New Street: NTIA Caps Might Not Affect Many Locations Nationally

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2025 – The Trump administration’s effort to further push down spending under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program might not affect many locations nationwide.

According to an analysis from New Street Research, new state-specific cost caps could reduce spending by more than $2 billion, but so far would only affect about 130,000 locations out of roughly 3 million.

The caps, based on deployment costs projected by National Telecommunications and Information Administration cost models, are being used by the agency to revise state spending plans and reduce grant awards before giving its final approval and allowing money to flow. Cost savings have been a chief goal of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth for the $42.45 billion program.