Category Archives: Funding

School and libraries are working to preserve E-Rate funding

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

 A campaign to preserve the nation’s largest school and library broadband subsidy is intensifying.

Advocates have launched a coordinated effort to mobilize opposition to the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed changes to E-Rate, the $2.5 billion federal program that helps more than 100,000 schools and 11,000 libraries pay for broadband service. Supporters said the FCC’s proceeding, adopted June 25, poses the most serious threat to the program in decades.

Benton explains the recent ruling of the Digital Equity Act’s race provision as both unconstitutional and severable

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The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society reports…

On July 15, 2026, Judge John D. Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision that could revive a federal grant program the President declared dead more than a year ago. In National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) v. Trump (Civil Action No. 25-3606), the court held that the Digital Equity Act of 2021 contains an unconstitutional racial classification, but that this single flaw does not doom the law. The court concluded that the relevant provision, which directs consideration of “individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group” in awarding grants, can be ignored without impairing the operation of the rest of the statute (in legal parlance, “severed”). Thus, NDIA’s claim to otherwise restore the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program survives, minus any consideration of the race or ethnicity of the people the grant projects serve.

Most importantly for the cities, nonprofits, and digital inclusion practitioners who applied for—and in some cases won—Competitive Grant Program funds: the court relied upon the government’s submission that it would “now commit[] to restoring the Competitive Grant Program upon receiving this judicial determination.”

This is a ruling on the government’s motion to dismiss the entire case, not a final judgment. The court has not ordered the program restored; it has held that the remaining aspects of NDIA’s challenge may go forward. However, the resolution of the constitutional question essentially addresses the government’s stated reason for ending the program.

The article goes on with some history and greater details into the court’s decision; it also shares a practical summary…

A Win, a Loss, or Both?

How you read this ruling may depend on where you sit. For digital equity advocates, the bottom line is real: a federal court rejected the argument that a single constitutional flaw justified scrapping the Competitive Grant Program, and the government has told the court it will restore the program now that a judge has resolved its only stated objection.

But the government may have won something larger than it lost. A federal court has now held that a provision of the Digital Equity Act is unconstitutional—adopting the Administration’s reading of Students for Fair Admissions and finding that Congress supplied no justification that could survive strict scrutiny. The court also accepted that the Executive Branch may decline to enforce a statute it deems unconstitutional while awaiting judicial review. And the government’s commitment to restore the program is a statement in a legal brief, not a court order; the court has not yet granted any relief, and it noted that once the program is reinstated, some or all of NDIA’s claims may become moot. That means the shape of the restored program—its guidelines, its treatment of the seven remaining covered populations, its timeline—will be decided, at least initially, by the same Administration that ended it.

The Digital Equity Act survives. What it looks like in practice is now an open question—one that will be answered as much by NTIA’s next moves as by anything a court has said.

OBD Broadband Update July 15: BEAD, Tribal Broadband funding opportunities & line extension

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From the MN Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • ICYMI, webinar from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program
  • Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates
  • Reminder, NTIA funding opportunities on Tribal Lands
  • Line Extension Connection Program, registration open for residents and businesses

ICYMI, webinar from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program

The session from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program for the Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems) is posted on the OBD Webinars and Recorded Events webpage.

Click below to watch the overview from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Regulatory Program as it relates to broadband infrastructure deployment under BEAD.

Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates

Minnesota continues to make steady progress on the federal BEAD program. The Office of Broadband Development is currently working through required project updates and preparing contracts for execution. Typically, this means removing locations newly identified as already served, or re-awarding locations when providers decline an award.

Because NTIA must approve these project scope changes, the review process can take several weeks. OBD will continue coordinating closely with partners to keep projects moving and to meet the federal contracting deadline of October 8, 2026.

Providers and community members can contact OBD (DEED.broadband@state.mn.us) with questions.

Reminder, NTIA funding opportunities on Tribal Lands

On June 17, 2026, NTIA Announced Two New Funding Opportunities to Expand Broadband Connectivity on Tribal Lands. Applications are due September 17, 2026. More information is available on NTIA’s BroadbandUSA webpage including:

Line Extension Connection Program, registration open for residents and businesses

Registration remains open for residents and businesses for future rounds of the Line Extension Connection Program. For assistance completing the application or to request a paper form to complete, please call 651-259-7610 or email DEED.broadband@state.mn.us.

