Nearly One in Three Co-ops Turning Down BEAD Money, NRECA Says
The group’s members said one provider’s U.S.-made fiber prices jumped 40 percent in August alone
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2026 – Nearly one in three electric cooperatives to participate in a major broadband expansion program have pulled out, with even more considering withdrawing, according to their main industry group.
NRECA, which represents electric co-ops, said in a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick last week that 63 cooperatives had won funding in 27 states under the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program.
