Tag Archives: BEAD

Best uses for BEAD Nondeployment funds Part 1: Meeting about Part 2 tomorrow (Fed 18)

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The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society reports on the results of NTIA’s first of two listening sessions on the “Use of BEAD Funds Saved Through the Trump Administration’s Benefit of the Bargain Reforms.” (The second sessions happens tomorrow, Feb 18.)…

As mandated by Congress in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, states and territories may use BEAD funds to make subgrants to:

  • Deploy broadband networks to unserved and underserved areas,
  • Connect community anchor institutions,
  • Conduct data collection, broadband mapping, and planning;
  • Install internet and Wi-Fi infrastructure or provide reduced-cost broadband within multifamily residential buildings; and
  • Increase broadband adoption, including programs to provide affordable internet-capable devices.

In addition, Congress authorized Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Arielle Roth to determine additional uses of these funds to facilitate BEAD’s goals. NTIA’s listening sessions are meant to inform Roth’s determination on additional uses.

Attendees talked about other uses for funds, including the following topics:

  • Device Access and Digital Skills
  • Affordable Broadband Solutions
  • Returning the Funds to Treasury
  • Public Safety and Emergency Communications
  • State and Local Flexibility

Office of Broadband Development’s Bree Maki positive about broadband deployment plans

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The Post Bulletin posts an opinion column from Bree Maki, director of the Office of Broadband Development…

At the end of last year, the federal government approved Minnesota’s proposal to expand broadband access to Minnesotans who need it most.

Under the plan, my state agency, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, will deploy Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) federal funding to connect 75,000 homes and businesses to high-speed internet and build the infrastructure we need to ensure consistent and cost-effective broadband for Minnesota.

She offers a positive perspective…

The good news is, our BEAD plan will help more Minnesotans access this fundamental resource; in fact, it may impact every Minnesota location that federal officials deemed eligible for BEAD funding. To see if your location is included in the BEAD-eligible locations or if they are funded with state programs, go to our interactive map to learn more .

This is a huge accomplishment. And it happened only because of the close partnership between DEED’s Office of Broadband Development and Minnesota’s private sector internet service providers. Throughout it all, we focused on our shared goal of serving as many people as we possibly could.

And a plan…

So, what happens next? With federal approval in hand, we now aim to award grants to our ISP partners to begin broadband infrastructure construction later this year. Minnesotans in eligible locations can expect faster broadband to be available as soon as late 2026.

But this isn’t DEED’s only broadband program. Long before BEAD, Minnesota has been a leader because we understood and prioritized broadband access. Since 2022, our flagship Border to Border Program has funded 189 large-scale broadband expansion projects, connecting an estimated 122,000 locations to faster internet. Late in 2025, we made our fourth round of awards from the Line Extension program, which connects Minnesotans who have no or slow broadband directly to service providers in their area.

EVENT Feb 18: BEAD Non-Deployment Listening Session

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Sounds like an interesting session. It has been well attended in the past…

NTIA Listening Session on the Use of BEAD Funds Saved Through the Trump Administration’s Benefit of the Bargain Reforms

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will convene a second virtual listening session on the use of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program funds saved thanks to the Trump Administration and Secretary Lutnick’s Benefit of the Bargain reforms. This session will gather input from stakeholders to inform NTIA’s future planning and policy development regarding the use of these “nondeployment” funds.

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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testifies on broadband before the Senate Appropriations Committee

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Unfortunately, there’s a sound issue in part of this video, but Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is asked pointed questions about BEAD funding and what might happen to the unspent BEAD funding. (I have checked other videos; the sound cuts out in them too. The error must have happened in the room.)

EVENT Feb 11: NTIA Listening Session on the Use of BEAD

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From the NTIA…

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will convene a virtual listening session on the use of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program funds saved thanks to the Trump Administration and Secretary Lutnick’s Benefit of the Bargain reforms. This session will gather input from stakeholders to inform NTIA’s future planning and policy development regarding the use of these “nondeployment” funds.