OBD expects to announce a sixth round of the program with standard timelines using state funds later in 2026.

More information and registration are available on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage.

Wireline Competition Bureau announces counties where conditional forbearance from Lifeline obligation applies – include all 87 MN Counties

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The FCC reports…

By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces the counties in which conditional forbearance from the obligation to offer Lifeline-supported voice service applies, pursuant to the Commission’s 2016 Lifeline Order.1 This forbearance applies only to the Lifeline voice obligation of eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that are designated for purposes of receiving both high-cost and Lifeline support (high-cost/Lifeline ETCs), and not to Lifeline-only ETCs.2 The Appendix lists the counties where the Commission’s conditional forbearance from high-cost/Lifeline ETCs’ Lifeline voice obligation will apply effective on September 8, 2026.

The 2016 Lifeline Order established conditional forbearance from Lifeline voice obligations in targeted areas where certain competitive conditions are met.3 To accomplish this forbearance, the Commission directed the Bureau to release a yearly Public Notice announcing the counties in which the competitive conditions are met.4 In particular, the Commission granted forbearance from high-cost/Lifeline ETCs’ obligation to offer and advertise Lifeline voice service in counties where the following conditions are met: (1) at least 51% of Lifeline subscribers in the county are obtaining broadband Internet access service; (2) there are at least three other providers of Lifeline broadband Internet access service that each serve at least 5% of the Lifeline broadband subscribers in that county; and (3) the ETC does not actually receive federal high-cost universal service support.5

Here are the 87 (out of 87) counties in Minnesota that are included in the list:

  1. MN AITKIN
  2. MN ANOKA
  3. MN BECKER
  4. MN BELTRAMI
  5. MN BENTON
  6. MN BIG STONE
  7. MN BLUE EARTH
  8. MN BROWN
  9. MN CARLTON
  10. MN CARVER
  11. MN CASS
  12. MN CHIPPEWA
  13. MN CHISAGO
  14. MN CLAY
  15. MN CLEARWATER
  16. MN COOK
  17. MN COTTONWOOD
  18. MN CROW WING
  19. MN DAKOTA
  20. MN DODGE
  21. MN DOUGLAS
  22. MN FARIBAULT
  23. MN FILLMORE
  24. MN FREEBORN
  25. MN GOODHUE
  26. MN GRANT
  27. MN HENNEPIN
  28. MN HOUSTON
  29. MN HUBBARD
  30. MN ISANTI
  31. MN ITASCA
  32. MN JACKSON
  33. MN KANABEC
  34. MN KANDIYOHI
  35. MN KITTSON
  36. MN KOOCHICHING
  37. MN LAC QUI PARLE
  38. MN LAKE
  39. MN LAKE OF THE WOODS
  40. MN LE SUEUR
  41. MN LINCOLN
  42. MN LYON
  43. MN MCLEOD
  44. MN MAHNOMEN
  45. MN MARSHALL
  46. MN MARTIN
  47. MN MEEKER
  48. MN MILLE LACS
  49. MN MORRISON
  50. MN MOWER
  51. MN MURRAY
  52. MN NICOLLET
  53. MN NOBLES
  54. MN NORMAN
  55. MN OLMSTED
  56. MN OTTER TAIL
  57. MN PENNINGTON
  58. MN PINE
  59. MN PIPESTONE
  60. MN POLK
  61. MN POPE
  62. MN RAMSEY
  63. MN RED LAKE
  64. MN REDWOOD
  65. MN RENVILLE
  66. MN RICE
  67. MN ROCK
  68. MN ROSEAU
  69. MN ST. LOUIS
  70. MN SCOTT
  71. MN SHERBURNE
  72. MN SIBLEY
  73. MN STEARNS
  74. MN STEELE
  75. MN STEVENS
  76. MN SWIFT
  77. MN TODD
  78. MN TRAVERSE
  79. MN WABASHA
  80. MN WADENA
  81. MN WASECA
  82. MN WASHINGTON
  83. MN WATONWAN
  84. MN WILKIN
  85. MN WINONA
  86. MN WRIGHT
  87. MN YELLOW MEDICINE

