What States Need to Know About Federal BEAD Funding for High-Speed Internet Expansion
An overview of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program’s goals, requirements, and other considerations.
OVERVIEW
In November 2021, President Joe Biden (D) signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. Among many other provisions, the law established the Broadband Equity, Adoption, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the federal government’s most ambitious investment in high-speed, affordable internet to date. BEAD dedicates more than $42 billion to construct broadband networks, subsidies to offset the cost of internet service for lower-income households, and programs to provide end users with the devices and training they need to use the new and upgraded networks. The BEAD Program also marks the first time the federal government is providing grants to states specifically for these purposes.
In addition, BEAD includes requirements—such as ongoing engagement with local stakeholders and marginalized communities, higher speed and reliability standards, and data collection to assess usage and impact of program funds—that are designed to correct some shortcomings of prior federal policy and establish consistency across states.
This brief breaks down the phases of the BEAD Program and outlines the requirements that states, territories, and federal agencies need to meet to access the funds.