Broadband Breakfast reports…

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

Panel 1: High-Cost Thresholds and the Future of Fiber in BEAD

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?

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.

Panel 3: The New Need: AI Skills Training

By whatever name, successful broadband deployment efforts require digital adoption and digital training. The rapidly accelerating role of artificial intelligence has, in fact, created a new need for AI Skills Training. Might efforts at digital inclusion and workforce skills training now include AI skills training?