could Fund Precision Ag. States Are Still Waiting to Find Out
State broadband and agriculture agencies remain siloed despite precision agriculture's growing connectivity demands, panelists said.
GFiber, AARP Partner on Senior Internet Training, Starting with Chandler, Ariz.
One in four Americans will be over 65 within years. An industry partnership is building the digital literacy infrastructure to reach them.
Fiber Industry Confronts Marathon of BEAD Compliance, Data Center Backlash
Fiber Connect 2026 panelists said the broadband buildout has become a marathon, reshaped by soaring make-ready costs.
Glen Howie: Arkansas's BEAD Surplus Opens Door to Broader Broadband Investment
Arkansas connected all of its unserved locations using less than a third of its BEAD allocation, leaving $650 million for broader investment.
Rhode Island Legislators Take Aim at 16-Year-Old Broadband Law
Proposed measure would give the state new authority to collect independent data on speeds, outages, and provider performance.
‘We Did Not Compromise’: Northern Mariana Islands Advances Fully Underground Fiber Buildout
Officials resisted pressure to scale back resiliency standards on the territorywide broadband project.
Nebraska’s Vistabeam Turns on BEAD Connection
The company said it has first active subscribers on BEAD-funded infrastructure.
Groups Campaign To Restore Canceled Digital Equity Funding
Communities see setbacks in broadband access a year after funding loss.
Utility Pole Costs a Major Expense for BEAD Broadband Projects
Researchers say make-ready expenses could cost up to $4.63 billion nationwide
Some of Ohio’s Satellite BEAD Locations Face Tree Canopy Cover, Analyst Says
NTIA said money could be clawed back if service doesn’t meet standards.
Pritzker Urges Secretary Lutnick to Release Illinois’ BEAD Funding
Illinois Governor expresses frustration at being one of the last to receive NTIA approval.
First BEAD-Funded Equipment Deployed in Louisiana, State Says
A Nebraska ISP is claiming the first subscriber on BEAD infrastructure.
Comcast Seeks FCC Action in Pole Dispute With Appalachian Power Company
Disputed pole replacement fees could delay broadband deployments, the ISP argues.
NTIA to BEAD Winners: ‘Know Your Rights’
The agency urged ISPs to ensure state contracts exempt them from certain laws and include permitting commitments.
Arkansas Tackles Large-Scale Permitting Challenges
Coordination across agencies and jurisdictions has emerged as the state’s biggest permitting challenge.
Senators Release Details of BEAD Permitting Bill
The proposal would require NTIA to publicly track broadband deployment progress
Corning to Build Three New Manufacturing Plants After $500 Million NVIDIA Investment
The company said the deal would boost its fiber manufacturing capacity by more than 50 percent.
North Dakota Signs All BEAD Contracts
The state is planning to finish connecting its 279 eligible locations by the end of 2027.
No Changes to Worker Classification for BEAD, Pennsylvania Says
NTIA had previously said the state would have to change course.
Bill to Increase Oversight of BEAD Broadband Grants Filed
The legislation would place new responsibilities on the Commerce Department.
