Pew looked at all the state plans for applications for BEAD. Here’s what they found…

The Pew Charitable Trusts reviewed all 52 plans to assess the range of goals and planned uses for the funding. This analysis addresses how states are including broadband access and affordability in their digital equity goals.

Pew’s analysis found that every state plan identified the lack of affordable access as the leading barrier to digital equity. These findings are not surprising, given that price, not availability, is one of the leading obstacles to unconnected households getting home broadband services. For low-income households and people living on fixed incomes, such as many people age 60 and older, the price burden of internet results in them being cut off from the benefits that a high-speed connection can provide: from access to health care and education to staying connected to family and friends.

Here are some of the plans…

In addition to committing to reaching all unserved and underserved locations and increasing consumer access to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream/20 Mbps upstream service (the minimum speed standard set by the BEAD program), at least 22 states also plan to increase or promote public Wi-Fi options by expanding access at what are known as community anchor institutions (CAIs), such as libraries, schools, and public housing authorities, as well as at indoor and outdoor public access points and charging stations. Additionally, several states plan to map public Wi-Fi availability and make these resources available so anyone can find a public connection point.

Four states and territories plan to set up connectivity hubs where residents can come for free Wi-Fi, device support, telehealth services, and to work with digital navigators—people who can teach digital skills and help residents find their way around the internet. …

Plans for 14 states and jurisdictions—Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Vermont—prioritize connectivity in affordable housing and multidwelling units (MDUs).

And a peek at what Minnesota is planning…

Minnesota will explore models for a statewide broadband subsidy program to lower internet costs for low-income households.