WISPA Says “All Tools” Approach to BEAD to Result in Massive Opportunity Dividend
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)’s updated FAQ confirms that states retain their full Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) allocation – even if they find cost savings during deployment. This opens the door for states to fund non-deployment initiatives, such as digital adoption, without sacrificing coverage goals.
The clear intention for the BEAD program from the beginning has been to drive cost-effective investments in broadband networks using every tool at your disposal; the NTIA’s updated policy guidance makes even more explicit that the agency expects states to fully embrace FWA and other innovative technologies. These investments will pay dividends not only in bringing communities online faster through cutting-edge and scalable FWA, they will allow you to more meaningfully target programs that develop broadband workforces, upskill communities, and improve digital literacy.
Using an all-fiber approach to closing the digital divide would cost over $103B. However, the Vernonburg Group’s Broadband Funding Optimization Tool shows that states can achieve universal service with the $64.5B available through BEAD and still realize $16.1B in savings for non-deployment projects.
