
Federal Permitting Staff Reduced, Says NTIA Permitting Chief Jill Springer
The agency has been working to reduce federal permitting burdens for BEAD participants.

Cantwell, Schatz Press NTIA on Nearly $1B in Undistributed Tribal Broadband Grants
$980 million in funds remain frozen; $294 million in announced awards still undistributed.

Draft Bill Would Claw Back BEAD Non-Deployment Funds
The effort could include more than $20 billion of the program's $42.45 billion.

Kansas Wraps Up Major Broadband Program, Eyes BEAD Construction in 2026
Kansas broadband development official outlines next steps as Kansas nears BEAD deployment.

NTIA: BEAD Winners Can Continue to Receive Opex Subsidies for Existing Networks
Prohibition on operational subsidies 'applies only to BEAD-funded projects and does not affect existing subsidies in non-BEAD areas to which a provider is already entitled.'

Advocacy Group Opposed to BEAD Restrictions on Opex
The Community Broadband Action Network said some members were nervous about accepting BEAD awards.

Pew: Bad Data a Barrier to Shoring up Broadband Workforce
The $42.45 billion BEAD program is expected to create a large jump in demand.

State Broadband Leaders Frustrated by Federal Changes to BEAD Program
States like Kentucky are including less fiber (58%) than in earlier BEAD proposals (85%).

Commissioner Gomez Calls for Stronger Efforts to Close the Digital Divide
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez urged stronger action to ensure all communities have access to affordable broadband.

West Virginia Lawmaker Proposes Empowering State Broadband Offices on Poles
Broadband leaders nationwide face a shared challenge: Keeping utility pole disputes from slowing internet expansion.

Roth: No State Net Neutrality, Affordability Laws for BEAD Participants
She said grantees would also have to forgo federal opex subsidies for BEAD builds.

Ookla: Digital Divide Narrowed in 33 States
South Dakota ranked No. 1 in Starlink-delivered broadband speeds

Ray Diaz: How Broadband Connects Tribal Communities to Broader Opportunities
Despite federal funding efforts, 24 percent of Americans on Tribal lands still lack broadband access, limiting economic opportunity and essential services.

Fischer Wants More Fiber for Nebraska from Trump’s Commerce Department
The Republican Senator did not comment on BEAD non-deployment funding.

Chambers Criticizes BEAD Delays, Calls for Clearer Broadband Standards
The BEAD program, Chambers argued, has done more to delay construction than to drive it.

U.S. Pacific Territories Chart Path to Universal Broadband Coverage
Territories’ BEAD plans emphasize buried fiber, resiliency, and disaster readiness.

Nonprofit Urges Return of $22 Billion in BEAD Savings to Taxpayers
CAGW’s stance clashed with the views of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican.

West Virginia Orders Utilities to Pay for Pole Replacements
Regulators warn delays could jeopardize federal broadband deployments.

Washington D.C. Finalizes Plan for $100M in Federal Broadband Funding
District officials say ‘all’ remaining unserved locations will be connected through fixed wireless technology.

Jonathan Romeiro: The FTTH Acceptance Checklist BEAD Projects Should Require
Many fiber builds 'pass construction' but fail operations. A short, boring acceptance package keeps schedules and services intact.
States $20 Billion Under Budget for BEAD So Far
AAPB's Gigi Sohn said she's trying to convince more Republicans to advocate for states keeping that money.

Texas BEAD Plan $2 billion Under Budget
The state would get fiber to about 51 percent of its BEAD locations, with 22 percent in line for satellite.

Colin Reilly: How the BEAD Tracker Speeds Up Broadband Insights
A dashboard for the digital highway from the national non-profit Connected Nation.

Speed Tests Could Help Improve Broadband Oversight, Ookla Executive Says
Rural Starlink users often report higher speeds than customers in congested urban areas

Broadband Spared as Ernst Urges $2 Trillion Cuts
After calling BEAD a “boondoggle” last year, the Iowa senator omitted the program.

NTIA Looking to Speed Permitting for BEAD
The agency outlined the post-award federal permitting process in a webinar this week.

Sudden Cuts Erode Public Trust, Digital Equity Advocates Say
Disrupted federal support has stalled state efforts in digital literacy, workforce, and affordability programs.

TechExpo25 Brought Together 1,500 Companies and 45 Members of Congress
The event highlighted innovation, infrastructure, and government collaboration

Utilities Push Back on West Virginia’s Plan for Pole Attachment Database
If funded, the database could launch in early 2026

Sen. Warner Warns U.S. Must Reassert Leadership on Cybersecurity
Warner is concerned the 6 GHz band remains unprotected.

BEAD State Directors Recognize Progress But Still Have Issues
State directors warn of gaps and tight timelines.

Rep. Guthrie: BEAD Money Needs to Flow
Guthrie considers Europe an example of over-regulation

Hill Staffers Split on Permitting, Spectrum and Broadband Expansion
Aides to key telecom lawmakers laid out competing visions for the future of U.S. broadband policy.

