National policymakers need to keep the momentum going as states roll out the federal program to expand high-speed broadband access after three years of state-led outreach and planning with internet service providers ( ISPs ) and communities.
Lawmakers intended the  , ( BEAD ) Program, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, to take on an ambitious goal: ensuring that every American has access to internet speeds of 100 megabits per second ( Mbps ) download and 20 Mbps upload.
The Pew Charitable Trusts ‘ broadband access initiative has engaged bandwidth offices in almost 40 states and territories with thorough research and outreach. Our research, and more than a hundred engagements with state broadband leaders, points to several recommendations for the  , (NTIA ) to strengthen and expand Ring implementation. Doing thus benefits both the business and the nation.
Working in partnership with the states, the new administration may work swiftly and decisively to obtain a traditional step: connecting every American to reliable, high-speed internet. NTIA may help make sure that the execution proceeds as smoothly as possible by:
- Eliminating pointless and confining regulations that could stall the expansion of services. For instance, state can be given choices that are in line with the act, such as the ability to continue with ideas that have already been approved.
- Improving clarity and persistence in decision-making. Making all previous exemptions issued to states people and ensuring that advice and decisions are constantly shared and applied across all states can help with this.
- accelerating the release of any unpublished assistance, including guidance for compliance, but that claims and company providers can work with a clear understanding of the requirements to which they will be held.
- Using NTIA’s leadership position in national broadband policy to address interagency issues, such as data discrepancies and permitting approvals, to delay deployment.
Interruptions may have significant effects
States are getting ready to start working on activities this time. Every state’s program plans have been approved, and three have had NTIA grant their jobs whole approval. As of Feb. 5, 2025, at least 19 states were reviewing and accepting requests for work. Companies in these states have submitted programs to their respective broadband offices in accordance with BEAD’s current regulations and are anticipating receiving federal funding to begin work on putting their states ‘ plans to expand digital access into practice.
NTIA and the management should concentrate on removing obstacles that might prevent ISPs from continuing to participate. For instance, the federal government might grant exemptions to reduce the need for expensive applications and to reduce the need for a letter of credit from a financial institution to show they have assets or collateral equivalent to the grant number. NTIA may even increase state-to-ISP cooperation by making all previous waivers, which were issued separately and no distributed among the states, available.
Once they are distributed, these actions would build on those steps that states have already taken to reduce the barriers that may prevent ISP membership or halt the execution of BEAD funds in their states. For instance, the states of West Virginia and South Carolina allocated funding for temporary employees positions within state-run transportation departments and public service commissions. Others, including Arkansas, Missouri, Montana, and Ohio, have established public-private partnerships to establish a network of employees.
In BEAD’s first years, Companies described the agency’s processes as “”, but they also have remained active participants and partners in states ‘ development, joining roundtables, providing data for problem processes, and offering public comments on state proposals. In a number of states, award notification has already been sent to ISPs.
In recent months, industry leaders serving rural areas have highlighted the “rewarding” moments of “real alignment” between ISPs and “policymakers who have spent thousands of hours trying to roll out this historic program in a workable way.
Instead of making radical changes to the program, implementing pragmatic, tactical solutions, such as replicating permitting procedures used by other federal broadband programs, would strengthen trust between states and ISPs, and that process can acknowledge that the ISPs have been reliable partners throughout this multiyear effort.
Closing the last mile requires NTIA leadership
Building, connecting, and maintaining the needed infrastructure involves a complex set of activities, such as securing permits and easements, attaching wires and other equipment to poles, and siting wireless facilities. And the steps can be particularly cumbersome when closing the last mile, making the actual connections to homes and businesses.
All of this calls for coordination at all levels of government, including the public and private sectors. NTIA will need to overcome a number of obstacles at the federal level to achieve the goal of high-speed, reliable broadband for every American.
These include ISPs ‘ ongoing delays or violations of federal broadband programs, such as the , as well as other Federal Communications Commission-related delays. As the FCC updates its , NTIA could give states the ability to redistribute funds to other locations. This should help to reduce the FCC’s lengthy verification process and promote more efficient and effective use of money.
BEAD maintains bipartisan support
Governors from all over the country concur that BEAD will be a key factor in boosting their economies and assisting their constituents. ” We’re unlocking doors and creating greater access to good-paying jobs, high-quality education, and affordable health care”, ( R ) said last summer.
In September, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy ( D) , saying,” We will create educational and economic opportunities so that no New Jersey family is left behind.
Without addressing broadband access gaps or underinvesting in the essential infrastructure required to close them, it might have significant effects on the country’s economic competitiveness, including the ability to harness the power of artificial intelligence. Changes to how this program is implemented may be required to fully realize its objectives. In the months to come, Congress can take action in its authority to ensure that NTIA and states have the flexibility they need while adhering to BEAD standards.
The Pew Charitable Trusts ‘ broadband access initiative is led by Kathryn de Wit.