NTIA

States Push to Redirect BEAD Excess Funds Toward Public Safety Gaps

Panelists also discussed their largest broadband deployment obstacles.

Kelcie Lee

Mar 18, 2026 — 3 min read

Photo of (left to right) Moderator Jake Neenan, Maine Connectivity Authority Chief Program Officer Kendra Jo Grindle, Delaware Broadband Office Executive Director Connor Perry, Vermont Community Broadband Board Executive Director Christine Hallquist, Massachusetts Broadband Institute Director Michael Baldino and Virginia Office of Broadband Associate Director Chandler Vaughan at Broadband Breakfast's BEAD Implementation Summit on March 18 by Eric Urbach.

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2026 – Some state broadband officials want the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program’s $21 million excess funds to go to public safety, emergency management, closing the digital divide and building resilient networks.

One of the biggest challenges facing Virginia and Delaware has been dead zones that prevent public safety and emergency communications. Virginia Office of Broadband Associate Director Chandler Vaughan said there are 40,000 homes and 10,000 miles of roads that don’t have any connectivity, which has been a large concern when it comes to accessing emergency services.

“We’re building these broadband networks through a wide variety of technologies, but what good are they when you walk out your front door and you can’t make a phone call to 911? There’s a public safety aspect we’ve got a real opportunity to address here with BEAD nondeployment dollars,” Vaughan said.

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NTIA BEAD 2026 BEAD Maine Maine Connectivity Authority Delaware Delaware Broadband Office kendra jo grindle Connor Perry Vermont Vermont Community Broadband Board Christine Hallquist Massachusetts Massachusetts Broadband Institute Michael Baldino Virginia Virginia Office of Broadband Chandler Vaughan nondeployment Matt Meyer make ready