WISPA Urges States to Plan BEAD Non-Deployment Projects
WISPA urged state broadband leaders to keep any BEAD funds not spent during deployment to invest in non-deployment needs, such as fixed-wireless access networks. Whether BEAD funding could be used for non-deployment initiatives was an initial concern when NTIA amended…
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its BEAD rules (see 2506180077). However, WISPA State Advocacy Director Steven Schwerbel said in an email to state officials Tuesday night that eligible entities by statute may award BEAD subgrants for broadband adoption and other non-deployment purposes. He encouraged states to plan non-deployment programs, noting that investing in fixed-wireless networks and other technologies will "pay dividends" in getting communities online faster and developing targeted programs for broadband workforce and digital literacy efforts.