States Make Progress on Broadband Programs

 You’re reading the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s Weekly Digest, a recap of the biggest (or most overlooked) broadband stories of the week. The digest is delivered via e-mail each Friday.

Round-Up for the Week of July 27-31, 2026

U.S. states and territories are making progress on their broadband goals this summer. A number of state-run initiatives have been launched, and several infrastructure projects are in full swing. While it's easy to have all eyes on the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program—and, hypocritically, more on that later—there are countless other actions states are taking to ensure robust broadband access and universal digital adoption. From infrastructure planning to deployment to increasing awareness and resources, states are doing it all.

Oklahoma Rolls Out Community Access Portals

Many states are now spending their last dollars awarded under the American Rescue Plan Act's (ARPA) Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. Created by Congress in 2021, the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) supports states, territories, freely associated states, and Tribal Governments to “carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options." This support specifically includes investment in high-quality broadband infrastructure as well as other connectivity infrastructure, devices, and equipment.

CPF funding supports countless state broadband infrastructure and digital equity initiatives. In Oklahoma, the Community Access Portals Program is a new $14.5 million initiative to expand access to healthcare, workforce services, and digital skills training through the state's public libraries. The program will make up to 175 community access portals—internet-connected, soundproof rooms with videoconferencing screens—available to libraries across the state, creating new opportunities for Oklahomans to access essential services closer to home.

The Oklahoma Broadband Office hopes to use these portals to transform libraries into community access points where residents can participate in virtual primary care appointments, complete telehealth consultations, attend remote job interviews, receive workforce development services, and build digital literacy skills in a secure, private environment.

Libraries can apply for multiple portals, and the application website went live on July 20, 2026. The initiative has a clear healthcare focus, and residents can choose any healthcare site or provider when using the space. Additional resources will be available to help residents find the appropriate provider if needed.

On July 30, the Oklahoma Broadband Office announced the first deployment of two Community Access Portals at the Kingfisher Memorial Library. Mike Sanders, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office, said:

Oklahomans can access Community Access Portals until December 31, 2026. Portals can be found using the Oklahoma Broadband Office's Community Access Portal Locator.

Colorado Moves Forward With the Advance-Local Program

 At the end of June, the Colorado Broadband Office opened the second application window for its Advance-Local Program. The Advance-Local Program, launched this year, aims to address infrastructure projects comprehensively and support every stage of the deployment process.

Advance-Local is funded annually in varying amounts based on contributions to the Colorado Universal Service Fund (USF) through the state's High Cost Support Mechanism (HCSM) paid by landline carriers on a per-line basis. Advance-Local-funded projects exist in two tiers:

• Tier I: Middle Mile Projects (up to 60% of grant funds)
• Tier II: Other Projects (up to 40% of grant funds), including:
  • Last-Mile Construction
  • Short-term Construction (such as pole audits and pole replacement, or "Make-Ready" projects)
  • Non-Deployment (such as digital access, workforce development, digital ambassadors, etc.)

The application window for Tier I projects opened April 30, and a total of 22 applications were submitted, seeking $102.4 million in funding. Combined with $95.9 million in proposed matching funds, the requests represent a total potential investment of $198.3 million.

The application window for Tier II, now open, closes on August 13. For non-deployment project applications specifically, the application deadline was extended to August 28.

Colorado Broadband Office Executive Director Brandy Reitter said:

New Mexico Supports Tribal Broadband and Preparing for Affordable Service Law

New Mexico is making moves on multiple fronts of broadband infrastructure and digital equity, especially in supporting Tribal broadband planning and preparing for the state's new affordable broadband program.

Tribal Community Broadband Planning Grants

On July 10, the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) awarded the state's 19th Tribal community broadband planning grant under the Grant Writing, Engineering, and Planning Program (GWEP). Through GWEP, the broadband office awards financial assistance grants to aid Tribal governments and local governmental units in procuring grant writing, engineering, and/or planning assistance to help identify community broadband needs and support applications to other funding sources for broadband-related projects. 

This latest award of $100,000 goes to San Ildefonso Services, the business arm of the San Ildefonso Pueblo, for the following projects:

• To obtain Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) status. Once an entity becomes an ETC, it can participate in Universal Service Fund (USF) programs and New Mexico’s Low-Income Telecommunications Assistance Program (LITAP).  
• To begin grant writing to seek funds through the federal Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. If approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the funds would be used for broadband use and adoption programs, network deployment, and facilities equipment funding.
• To develop a fiber mapping and management plan overseeing lit and dark fiber service on the Pueblo and providing middle-mile service to Los Alamos County (NM).

In total, the state allocated $5 million to the GWEP program; $855,000 is still available. OBAE has now awarded 41 GWEP grants, including to 19 Tribal communities, 17 local governments, and five rural electric and telephone cooperatives. Funding expires on June 30, 2027.

Preparing for Broadband Affordability

On the affordability front, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that the state’s new broadband affordability law will go into effect on December 1, 2026, allowing tens of thousands of low-income New Mexico families to apply for up to $30 per month in broadband discounts and $70 for Tribal homes.

Earlier this year, New Mexico passed Senate Bill 152 to fund the New Mexico Low Income Telecommunications Assistance Program (LITAP) and address broadband affordability statewide. Specifically, SB 152 authorizes $10 million in broadband funding to help low-income families afford broadband service. The funding comes from the State Rural Universal Service Fund, which by current statute, has $40 million specifically earmarked for broadband programs.

“This program will help address affordability challenges faced by New Mexico families,” said OBAE Director Jeff Lopez. “I am confident that come December 1, low-income families will have a new resource to ensure their household stays connected to all the critical services that broadband provides, including education, healthcare, and workforce training. Our mission is more than just expanding broadband—we want to make this vital infrastructure affordable to all New Mexicans.”