DATES:

The listening session will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST.

NTIA clarifies BEAD rules for all providers, including satellite

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Light Reading reports on the NTIA’s response to SpaceX’s search for BEAD rule exemption last week…

The NTIA released new guidance this week that seems to clarify that companies receiving BEAD awards cannot retroactively absolve themselves of certain program requirements. The clarification comes after a leaked rider that SpaceX reportedly sent to at least one state revealed that the company was attempting to circumvent certain capacity and performance requirements.

As per that proposed rider, originally leaked to Broadband.io late last month, SpaceX – which operates the low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite service Starlink – sought to absolve the company of certain requirements it agreed to during the BEAD bidding process. Those include, among others, that Starlink’s quality of service is not guaranteed if Starlink determines the customer’s “view of the sky is obstructed.” The rider also states that Starlink will offer free customer premises equipment (CPE) but not installation.

Additionally, the rider would exempt Starlink from the NTIA’s requirement that states “reserve sufficient capacity from the LEO provider to deliver broadband service that meets the BEAD performance and technical requirements to each BSL,” instead asking states to agree that Starlink “is not required to keep reserved capacity fallow where potential subscribers in the Project Area have not yet requested service.”

SpaceX is looking for exemption from certain BEAD requirements

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The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society reports…

In a letter to state broadband offices, Elon Musk’s SpaceX suggested that it may be “untenable” for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet providers, such as Starlink, to participate in the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program unless they receive exemptions from certain contract requirements. Those exemptions, which are specified in a “contract rider” attached to the letter, would limit Starlink’s performance obligations, payment schedules, non-compliance penalties, reporting expectations, and labor and insurance standards.

SpaceX’s request highlights issues with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) reliance on LEO providers. BEAD was designed primarily to deploy terrestrial networks, which are physically located in communities, built with traditional construction methods, and are relatively easy to monitor and inspect. But, on June 6, 2025, NTIA restructured BEAD in ways that greatly increased participation by LEO providers, exacerbating the challenge of applying BEAD’s terrestrial-focused rules to LEO’s extraterrestrial networks.

SpaceX’s solution appears to be to simply exempt LEO providers from many of BEAD’s requirements. Specifically, SpaceX proposes that:

  1. LEO providers should be evaluated exclusively by network performance. However, performance tests can only be considered if the LEO provider determines that the subscriber’s equipment is properly installed, and, notably, the LEO provider is not obligated to ensure proper installation. LEO providers should not be required to document that their network has “reserved capacity” exclusively for BEAD users.
  2. LEO providers should not be reimbursed based on subscriber acquisition but rather should receive 50 percent payment upon certification of service availability and the remaining 50 percent quarterly over 10 years.
  3. In the event of default or non-compliance, LEO providers should only be subject to the clawback of grant funds and debarment, nothing more.
  4. LEO providers should not be required to provide financial reporting or documentation of grant expenses.
  5. LEO providers should not be subject to BEAD’s labor or insurance requirements.
  6. Starlink’s Low-Cost Service Option will cost $80 or less and be available to Lifeline-eligible households.

A Minnesota view of Broadband Breakfast’s State BEAD Roundtable session

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The Broadband Breakfast session with State Broadband Offices was interesting and an easy format in which to engage. [Added 7:30pm Jan 21: Here’s the Broadband Breakfast article on it.] Here’s a quick description…

State broadband offices are now deep into BEAD implementation, managing billions in federal funding while navigating deployment timelines, subgrantee oversight, and compliance requirements. This roundtable aims to bring together state broadband directors and program leaders to share lessons learned, troubleshoot common challenges, and discuss emerging best practices from the field. The conversation will also address how states are measuring progress, ensuring speedy and thorough deployment, and adapting strategies as ground-level realities meet original plans.

Bree Maki from the MN Office of Broadband Development was one of the panelists. I’m sure they will post a full video later but I thought I’d share a view from Minnesota.

