Even Though NTIA Approved Louisiana BEAD, Delay by NIST Keeps Shovels at Bay

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 26, 2025 – Even though the U.S. Commerce Department agency responsible for broadband officially approved federal funds for Louisiana, Delaware and Nevada, those state broadband offices are unable go forward because an unrelated federal agency — the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) – has not done its routine check-off.

Louisiana broadband office Deputy Director Thomas Tyler recounted the dilemma that ConnectLA, his office, faces in a session on federal broadband funding here Tuesday at the Metro Connect conference.

Then-National Telecommunications and Information Administrator Alan Davidson approved Louisiana’s final proposal on Jan. 13, one week before Inauguration Day. That was supposed to mark the starting gun for Louisiana to begin putting shovels in the dirt for construction under the $42.5 Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.