In preparation for the law to take effect in December, the PRC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) for LITAP. PRC proposed specific steps for New Mexico families to follow. The rulemaking process includes provider eligibility requirements, policies for households, a public hearing, and a public comment period before the start-up date in December.

As part of the proposed rules, the PRC is inviting the public to comment on the newly established procedures for the new broadband affordability law and its applications. The public may submit written initial comments to be filed no later than September 11, 2026. Written responsive comments may be filed no later than September 21, 2026. 

California Boosts its Digital Equity Partners and Coastal Broadband Networks

California is also tackling broadband and digital equity on multiple fronts of late.

Bringing in More Digital Equity Partners

The California Department of Technology (CDT) is taking steps to strengthen its digital equity ecosystem statewide in the wake of the Digital Equity Act's termination in 2025. CDT announced several new digital inclusion partnerships to support its broadband and digital equity implementation. These new partners will provide community-based groups throughout California with free access to digital tools, training, and resources to ensure residents in their communities have access to low-cost home internet, devices, and digital skills training to enable digital inclusion.

New partners and their programs include:

• California Emerging Technology Fund: Call center to support low-cost internet enrollment; digital literacy and digital navigation training; device access; digital equity survey, and online education and workforce development resources
• East Bay Broadband Consortium: School Technology Assessment Survey to identify needs and gaps in K-12 schools
• Everyone On: California-specific affordable offer locator with address-level specificity to assist residents in finding low-cost internet 
• Literacy Minnesota: Asynchronous North Star Digital Literacy Training platform to increase digital literacy skills of residents
• digitalLIFT: Digital equity capacity-building training for community-based organizations and individual digital navigator training
• Human-I-T: Online artificial intelligence training curriculum, virtual digital navigation and tech support, free or low-cost devices, and online workforce development resources
• National Digital Inclusion Alliance: A Digital Inclusion Impact Aggregator to assist in tracking and measuring collective statewide and local digital inclusion efforts

The state regularly updates its Digital Equity Resource Finder to ensure residents stay informed about CDT's partners and the programs they offer. The resource finder includes information voluntarily submitted by entities that provide digital equity programs and services to connect California residents to resources. Organizations providing digital equity services in California can add or edit resources at any time. 

Expanding Broadband Access

On July 15, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved more than $74 million in California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) grants to expand high-speed broadband infrastructure in underserved communities across California.

The funding will support six broadband infrastructure projects in Marin, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma counties, bringing reliable, high-speed internet service to nearly 1,800 previously unserved homes and businesses. The projects will help connect Californians to education, healthcare, employment opportunities, emergency services, and other essential online resources. 

The approved projects include:

• Surfnet Communications: Up to $33,197,090 to construct the Santa Barbara Fiber and Central Coast Fiber Broadband projects, serving 1,293 unserved locations across Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties.
• WiConduit and GigabitNow: Up to $32,398,849 for the Forestville Connect Extension, Graton Connect, and Sonoma Coast Connect Extension projects, bringing fiber broadband service to 341 unserved locations in Sonoma County.
• Hankins Information Technology: Up to $8,500,000 for the West Marin Project, providing fiber broadband service to 154 unserved locations in Bolinas, Nicasio, Point Reyes Station, Stinson Beach, and surrounding communities in Marin County.

Several of the projects will also serve communities located within or near high fire-threat areas, improving communication resilience during emergencies through more reliable broadband infrastructure. The approved projects also include affordable broadband service options for qualifying low-income households expected to participate in the CPUC’s California LifeLine Home Broadband Pilot upon completion of the project.

...And on the Federal Front: BEAD Approvals (or a Lack Thereof), Tribal Broadband Funding Timelines

Keeping with the California theme, the state's BEAD Final Proposal was finally approved on July 17, 2026. A resolution outlining revisions to California's BEAD Final Proposal since its original submission on December 19, 2025, will be published for public comment and may be considered by the CPUC as early as September 17, 2026.

California was one of two remaining states whose BEAD Final Proposals had not yet been approved. Now, Illinois remains the lone state awaiting the NTIA's go-ahead on its BEAD Final Proposal. 

Also from NTIA last month, the agency announced two new notices of funding opportunity (NOFO): one for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) and one for the Native Entities Grant Program (NEGP), the native entity set-aside under the Digital Equity Act. Together, these NOFOs will make $790 million available to Tribal and Native communities to advance broadband connectivity on Tribal lands, promote infrastructure availability, and support other related activities. 

On July 28, NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth announced a 60-day extension of the application deadlines for both the TBCP and the NEGP, from September 17 to November 17. 

We'll be watching for more state and federal news to come this summer.

Quick Bits

• Updated Lifeline Minimum Service Standards and Indexed Budget Amount
• House Republicans Question Future of Federal Broadband Programs
• Community Facilities Receive $3.3 Million to Make Connectivity Work for Maine People
• Americans say large tech companies have too much power

Weekend Reads

• Universal Broadband Summit Report
• Generative AI Playbook
• Wisconsin Governor's Task Force on Broadband Access 2026
• Science: A New Golden Age

ICYMI from Benton

• Bridging the Broadband Health Gap
• Adopted, Eliminated, Mandated, Readopted, and Now Revised: Fifteen Years of Consumer Broadband Labels
• GAO Gives NTIA Good Marks on BEAD Fraud Controls Without Testing Them
• Senate Commerce Committee Advances Broadband Bills
• GAO Documents How NTIA Handled $47.7 Billion in Broadband Grants

Upcoming Events

Aug 5—Full Senate Commerce Committee Executive Session (Senate Commerce Committee)

Aug 6—August 2026 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting (Federal Communications Commission)

Aug 10—Mountain Connect (Mountain Connect)

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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