More States Stick With Fiber Preference in Final BEAD Plans
More states are staying the course on prioritizing fiber projects in their final BEAD proposals, despite concerns that NTIA's push to consider other technologies could delay funding from going out the door (see 2508200054). At least five states -- Arkansas, Kansas, Maine, Washington and Wisconsin -- submitted final proposals in recent days with the majority of subgrants going to fiber-backed projects and limited funding going to low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Colorado, however, is proposing to award half of its eligible locations to LEO satellites.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
In Arkansas, 76% of its BEAD-eligible locations will be served with fiber. LEO satellites will serve 16%, with licensed fixed wireless and "hybrid technologies" serving the remainder. The BEAD program is "about opportunity," said Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), adding that the state is "showing the nation how smart, efficient investment can strengthen communities, expand upward mobility, and drive lasting economic growth."
The Arkansas broadband office received 730 applications from 33 ISPs, it noted Monday. The state is welcoming public comment on its final proposal until Friday.
Fiber providers will also tap into the majority of Wisconsin's BEAD funding. About 74% of locations will be served by fiber, with 13% each going to wireless and LEO satellites.
Likewise, Maine awarded an overwhelming majority -- 85% -- of its BEAD funding to fiber providers. The state gave 14% to LEO satellites and 1% to a hybrid of fiber and coaxial technology. Washington also awarded the bulk of its funding to fiber, about 48%, with about 38% going to licensed terrestrial fixed wireless and the remainder of funds going to either licensed by-rule or unlicensed terrestrial fixed wireless and non-geostationary satellites.
Although fiber took the lead in most states, some took a more balanced approach. In Kansas, fiber received about 46% of funding, fixed wireless or hybrid technology got about 51%, and LEO satellites about 3%.
Pennsylvania also awarded more to fixed wireless and LEO satellites in the new round of applications. Although the state still gave preference to fiber with about 64% of funding, fixed wireless providers received about 14% and satellite providers got about 18%. The rest went to hybrid fiber-coax technology. Notably, Comcast alone received nearly 29% of the state's funding to serve 16% of BEAD-eligible locations.
Colorado, meanwhile, is proposing to award 50% of its funding to LEO satellites and about 48% to fiber. About 2% will go to wireless providers, the Colorado Broadband Office said Friday. Amazon's Kuiper, for example, won more than $25 million to serve more than 42,000 locations, subject to final NTIA approval.
"Even with States still proposing fiber, the new NTIA guidelines have had an impact," wrote CCG Consulting President Doug Dawson in a blog Monday. NTIA "now faces a big choice," because states "have clearly said that they want BEAD money to build fiber." He noted that three states -- Louisiana, West Virginia and Virginia -- each have Republican governors and still submitted proposals that lean on fiber. "This is definitely a showdown moment," he wrote.