BEAD Aims to Bridge Gap in Digital Divide
Just about any task nowadays can be done online. Whether submitting a job application, turning in school assignments, setting a doctor’s appointment, or ordering delivery from a favorite local food spot, our lives have become intertwined with the interweb. There is, however, one major problem: many Americans do not have access to high-speed internet, and when modern life depends on being online, lack of access means many are unfortunately left behind.
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, known as BEAD, is a federal program working to combat this debilitating issue. “The program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.” The program began in 2022 and is currently working with proposals from 56 qualifying entities to restructure and build broadband services. The goal is to close the digital divide for all Americans, especially those in unserved and underserved locations, and to provide access to the essential services and opportunities that high-speed internet offers.
The Southwest Sees Recent BEAD Approvals
As of last week, New Mexico has been approved federally to seek grants totaling $675 million to expand the state’s broadband service. Currently, the state has reported that 16 percent of serviceable locations are unserved or underserved, including more than 70,000 completely unserved locations. Both New Mexico’s infrastructure and the affordability of high-speed internet are to blame.
With the approval to seek new grants, New Mexico will be focusing on getting rural and remote areas access to broadband, opening a digital pathway towards essential services such as Telehealth, distance learning, and economic opportunities for many New Mexicans.
The Broadband, Equity, Access & Deployment Program is Overhauling the Mid-Atlantic
Another region seeing a telecommunications overhaul thanks to BEAD is the Mid-Atlantic. The Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) has recently granted $40 million for 10 projects serving 20 localities, while BEAD also proposed more than $1.4 billion to bring reliable high-speed internet to Virginians. These are major awards for the state which will help greatly as the state must deal with older telecom infrastructure and rocky terrain that has previously hindered reliable access to broadband services, especially in rural localities.
Pennsylvania is another state in the region that is receiving impactful funding and resources. The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program is allocating about $1.16 billion to Pennsylvania for the buildout of broadband. In addition, the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority has also approved $20 million for the purchase of over 14,000 laptops that will be distributed to schools, libraries, and other groups across the state.
BEAD Rounds-up Funding for the Midwest
A major development for Wisconsin is that an estimated 200,000 locations will begin to receive grants totaling more than $1 billion over the next 5 years to help expand broadband internet services. Wisconsin Governor Tony Ever’s Task Force on Broadband Access is working alongside BEAD to equip all Wisconsin homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions with high-speed broadband services by 2028-29.
This is especially good news considering Wisconsin has dealt with multiple setbacks in the past few years. Currently, only 8 of 72 counties in Wisconsin offer internet services that meet guidelines to be affordable. Adding insult to injury, a prior federal program that gave households and tribal lands discounts for services expired in May of 2024, pulling $14.2 billion from needful households and businesses. Luckily, the Task Force on Broadband Access continues its drive toward expanding funding to fill gaps in services and meet the broadband needs of Wisconsinites.
The Broadband, Equity, Access & Deployment Program Also Makes Waves for US Territories
The expansion of accessible broadband services is not just for the contiguous United States; US territories can also apply for BEAD funds. With this, the US Virgin Islands and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands have been awarded recent approvals as well. As of this past week, the US Virgin Islands have been approved for over $27 million and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands approved for over $80 million.
BEAD Pushes Onward Towards a Connected Future
The lack of reliable, high-speed internet is an issue for many Americans, especially in remote or rural areas. Although each region must deal with its own set of obstacles, the Broadband, Equity, Access & Deployment Program alongside state and local broadband access task forces has been diligently working to bridge the digital divide with the common goal of expanding economic and educational opportunities to all Americans.
To stay up to date on telecom and tech developments, make sure to subscribe to GeoTel’s newsletter today!