Congressperson introduces Broadband Infrastructure Extension Act to extend ARPA deadline

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Rep. McDowell’s (NC-06) website reports…

Yesterday, June 29th, Congressman Addison McDowell (NC-06) introduced the Broadband Infrastructure Extension Act. This legislation would extend expenditure deadlines for certain broadband infrastructure projects funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The legislation provides states and local communities additional time to complete broadband projects already underway, helping ensure rural communities are not forced to abandon critical infrastructure investments because of federal deadlines.

This would be good news for folks with outstanding projects.

Folks in education are concerned about losing E-Rate funding for broadband in schools

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Gov Tech reports…

A few weeks after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr called for a broad review of the 30-year-old federal E-rate program, the FCC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking June 26 that floated the idea of ending the program. Education leaders and experts on the digital divide have since weighed in, arguing that would be a grave mistake.
The E-rate program, which provides financial support to schools and libraries for broadband connectivity, was established in 1996 and funded starting in 1997. At that time, 65 percent of U.S. public schools had Internet access, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The FCC’s notice asked whether the program has fulfilled Congress’ original objective of bringing Internet access to schools and libraries, given that “virtually all schools report having broadband connectivity and Wi-Fi.” It also cited ill effects of screen time as a reason to rethink the program.
Indeed, rates of digital connectivity have grown since E-rate’s introduction. The FCC’s notice cited a 2019 State of the States report from the nonprofit EducationSuperHighway that found 99 percent of K-12 schools had high-speed Internet access. In 2023, researchers found that 96 percent of New York public schools were connected.

Some detail that might help the E-Rate…

The FCC’s notice acknowledges that the Congressional mandate that created the E-rate program does not empower the FCC to terminate the program, but advocates are still worried. Education and library organizations argue that the framing of the FCC’s notice misunderstands that digital connectivity requires ongoing maintenance, that the program’s success is evidence of its importance, and that cybersecurity threats and evolving technologies necessitate ongoing work.

NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth updates Congress about BEAD

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I’m borrowing from Benton Institute’s recap of NTIA’s Administrator, Arielle Roth, update to Congress on BEAD from June 30, 2026…

The House Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology convened an oversight hearing focused on the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator Arielle Roth was the sole witness. NTIA oversees the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which was intended to provide grants for last-mile deployment in unserved and underserved areas. On June 6, 2025, the Trump NTIA issued new guidance for the BEAD Program. The guidance removed many Biden-era requirements, including a fiber technology preference and low-income plans. The June 2025 guidance directed eligible entities to run an additional “benefit-of-the-bargain” bidding round to ensure that awards reflected the changes made by the Administration and to submit final proposals by September 4, 2025. In the year since issuing the new guidance, NTIA has approved 54 out of 56 final proposals submitted by eligible entities, BEAD-funded infrastructure in two states has been deployed, and the program expects to “save” approximately $21 billion on deployment costs. What to do with the remaining money is to be determined. NTIA held a listening session to gather input on how this “nondeployment” money could be used by states, and is expected to provide guidance soon. Ideas include public safety, deployment to homes and businesses that may have been missed following the initial bidding round, workforce development, and permitting reform. The hearing, in part, was aiming at determining the  status of BEAD deployment and nondeployment funding.

The rest of the notes highlight different views of BEAD. Some folks are focused on saving as much money as possible. Some folks are focused on getting better broadband to everyone. Everyone seems frustrated with the slow timeline. And most folks were hoping for more information on the plan for nondeployment funds from BEAD…

During questioning from Members of the Subcommittee, Administrator Roth said guidance on nondeployment funding will come “this summer.” She deferred specifics on the question of whether those funds will be held back from states that enact regulations on artificial intelligence, as directed by a presidential executive order. “We want the funding … to produce real measurable outcomes, be non-duplicative, non-distortionary….” Roth said. She added, “we’re proceeding cautiously in producing the guidance so that we can ensure that this funding achieves the same success as the first segment of the BEAD Program.”

