More states and territories are releasing their final Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program final proposals for public comment before seeking  National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approval. These states received extensions past the NTIA’s early September deadline to submit final plans. 

Idaho

The Idaho Office of Broadband released its Draft Final Proposal for public comment on September 16. In its proposal, Idaho plans to spend almost $136 million of its $583 million in BEAD funding towards broadband deployment.

The Idaho Office of Broadband identified 91,469 eligible locations and 63 community anchor institutions (CAIs) in its draft proposal. The technology breakdown for the state's deployment awards is split three ways: first, fiber broadband (49%), then low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite (26%), and, finally, fixed wireless (25%).

Telecompetitor reports that Idaho's two largest awards will go to FyberCom ($83 million) for fiber, and ETS Management ($66 million) for mixed technologies.

New York

New York's ConnectALL initiative was created by Gov Hochul (D-NY) with the mission of building New York State's digital infrastructure and connecting all state residents to broadband. ConnectALL's Draft Final Proposal for BEAD proposes to award $391 million of its $664 million in BEAD funding to broadband deployment projects throughout the Empire State.

ConnectALL's plan lists 53,918 BEAD-eligible locations. The state plans to connect these locations by funding fixed wireless (44%), fiber broadband (31%), and LEO satellite (25%). 

ConnectALL closed the public comment window for its BEAD plan on September 24.

South Carolina

The South Carolina Broadband Office (SCBBO) created the state's Draft Final Proposal, which is available for public comment until September 26.

South Carolina was allocated more than $551 million for BEAD-related activities. In SCBBO's new plan, the state will spend only $41 million of that amount on broadband deployment.

SCBBO identified over 20,137 eligible locations for this funding and 343 CAIs and noted its successful investments of American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband projects. The technology breakdown is expected to be 49% for LEO satellite, 47% for fiber broadband, and 3% for hybrid-fiber coaxial (HFC).

Missouri

The Missouri Office of Broadband Development (OBD) released its BEAD Draft Final Proposal on September 19. In its proposal, OBD plans to spend $792 million of its total BEAD allocation on broadband deployment. Missouri's total BEAD allocation is $1.7 billion—meaning the state has $943 million, or almost $1 billion in remaining funds.

OBD identified over 200,000 eligible locations and 711 CAIs in its draft final proposal. To serve these un- and underserved locations, Missouri plans to fund primarily fiber broadband (81%) as well as LEO satellite (13%), fixed wireless (5%), and HFC (1%).

Missouri is accepting public comments on its draft proposal until September 26.

South Dakota

The ConnectSD Initiative, housed under the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development, released its Draft Final Proposal on September 19. 

ConnectSD identifies almost 7,000 eligible locations in its draft plan. The state plans to spend almost $73 million on broadband deployment, leaving $131 million in remaining BEAD funds. South Dakota's technology breakdown for BEAD deployment includes fiber broadband (60%), LEO satellite (38%), and fixed wireless (2%). 

South Dakota's BEAD plan will be open for public comments until September 26.

Illinois

The Illinois Office of Broadband (IOB) released the state's Draft Final Proposal for public comment on September 23. Comments on the plan are due by September 29.

IOB plans to allocate nearly all of its BEAD funding on broadband deployment. The draft proposal includes deployment awards totaling $990 million, with $49 million in remaining BEAD funds. Illinois aims to connect over 158,000 eligible locations and almost 1,300 CAIs to broadband using these funds.

IOB is preliminarily awarding funding to fiber broadband (75%), LEO satellite (15%), and fixed wireless (9%) deployment.

Which States Are Left?

Several states and territories have yet to release their proposals, and some have received further extensions to finalize their plans. Below is an updated list of the remaining states and their deadlines:

• Alaska: In its last update, the state was slated to begin its public comment period on or before September 24.
• California: Received a second submission deadline extension. California's plan is due to NTIA on November 21.
• Florida
• Guam
• Puerto Rico
• Texas: Submission deadline of October 27
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Utah
• Washington, (DC)

Special thanks to Reid Sharkey and Zoë Walker for their contributions to this article.

More in this Series

• BEAD BEAD BEAD, and More BEAD Plans
• States Finalize Their BEAD Proposals
• More BEAD Draft Final Proposals Are Released for Public Comment
• Benefit of the Bargain BEAD Proposals Roll In

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