Broadband Industry Reports Growing Frustration With BEAD
Industry leaders criticized the new push in the BEAD program for inconsistent state results and appearing to favor satellite technology.

States Race to Meet Federal Broadband Funding Deadline
States race to meet a federal deadline for the $42.5 billion BEAD program amid dramatic cost reductions.

With Florida, Utah, 48 States Have Posted BEAD Plans
Only Texas and California have yet to post plans. Those results are expected in late October.

New Street: NTIA Caps Might Not Affect Many Locations Nationally
Alaska is planning to get fiber to 53 percent of its BEAD locations.

States Revise Tentative BEAD Awards
Minnesota revealed that costs per passing above $10,000 required written justification.

House Lawmakers Introduce Middle Mile Bill for Rural America Act
Lawmakers filed bipartisan legislation Aug. 26 to reauthorize middle-mile broadband program.

WISPA Mostly Happy as Tentative BEAD Results Come In
The group is worried satellite providers are eating into the share of non-fiber locations.

RiverStreet’s $20M Fiber Build in Bedford County, Va., Delayed Until 2026
Delays from a railroad-crossing permit and added projects have pushed the timeline back to June 2026.

Illinois to Spend More Than 95 Percent of $1 Billion BEAD Budget
The 46 states that have reported results are collectively more than $17 billion under budget.

Dashboards Shed Light Into BEAD Deployment Progress
Tracking platforms are making BEAD implementation more transparent.

Study Reveals Patchy ISP Compliance With FCC Broadband Label Requirements
No ISP earned full marks under FCC broadband label requirements, Toronto's York University Study finds.

GOP Sen. Wicker Wants States to Keep BEAD Non-deployment Funds
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, also Republicans, also want the funding.

Missouri Targeting 80 Percent Fiber, Nearly $1 Billion Under BEAD Budget
South Dakota also posted its draft plan Friday, bringing the total to 45 states.

Johannes Maassen: After September 4, Pole Accuracy Becomes BEAD's Real Test
The true test for BEAD will lie in whether projects can move from paper to poles without preventable delays.

Consolidated Rebranding as Fidium
The company is aiming for 2 million fiber pasings by the end of 2027.

House Panel Pushes GOP-Led Broadband Permitting Package
Twenty-nine-bill slate would impose shot clocks and narrow environmental reviews to speed broadband deployment.

South Carolina Plans to Spend Less Than 8% of Original BEAD Allocation
New York also released tentative grant winners under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment grant program, bringing total to 43 states

Amazon: Project Kuiper to Begin U.S. Service Within About Six Months
Kuiper plans to expand service to five countries by the first half of 2026.

Samantha Schartman and Angela Siefer: A Call to the Research Community
As federal digital equity programs wind down, researchers are needed to help build sustainable models that keep communities connected.

Minnesota Told to Take Broadband Future Into Its Own Hands
Gigi Sohn urged state leaders to look to local, community-led networks as models.

West Virginia's Capito Wants BEAD Non-Deployment Funds
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, also a Republican, has also asked Commerce not to claw the funding back.

Canada Makes Significant Broadband Progress, But Rural Gaps Persist
Canada achieves 95% broadband coverage, despite major rural and Indigenous gaps.

States Releasing BEAD Plans Hits 39
NTIA also approved a further extension for California to submit its plan to the agency.

How NTIA is Asking States to Revise BEAD Plans
States could have to rebid certain areas, people familiar with the process said.

Landry to Lutnick: Let States Keep Non-Deployment Dollars
He proposed that Commerce limit spending to AI or 'America First' policies like workforce development.

AT&T Weighs In on BEAD Progress
AT&T praised BEAD progress and highlighted that fast action is needed.

States Report Major Cost Savings in BEAD Broadband Proposals
State officials reported big cost savings and varied tech plans as most raced to meet the Sept. 4 BEAD deadline.

SpaceX Challenges Wisconsin, Colorado BEAD Plans
Pennsylvania revised its draft results to award slightly more locations to SpaceX and Kuiper.

NTIA: 33 States Submitted Final BEAD Proposals
The agency said the remaining states 'have been granted short-term extensions and will be submitting their Final Proposals in the coming weeks.'

As BEAD Deadline Arrives, at Least 34 States Have Posted Bidding Results
At least six states have confirmed they received an extension from NTIA.

Shentel: Pole Disputes on the Way for BEAD Participants
The company is also looking to refinance its debt later this year.

What Was Ted Hearn Thinking? Not About Incentives
Journalists face daily deadlines, and researchers don’t really even understand the concept of a deadline.

New Hampshire Lawmakers Prefer Fiber from BEAD
The state would get fiber to two-thirds of its eligible BEAD locations.

Fiber Still in Line for Two-thirds of BEAD Locations
Experts noted NTIA could still change states’ draft spending plans.