The Wireline Competition Bureau pauses the phase-out of Lifeline program support for voice-only services

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The FCC announces…

I. INTRODUCTION

1. In this Order, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) issues a waiver pausing both the phase-out of Lifeline program support for voice-only services and changes to the Lifeline minimum service standards. As discussed below, we find good cause to pause these adjustments for a year because the Commission is undergoing a rulemaking proceeding that seeks comment on these issues and could result in changes to the Lifeline program.1

II. BACKGROUND

2. In the 2016 Lifeline Order, the Commission revised the Lifeline program to phase-in increasing broadband minimum service standards and phase-out Lifeline support for voice-only service.2 The Commission took these actions with the intent to “avoid undue consumer disruption and to allow Lifeline providers sufficient time to adjust operations as the Commission moves from a primarily voice-only Lifeline program to a Lifeline program embracing broadband services.”3

3. The 2016 Lifeline Order established a three-step schedule by which Lifeline support for voice-only service would be decreased before ending entirely, which so far has led to voice-only support being reduced to $5.25.4 The final step was to be a complete phase-out of Lifeline support for voice-only services on December 1, 2021, when support for such services was to be eliminated in most areas.5 However, the Bureau issued a waiver pausing the phase-out before support elimination occurred due in large part to many Lifeline subscribers’ continued reliance on voice service and has maintained this pause each year since through one-year waiver extensions.6 The most recent waiver is currently still in effect and ends on December 1, 2026.7

4. The Commission also created broadband capacity minimum service standards in the 2016 Lifeline Order effectuated through update mechanisms for the fixed and mobile broadband speed and data capacity standards to provide predictable improvements to these offerings.8 In prior years, the Commission has waived the mobile broadband capacity minimum service standard when it determined that doing so would be necessary to prevent service costs from rising to unaffordable levels.9

5. The Commission is currently considering recommendations to revise certain Lifeline rules in its 2026 Lifeline NPRM, released on February 23, 2026.10 The 2026 Lifeline NPRM launched a comprehensive review of the Lifeline program and seeks comment on support for voice-only service and the minimum service standards and their updated mechanisms.11 In the NPRM, the Commission asked whether it should maintain voice-only service support at the current $5.25 amount and the justifications for doing so, including “[h]ow vital is voice service to consumers’ ability to access public safety resources or to participate in today’s society” and whether these subscribers would be able to fulfill these needs through alternative services.12 The Commission also requested comment on Lifeline minimum service standards, including whether the current minimum service standards meet the needs of Lifeline subscribers, increasing minimum service standards could lead to prohibitively expensive plans or providers leaving the program, update mechanisms should exist, and these mechanisms should update the minimum service standards at set or variable amounts, among other issues.

DISCUSSION

6. The Bureau acts on its own motion to waive the implementation of the phase-out in Lifeline support for voice-only services and the increase in Lifeline minimum service standards for one year, until December 1, 2027. In evaluating whether good cause exists for waiver of its rules,14 the Commission considers whether the particular facts make strict compliance inconsistent with the public interest.15 The Commission may also take into account concerns of hardship, equity, or more effective implementation of policy on an individual basis.16 Waiver of the Commission’s rules is therefore only appropriate if special circumstances warrant a deviation from the general rule, and such deviation will serve the public interest.17 The Bureau finds good cause to act on delegated authority to waive the Lifeline rules as described herein, as further discussed below.18

7. Careful consideration of how to continue to support a stable and robust affordable communications market through the Lifeline program led to our decision to issue this waiver. This waiver pauses changes to the minimum service standards and voice support phase-out as the Commission develops and analyzes the record in the 2026 Lifeline NPRM. By maintaining the current Lifeline program minimum service standards and support for voice-only service while these programmatic changes are under consideration, this Order prevents potential excessive provider obligations, subscriber confusion, and loss of service that could accompany multiple changes to the minimum services standards in a short period. For these reasons, we find good cause to pause the Lifeline minimum service standards for broadband and the phase-out in Lifeline support for voice-only services

IRRR shares Notice of Grant Opportunities

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In their last email alert, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR), provided a nice list of funding opportunities. The first one caught my eye, but I have already posted about it. But with minimal effort, I could make a connection between the funding and a broadband development or adoption project…

