With NTIA in the 90-day curing stage for states that submitted their revised final BEAD proposals by the Sept. 4 deadline, some broadband access advocates are claiming that the agency is requiring states to conduct another "Best and Final Offer" round based on price caps. They said a spreadsheet obtained by BroadbandMarketer's Doug Adams containing excessive cost thresholds suggests that NTIA will require states to reengage with subgrantees with overly high project costs.
Twenty states and territories have received extensions from NTIA to file their revised final proposals for the $42.5 billion BEAD program, with deadlines now staggered through late October after 36 of 56 eligible entities submitted plans by the Sept. 4 cutoff (see 2509050028).
Verizon, Frontier and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) reached a settlement that they said protects workers and customers as Verizon seeks approval to acquire Frontier in a $20 billion all-cash deal. They asked the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to adopt the agreement in a joint motion posted Thursday (docket A-24-10-006).
State broadband leaders outlined Wednesday the hurdles they have faced and the progress made in adapting to NTIA’s revised BEAD guidelines. During a Broadband Breakfast webinar, just one day before new final proposals are due, officials acknowledged the difficulties but emphasized that the process is advancing states toward universal coverage.
Minnesota received the OK to "move forward" with its updated BEAD plans, state Office of Broadband Director Bree Maki said Wednesday during a Fiber Broadband Association webinar (see 2508250030). Maki said the approval came Tuesday. "If everything falls into place today ... we're hoping to go out for public comment tomorrow" to meet NTIA's Sept. 4 deadline, Maki said.
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.
Shifting federal priorities away from fiber toward newer technologies like low earth orbit (LEO) satellites is creating uncertainty for states' broadband plans and funding, experts and local officials warned Thursday at the National Association of Telecom Officers and Advisors' (NATOA) annual conference (see 2508200037). Panelists said the move has rattled the industry, left local governments scrambling for resources, and raised questions about how states will balance cost, access and long-term reliability without the possibility of new federal support.
NEW ORLEANS -- Broadband experts, attorneys and local officials welcomed the use of AI Wednesday at the National Association of Telecom Officers and Advisors' annual conference (see 2508190045) here. Some said it could streamline permitting and speed deployment timelines but warned that federal preemption and lax oversight risk sidelining state and local voices in shaping how the technology changes communications policy.
NEW ORLEANS -- Recent changes to NTIA's $42.5 billion BEAD program are creating uncertainty for states, some broadband experts said during the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors’ annual policy conference here Tuesday. Concerns were raised about federal funds potentially supporting satellite broadband in areas where residents have shown little interest in it and about NTIA’s decision to remove its preference for fiber.
California’s plan to launch a home broadband pilot under its LifeLine program received mixed reactions from industry and consumer advocates. Groups were split over legal authority, service standards and who should be required to participate in the program, which was proposed by California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Commissioner Alice Reynolds and is expected to be considered during the agency's August 28 meeting.