SpaceX Doesn’t Want BEAD Payments Tied to Subscriber Milestones

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2026 – SpaceX is looking for state broadband offices to pay out its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program funding in equal installments over time. Most states would prefer to use subscriber milestones.

Doug Adams, head of marketing firm Broadband Marketers, on Monday evening posted a contract rider he said SpaceX had asked states to sign as part of their grant agreements.

Among other provisions, the eight-page document included a provision that states would pay the company 50 percent of its award once SpaceX certified it could readily provide service to each of its awarded locations. The rest of the grant funds would be disbursed quarterly in equal installments over the next 10 years.