Open July 1:

  • Broadband Infrastructure grants assist projects that help households and businesses reach the state of Minnesota broadband speed goal.
  • Commercial Redevelopment grants assist with the full and selective demolition of commercial and industrial buildings and the clean-up of brownfields to pave the way for new development.
  • Culture & Tourism grants assist projects that support arts, culture, history, tourism and recreational activities, enhance the quality of life in the region and attract visitors.
  • Development Partnership grants assist with research, planning, education and development-based initiatives that support the long-term economic growth of northeastern Minnesota.
  • Downtown Redevelopment grants and loans support new construction on vacant downtown properties by helping fill project financing gaps.
  • Grant Writing Assistance grants reimburse the costs of preparing and applying for a non-agency grant that will advance economic growth.
  • Housing grants assist projects or programs that result in the creation of new housing units or the rehabilitation of existing housing units.
  • Mineland Reclamation grants assist with highly visible development and restoration of mining-impacted land.
  • Public Works grants support local and Tribal governments with infrastructure funding that provides essential services and promotes economic development.
  • Regional Trails grants assist with the design, engineering and construction of various types of recreational trails.
  • Residential Redevelopment grants assist with demolishing residential structures or full deconstruction of homes for reuse of materials.
  • Workforce Development grants assist with education, training and career awareness initiatives that address regional workforce needs and gaps emerging in industries and schools.

Opening Aug. 1:

  • Drilling Incentive grants stimulate exploration for new minerals, gas resources and/or new deposits of these resources.

OBD Broadband Update July 1: Funding updates and upcoming meetings

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates
  • NTIA funding opportunities on Tribal Lands and broadband news
  • Broadband Task Force, June meeting recap
  • Line Extension Connection Program, registration open for residents and businesses

Thank you to the National Tribal Telecommunications Association (NTTA) for welcoming Office of Broadband Executive Director, Bree Maki, to present alongside Minnesota Telecom Alliance’s President/CEO, Brent Christensen at the 2026 NTTA Midwest Regional Tribal Broadband Summit last week! 

Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) updates

Minnesota continues to advance the federal BEAD program forward with steady, thoughtful progress through pre-contracting. As contracts are signed, the projects will be reflected on the dashboard, and progress will be able to be monitored on the Minnesota BEAD map.

  • A webinar for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program will be held Wednesday July 8 at 11 a.m. CT. for the Broadband Development Training Series: Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems). The session agenda is posted on the OBD Webinars and Recorded Events webpage under the “Broadband Development Training series” toggle. No registration required and the Teams link to join the session will be included on the agenda.
  • Reminder: Updated guidance was released June 16 from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the updated FAQ Version 22 is available on NTIA’s webpage.

Additional information and resources will continue to be posted and updated on OBD BEAD’s webpage ensuring partners have ongoing access to the latest program developments.

NTIA funding opportunities on Tribal Lands and broadband news

Broadband Task Force, June meeting recap

The Broadband Task Force met virtually on Thursday June 18 and heard a panel presentation from Mediacom’s Christopher Lord, Sr. Director, Government Partnership Opportunities and Nuvera’s Kathy Lund, Vice President of Technical Services on experiences so far with the federal BEAD program, particularly challenges in the application process, activities for pre-contracting, and what has has worked well in Minnesota so far. The Office of Broadband Development’s Jennifer Frost and Megan Messerole presented general BEAD program and environmental permitting updates in addition to regular updates from OBD’s Executive Director, Bree Maki.

An overview was provided by the Mayo Clinic Housing-Based Socioeconomic Status (HOUSES) Program of the HOUSES Index, a tool developed to provide individual-level socioeconomic measure with relevancy to broadband and exploration of potential benefits from collaboration from experts Dr. Young Juhn, Dr. Chung Wi, and Dale Shim.

Information on past and upcoming meetings can be found on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

Line Extension Connection Program, registration open for residents and businesses

Registration remains open for residents and businesses for future rounds of the Line Extension Connection Program. For assistance completing the application or to request a paper form to complete, please call 651-259-7610 or email DEED.broadband@state.mn.us.