Update on MN from Bree

  • We have NTIA’s BEAD approval
  • We do not have NIST approval
  • We are getting everything ready to distribute funds when we do get approval

General notes

  • Getting NIST approval seems to be a slow process for everyone
  • The issue is that states can’t start without approval.
  • One advantage of the slow process is learning more about what NTIA wants from other states

Some compelling questions from participants – and some answers if the question was posed verbally – as opposed to in the chat:

Q: The NTIA T&C say BEAD sub-recipients cannot use “any” USF funds. So that means schools, libraries, health providers who get BEAD connections cannot get E-rate or RHC support. Can state leaders push back on this? It is understandable not to get high-cost support, but why limit E-rate/RHC funding?

Q: Could we get a state officer to address whether or not they need to or will request from US Treasury an extension on unspent ARPA funds by 12-26? If any have sought extensions, have they been granted? If not, what are states doing? If unused ARPA funds have to be returned, what is the state’s plan to replace those funds? Thank you.
A: In MN we simply plan to spend it all in time.

Q: Question for everyone… satellite has been available to rural communities for years now…and uptake is not more than single-digit percentage points. Does uptake impact how LEO providers will be funded? Are they only reimbursed for sites that adopt or for ALL that were designated LEO? How will the SBOs help drive uptake, if at all? Should we just call LEO sites what they are… the new digital divide?
A: In WI, we look at capacity and subscription benchmarks and pay based on subscription rates.
A: In MN, we’re waiting on guidance for what milestones we should be considering. People in the field are wondering what the state is paying for with satellite when it’s already available.

Q: Our state is saying that NTIA is requiring a third-party final speed test that is paid from the sub -recipients. Are there any states that are providing these final speed tests since there can be discrepancies?
A IN MN, last summer we did 35,000 speed tests with our partner.

Q: Is there any concern about NTIA implementing changes to BEAD without submitting a CRA report, potentially making the rules ineffective, and/or causing more delay?
A: Folks seem to think it’s a nonissue.

Office of Broadband Development Update Jan 14: Line extension, Task Force meeting dates and BEAD updates

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From the Office of Broadband Development…

Broadband Matters: Office of Broadband Development Updates

  • Line Extension Connection Program
  • Broadband Task Force, January meeting plans
  • NTIA Approves Minnesota’s BEAD Plan; Initial $378.9M in subgrants to connect 74,739 locations statewide
  • OBD BEAD resources
  • Broadband in the news

Line Extension Connection Program

OBD is currently in the process of rolling out awards and getting confirmation of award acceptance from providers for Round 4 of the Line Extension Connection Program. Once this process is complete, OBD will publish final awards, which is expected to be late January or early February.

Registration remains open for future rounds if and as funding is available for residents and businesses on the Line Extension Connection Program webpage. OBD does expect to run a fifth round of Line Extension with state project funds in late winter/early spring 2026.

Questions on Line Extension can be sent to deed.broadband@state.mn.us or (651)-259-7610.

Broadband Task Force, January meeting plans

The Broadband Task Force will have its first meeting of 2026 on Thursday January 22, at 10am.  This meeting will be held virtually and is open to anyone from the public to attend, the link to join will be added to the agenda which is posted on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

During 2026, the Broadband Task Force will plan to meet on:

  • Wednesday, February 18
  • Wednesday, April 29
  • Thursday, May 21
  • Thursday, June 18
  • Thursday, August 13
  • Wednesday, September 16
  • Thursday, October 8
  • Thursday, November 12
  • Thursday, December 10

This schedule, along with other information on past and future meetings, will be posted on the Broadband Task Force webpage.

NTIA Approves Minnesota’s BEAD Plan; Initial $378.9M in subgrants to connect 74,739 locations statewide

On December 19, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Minnesota’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal, advancing the state’s plan to expand high‑speed internet with federal funding.

Following extensive engagement, restructuring, and over 18 rounds of curing, Minnesota has been initially approved for $378.9 million in BEAD subgrants across 94 projects. These projects are supported by nearly $190 million in matching funds, representing a total anticipated investment of more than $568.8 million to connect 74,739 locations. This extraordinary opportunity underscores the dedication and coordination of our team and partners statewide.

