Speeding BEAD Summit

The conference on expediting BEAD took place on June 12, 2025

Videos for Breakfast Club Members

The Speeding BEAD Summit

All videos available to Breakfast Club Members. Congressional keynotes, welcome and lightning talk available a FREE Broadband Community account:

Keynote Addresses

• Bob Latta, Congressman, Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District

• Erin Houchin, Congresswoman, Indiana's Ninth Congressional District

• Jacky Rosen, Senator, Nevada

Panel 1: How Are States Thinking About Reasonable Costs Now?

The BEAD program originally allowed states to set their own high-cost thresholds when deciding whether to fund deployment through fiber, wireless, or satellite. Reports that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick might seek to deploy a federally-required high-cost cap might redirect funds towards “lower cost” solutions, particularly low-Earth orbit satellites, have raised questions. What are the pros and cons of a federal cap?

• Glen Howie, State Broadband Director, Arkansas
• Drew Garner, Director of Policy Engagement, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society
• Joseph Le, Deputy Director of Broadband Development, Kansas Department of Commerce
• Brian Allenby, Chief Operating Officer, Maine Connectivity Authority
• Patience Haggin (moderator), Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

Speeding BEAD Summit Program

Panel 2: Finding the State Versus Federal Balance in BEAD

The design of the BEAD program under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act gave states considerable leeway to design and implement broadband builds. Will the Trump administration change this state-led approach? Many federal and state lawmakers are warning against changes to BEAD. But many broadband providers say they would welcome relief from some onerous rules surrounding BEAD deployment.

• Eric Frederick, Chief Connectivity Officer, Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
• Bree Maki, Executive Director, Minnesota Office of Broadband
  Development
• Marissa Mitrovich, Vice President, Public Policy, Fiber Broadband Association
• Reagan Harrison, Legislative Assistant, Office of Congressman John Joyce
• John Lin, Senior Counsel, House Committee on Energy and Commerce
• Scott D. Woods (moderator), President of Public-Private Partnerships, Ready.net, Inc.

Panel 3: Reacting to the New BEAD NOFO

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has promised to release a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for BEAD on June 6, with applications from state entities due within 90 days and funding awards to be approved by the end of 2025. Lutnick has previously emphasized the need for "technologically agnostic" solutions and finding "the cheapest way” to get broadband to Americans. How are these promises reflected in the new NOFO? How does it differ from the 2022 NOFO? This panel will address the implications for BEAD.

• Lori Adams, Vice President of Broadband Policy & Funding Strategy, NOKIA
• Nicholas Malatesta, Policy Advisor, U.S. Senator Mark Warner
• Rick Cimerman, Vice President, External & State Affairs Lead, NCTA -The Internet & Television Association
• Dave Cavossa, President, Commercial Space Federation
• Matt Mandel, Vice President, Government Affairs, WISPA-Broadband Without Boundaries
• Jessica Dine, Policy Analyst, New America’s Open Technology Institute and Wireless Future
• Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Panel 4: Building, Maintaining and Adopting Digital Workforce Skills 

By whatever name, successful broadband deployment efforts require digital adoption and digital training. For one, artificial intelligence has created a new need for AI Skills Training. This session will explore how workforce training initiatives - creating, maintaining and adopting digital skills - encompass the full spectrum of competencies needed for the digital infrastructure economy. How should training programs integrate AI literacy? How do networking, infrastructure deployment, customer service, and cybersecurity skills play a part? How can workforce programs funded through BEAD ensure that communities thrive in the digital future?

• Melissa Newman, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Telecommunications Industry Association
• Tsion Tesfaye, Senior Research & Policy Manager, National Digital Inclusion Alliance
• Joshua Williams, Lead for Digital Access, Rural LISC
• Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, Senior Fellow, National Skills Coalition
• Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Welcome by Broadband Breakfast

Lightning Talk: "Building on the Backbone: How States Can Leverage Past Work to Accelerate BEAD Success"

As states restructure their broadband programs to meet BEAD requirements, they don't need to start from scratch. This lightning talk by Ready.net will highlight how states can make the most of the groundwork they've already laid - whether through mapping, stakeholder engagement, or local coordination. By identifying and activating existing assets, states can move faster, reduce duplication, and build smarter.

• Presented by Ready.net

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

About the Speeding BEAD Summit

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of November 2021 established the $42.5 billion BEAD program. State broadband offices have all been allocated funds. Three states (Louisiana, Nevada and Delaware) have finalized their awards, and are waiting for approval from the federal government to begin building. Others, including West Virginia and Maine, are revamping their proposals in dialogue with the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. And on April 22, NTIA issued a 90-day extension or pause on the program.

Meanwhile, Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chairman Richard Hudson, R-N.C., in early March introduced the Streamlining Program Efficiency and Expanding Deployment for BEAD (or SPEED for BEAD) Act. During its introduction, Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, said: “Think what was just said: Three years of effort and not one inch of fiber has been built. Our people are clamoring in our area for local broadband to have access to the Internet and broadband.”

Broadband Breakfast’s Speeding BEAD Summit will bring the key stakeholders together to consider the central issues around BEAD.

Want to see other Broadband Breakfast events?

Events

Broadband Breakfast in-person events.

Broadband BreakfastBroadband Breakfast

Broadband in the Trump Administration

Don’t miss the chance to learn about BEAD, spectrum, Universal Service Fund reform, and the future of the internet.

Broadband BreakfastBroadband Breakfast

BEAD Implementation Summit

Become a Breakfast Club member and watch the videos from the Summit.

Broadband BreakfastBroadband Breakfast

Made in America Summit

Become a Breakfast Club member and watch the videos from the Summit.

Broadband BreakfastBroadband Breakfast