OBD expects to announce a sixth round of the program with standard timelines using state funds later in 2026.

More information and registration are available on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage.

In 2024 77 percent of E-Rate dollars went to the highest-need category

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Broadband Clusters reports on a powerful way that the federal government has had to help schools get broadband to those who are less likely to have access at home…

Every year, the federal government helps schools and libraries pay their internet bills through a program called E-Rate, part of the Universal Service Fund. In 2024, it approved $2.76 billion in discounts for 21,102 institutions across the country: 18,507 schools and school districts, and 2,595 libraries. This study matches every funded institution to Census data for the communities around it, to examine who the program serves and what those neighborhoods look like.

The discount each institution receives is set by the federal government based on how many students qualify for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) — free or reduced-price meals, a standard federal measure of household income. Schools where 75 percent or more of students qualify receive the deepest discounts: 80 to 90 percent off their bill. Schools where fewer than 35 percent qualify receive 20 to 49 percent off.

In 2024, 77.0 percent of E-Rate dollars went to the highest-need category. In the ZIP codes where those institutions operate, Census data shows 14.2 million households have no home internet subscription and 9.0 million have no large-screen device such as a laptop, desktop, or tablet.

E-Rate Advocates Want FCC to Reconsider Bidding Portal

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

Groups representing participants in the E-Rate program are asking federal regulators to reconsider their decision to enforce a mandatory electronic bidding portal.

The Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition and CW Consulting, which represent and work with schools and libraries that participate in the program, said they and others weren’t given enough time to comment on the new rule before it was adopted.

US Senate passes Bill requiring FCC and GAO reviews of federal tool used to track broadband deployment spending

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

The Senate unanimously approved a bill Thursday aimed at strengthening oversight of the government’s broadband funding map.

The MAP for Broadband Funding Act, passed by voice vote, would require the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a formal inquiry into the accuracy, functionality, and usability of the Broadband Funding Map, a tool created to track federally funded broadband deployment projects. 

OPPORTUNITY: NTIA Announces Two New Funding Opportunities to Expand Broadband Connectivity on Tribal Lands

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The NTIA announces...

 Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the Department of Commerce announced two new notices of funding opportunity (NOFO): one for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) and one for the Native Entities Grant Program (NEGP), the native entity set-aside under the Digital Equity Act.

Together, these NOFOs will make $790 million available to Tribal and Native communities to advance broadband connectivity on Tribal lands, promote infrastructure availability, and support other related activities.

“The NOFOs announced today build on NTIA’s work to achieve universal broadband availability, including on Tribal lands,” said Arielle Roth, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator. “By reducing unnecessary red tape, increasing flexibility, and maximizing the impact of federal dollars, these NOFOs help Tribal and Native nations focus on connecting their communities, not navigating bureaucracy.”

The application window opens today, June 17, 2026, and closes September 17, 2026. NTIA expects to make awards on a rolling basis beginning in Spring 2027. Additional information is available on NTIA’s BroadbandUSA website, including the TBCP fact sheet and NEGP fact sheet. NTIA will also host a TBCP 3 and NEGP NOFO Launch Webinar on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. You can register here.

These funding opportunities reflect reforms NTIA announced last year to streamline its Tribal broadband programs, reduce red tape for Tribal governments, promote greater flexibility, and better align NTIA’s grant opportunities with the connectivity needs of Tribal communities.

 

Some BEAD recipients are backing away from the federal funding

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Doug Adams talks reports in Broadband.IO…

With BEAD awards moving into the contract execution phase, a small but growing number of proposed subgrantees are deciding not to proceed. In some cases, companies are walking away voluntarily. In another, questions remain about what happened behind the scenes.

Nebraska. It’s Not for Everyone

In Nebraska, The Nebraska Examiner reported that three ISPs backed out “due to changes in their business plans.”

The three BEAD participants in the state that didn’t sign contracts appeared to be Amazon, Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company, and Pinpoint Communications.

Minnesota isn’t mentioned but the topics did come up at the Office of Broadband Development’s broadband conference in April. It is one of the wildcards that’s making planning challenging for the state broadband office.