The Office of Broadband Development (OBD) is awaiting final approval from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and will then begin the contracting process with subgrantees, prioritizing award agreements and readiness activities.

OBD BEAD resources

OBD continues to add resources and update information on the OBD BEAD webpage as it becomes available. These and additional updates include:

The status of BEAD nationally can be followed on NTIA’s BEAD Progress Dashboard.

Broadband in the news

  • A press release reports Rural St Louis County is getting better broadband through BEAD and Mediacom and quotes OBD’s Executive Director Bree Maki, “For more than a decade, the residents and leaders of North Star and Pequaywan Townships have done everything right—planning, organizing, and advocating for better connectivity—and this investment finally delivers on that work…BEAD funding is designed to reach exactly these kinds of rural communities that the market alone has not served, and this project will help to ensure families, businesses, and first responders in St. Louis County have access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet that meets today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities.”
  • An OBD Low-Density Population Grant will go towards areas of Balkan Township in St. Louis County through Paul Bunyan Communications GigaZone fiber expansion.

North Star and Pequaywan Townships are excited for BEAD funding for broadband (St Louis County)

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The folks in St Louis County are clearly excited about the promise of broadband. They are getting a lot of local press. WDIO reports…

An early Christmas present for North Star and Pequaywan Townships. Leaders found out they are getting federal funding to pay for broadband for about 550 locations.

Minnesota’s broadband funding proposal has been approved, and that means Mediacom will get money to bring a fiber optic network to the rural townships.

This has been in the works since 2009. Janet Keough was a township supervisor then. “I teared up when I heard the news,” she shared. “I was jumping up and down. I can’t believe it’s actually happening.”

Rod Saline is a current supervisor, and told us everyone is very excited. “We got a lot of help from other townships that have gotten broadband.”

Mediacom will be putting in about 38 miles of cable. Saline told us they have already been doing some site prep work. So the hope is that they’ll break ground this spring.

More on the Broadband in rural St. Louis County

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I wrote about the good news in St Louis County earlier, but always nice to see more mainstream media sources pick up on it. Fox21 also tells the story, with video…

After more than a decade of planning and persistence, broadband internet is finally expanding to four of St. Louis County’s most rural townships.

In an era where internet access is often taken for granted, many families in rural parts of the county have long struggled with limited or unreliable service. Leaders say geography and distance have made it difficult for providers to justify the costly infrastructure needed to reach these areas.

That reality is now changing.

“I started crying. I couldn’t believe it after all this time,” said retired township supervisor Jan Keough, who has been involved in the effort since 2009.

“The main lesson is, persistence pays off,” Keough said.

Another key figure in the project is Rod Saline, a supervisor for North Star Township, one of the four townships slated to receive broadband service. Saline said approximately 548 residents will now have the opportunity to connect.

He says the benefits go far beyond faster internet speeds.

Rural St Louis County is getting better broadband through BEAD and Mediacom

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News from North Star Township and Pequaywan Township in St Louis County..