West Virginia Moves to Curb Pole Disputes Ahead of BEAD
New regulations clarify cost-sharing rules, reporting requirements, and new dispute-resolution process.

With ACP Gone, California Turns to LifeLine for Broadband Relief
Three-year pilot adds internet subsidies to the state’s phone discount program.

As More States Post Draft BEAD Plans, Fiber Still at Two-Thirds of Locations
Two more states posted plans for public comment Thursday afternoon – Tennessee and North Carolina – bringing the total to at least 30.

NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth Joins Sen. Shelley Moore Capito in West Virginia
NTIA administrator travels to West Virginia to tout state with the highest percentage fiber (thus far) in its BEAD proposal.

More Than Half of States Posted New BEAD Plans Ahead of Key NTIA Deadline
Some states received extra time beyond Sept. 4.

Minnesota Broadband Chief on BEAD Challenges, State Investments, and Tribal Partnerships
While BEAD changes complicated Minnesota’s broadband plan, state investments and tribal partnerships remain strong.

Analyst: So far, Two-Thirds of BEAD Locations Getting Fiber
Current sample shows western states adopting a mix of technologies, including satellite.

Dem Lawmakers Want Clarity on BEAD Non-Deployment
The Trump administration isn't eager for states to spend money on efforts other than deploying infrastructure.

NTIA Gives Texas Until Oct. 27 to File Final BEAD Plan
Lone Star State wanted until Nov. 21.

BEAD Plans Released for Washington, Kansas, Maine and Wisconsin
Six of the 10 states releasing draft BEAD proposals plan on more than 70% fiber

Arkansas Releases BEAD Plan with 76% Fiber Coverage, 16% LEO
Arkansas’s $3,889 per-location average compares to Louisiana’s revised average of about $3,900 per location in that state’s draft plan.

NTIA Grants California’s Request for BEAD Deadline Extension
The state now has until October 2, rather than September 4, to submit its final proposal.

Pennsylvania Planning Fiber for 64% of BEAD Locations
North Dakota would get fiber to almost all of its relatively few locations.

Rural States Struggling with Affordable Broadband Access: BroadbandNow
The group found many rural households have access to broadband infrastructure, but not affordable plans.

West Virginia's BEAD Plan 94 Percent Fiber
That's the highest among states that have posted drafts of their final spending plans.

Colorado BEAD: Fiber Share Falls Dramatically, to 40% from 70%
NTIA Chief Counsel David Brodian confirmed receipt of a final BEAD proposal, from Louisiana.

NTIA Releases Further Guidance for BEAD Recipients
Guidance includes best practices for ISPs seeking to comply with program requirements

NTIA Has a Final BEAD Proposal in Hand
NTIA official confirms agency has received final proposal but did not provide the name

SpaceX Wants Louisiana’s BEAD Plan Reversed
The satellite broadband provider said the same of Virginia's spending plan.

Broadband Breakfast on December 3, 2025 - Satellite Broadband and BEAD
As LEO constellations expand and reliability improves, attention is turning to policy considerations.

Broadband Breakfast on November 5, 2025 - Broadband Permitting, Environment and BEAD
The new Environmental Screening and Permitting Tracking Tool and expanded categorical exclusions by NTIA will affect BEAD.

New Mexico Ready to Deploy BEAD Funds Across Technologies
‘Low-Earth orbit satellites are going to be part of the picture,’ a state official says.

Broadband Breakfast on September 3, 2025 - States and the BEAD Deadline
How can states navigate BEAD as the September 4 deadline rapidly approaches?

SpaceX: NTIA Should Reject Virginia's BEAD Plan
The company said it should have won more locations in the state.

BEAD Unplugged Panel: Don’t Count on Receiving Non-Deployment Funds
‘Howard Lutnick cares about making money and saving money,’ says Gigi Sohn.

NTIA: States Can’t Enforce Rate Laws on BEAD Participants
Only New York has a law regulating broadband prices for low-income households.

Under Louisiana’s New BEAD Plan, 80% of Locations Will Get Fiber
That's down from 95% under the state's Biden administration plan

Rural Co-ops Back NTIA’s Overhaul of Environmental Review Rules
NRECA praises alignment with new law and Supreme Court ruling.

August 12, 2025: BEAD Unplugged: The Controversies, the Questions, and What Comes Next
In this candid and timely webinar, three leading broadband policy experts will dive into a digital 'grab bag' of hot-button BEAD topics.

A Staredown Between States and NTIA Over the Future of ‘Non-Deployment’ Funding
State broadband offices worry they’ll get the short end of the pencils they are sharpening.

Broadband Breakfast on August 20, 2025 - IXPs and the Future of BEAD
What role could IXPs play in resilience and connectivity for American digital infrastructure?

Virginia Looking to Get Fiber to 81 Percent of BEAD Locations
About 10 percent of the state's eligible locations would be served by satellite under its plan.

Colorado to Fund Cyber Risk Plans for ISPs Ahead of BEAD Deployment
The state was vetting vendors to help ISPs.
