- NTIA brings everyone up to date on its accomplishments in the BEAD program, so far
- However, everything could change, including the appointment of a new BEAD chief when Trump takes over
- Republicans have criticized the BEAD program saying it’s been taking too long to deliver broadband
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has laid out a list of all its accomplishments related to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. But somehow, the list has a sad ring to it — as if it’s the final swan song of a group that’s worked very hard for three years but knows that all that work could get kicked under the rug by the new Trump administration.
Alan Davidson, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce, who oversees the BEAD program at NTIA, posted on LinkedIn, “Even as Washington faces a major transition, the work of connecting America marches on. I am intensely proud of our staff at NTIA and the hard work they have done to bridge the digital divide.”
His words sound like those of someone who will soon be replaced, as Trump is bound to appoint his own BEAD leader.
But in the interim, NTIA put out an announcement, updating everyone on the program and touting its milestones. The agency has approved 55 of 56 BEAD Initial Proposals and expects to approve Texas’ Initial Proposal in a few days.
NTIA also published a new BEAD Progress Dashboard to reflect the next phase of the program. It shows that nine states have begun the selection of sub-grantees. These are the service providers that will build the networks with BEAD funds.
“We anticipate that the first state to complete sub-grantee selection [Louisiana] will announce its results imminently,” stated NTIA.
In addition, the agency provided an update on its mapping challenge process, which will determine the list of locations eligible for BEAD-funded projects. According to NTIA’s Challenge Tracker, most states have now closed their mapping challenge portals, and 14 states and territories have concluded their challenge processes entirely.
NTIA also finalized the rules for its Build America Buy America (BABA) requirements. The BABA program incited several companies to on-shore manufacturing facilities to the U.S., including Nokia, Vecima, Infinera, Ciena and Adtran. NTIA recently issued the first self-certification list for companies that are BABA-compliant.
Tangential to the BEAD program to bring internet to unserved homes and businesses, NTIA has also overseen its Middle Mile Program, in which 3,200 miles of fiber are already under construction.
BEAD is taking a while
Republicans have dinged the BEAD program, complaining that it’s taking too long to start awarding grants and deploying networks.
But, Evan Feinman, a director with the NTIA, said last week at a conference that BEAD “was always a 10-year program.”
Feinman’s comment shocked Mike Wendy, communications director for the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA). Wendy said on LinkedIn that WISPA has been a part of the design of the BEAD program from the very beginning and never once heard from NTIA that BEAD was a 10-year program.
“I think that would have made the program’s sale to the public and stakeholders a little harder to swallow had it been that overt, IMO,” wrote Wendy.
He provided the below graphic that was used by NTIA at the beginning of the BEAD program.
One could argue that NTIA has moved about as fast as humanly possible given the magnitude of a program to deploy thousands of miles of new fiber across a huge country. In any event, the industry is waiting expectantly to see how the new Trump administration handles the BEAD program.
In case you missed it, here’s our analysis of how the new administration could impact the program.