Minnesota broadband grants, funded by the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), will include funding to Mediacom to bring a fiber optic network to rural North Star and Pequaywan Townships and adjacent areas. On December 22, 2025, Senator Klobuchar announced that the Minnesota grant program had been approved by NTIA. “I’m thrilled to announce that Minnesota’s broadband funding
proposal has been approved, which will bring fast, affordable, reliable internet to families in every
corner of our state, especially in North Star, Pequaywan, and other rural townships,” said Senator
Klobuchar. “This funding is available thanks to my bipartisan legislation that I fought to pass so that
Minnesota families—regardless of their ZIP code—have access to high-speed internet.”
“For more than a decade, the residents and leaders of North Star and Pequaywan Townships have done everything right—planning, organizing, and advocating for better connectivity—and this investment finally delivers on that work,” said Bree Maki, Executive Director of The Office of
Broadband Development “BEAD funding is designed to reach exactly these kinds of rural communities
that the market alone has not served, and this project will help to ensure families, businesses, and first responders in St. Louis County have access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet that meets today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities.”
North Star and Pequaywan Townships along with a handful of other rural townships in St Louis County,
have been working to bring reliable, affordable and fast internet access to their communities since 2009. Townships have lobbied providers, conducted feasibility studies, satisfaction surveys, and outreach. More populous townships have attracted broadband providers, but the more rural and less populous townships including North Star and Pequaywan have had no success until now.
In St. Louis County, Mediacom, in recent years, began building a fiber optic network in Lakewood Township and later, into Normanna Township, bringing their network to the North Star Township border. This gave township officials new incentive to convince Mediacom to extend north. Mediacom successfully applied for BEAD funding for North Star and Pequaywan Townships and adjacent areas.
“We are thrilled to have recently been awarded grants through the state’s BEAD program,” said Christopher Lord, Mediacom’s Senior Director of Government Partnership Opportunities. “We have long enjoyed a highly collaborative relationship with the amazing team at Minnesota DEED, and NorthStar Township, Pequaywan Township, Ault Township, and Unorganized Township 54-13, have been great local partners throughout this process. We look forward to delivering fiber-to-the-home broadband services to these communities and seeing the great impact these services will have on the residents and businesses in these townships.”

Funding from the BEAD program will also greatly expand broadband availability across in St Louis County. Commissioner Paul McDonald noted “This is fantastic news for these townships who have been working diligently for over 15 years to get quality broadband”.
Officials from North Star and Pequaywan Townships have been working to prepare their property owners to get the Mediacom fiber optic service through hosting town hall meetings and newsletters.
Rod Saline, North Star Supervisor, noted “Our citizens, small businesses, and especially our Fire/EMS Department, are looking forward to having access to reliable, affordable, and really fast broadband!”
Doug Nelson, Pequaywan Supervisor, added “This announcement from Sen Klobuchar is welcome news for all the residents in our area as this broadband service is greatly needed.”
Information on the Minnesota BEAD broadband program can be found at:
https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/bead/

EVENT Jan 7: New Year, New Connections: BEAD Moves Forward in 2026!

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From the folks at Fiber Broadband…

Week #1

New Year, New Connections: BEAD Moves Forward in 2026!

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

at 10:00 AM EST

After years of planning, the BEAD program is moving from paper to pavement—but approval is only the start. In this first episode of 2026, Kathryn de Wit, director of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ broadband access initiative, joins Fiber Broadband Association President & CEO Gary Bolton to examine what comes next as states begin building networks to reach nearly five million locations. Kathryn unpacks NTIA’s evolving guidance, the “curing” process, and the challenges ahead—from permitting and workforce shortages to supply chain pressures and non-deployment funding uncertainty. If you’re asking, “proposals are approved—now what?” this episode offers timely, practical insight into the work ahead and what it will take to turn BEAD’s ambition into lasting broadband impact.

Register Now!

Senators introduce the SUCCESS for BEAD Act authorizing BEAD funds for broadband enhancement

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Senator Wicker reports…

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss. and Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V. introduced the Supporting U.S. Critical Connectivity and Economic Strategy and Security for BEAD Act (SUCCESS for BEAD Act). This legislation would authorize states to use remaining funds from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program for projects that support state’s deployment plan by enhancing public safety, improving network resiliency, strengthening national security, and developing a qualified workforce for emerging technologies. The overarching goal is to advance digital infrastructure readiness and sustain U.S. leadership in innovation by providing clear guardrails for the eligible uses of the remaining funds.

Broadband makes Pine County’s Top 20 2025 list

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The Pine City Review posts the Year-in-Review 2025. Actions related to broadband make the list…

County offers letter of support, financial contribution to proposed broadband project

Pine County Commissioners agreed to send a letter in support to Minnesota Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) on behalf of Mediacom Broadband, which is seeking to expand broadband access for residents in Pine County through grant funding.