8 reasons why BEAD is the new floor, not the finish line

When the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program was signed into law promising to deliver “Internet for All,” we believed it wouldn’t be enough to connect each and every community. As broadband offices across the country rose to the challenge, we were ready to be proved wrong. But in June, the federal government changed the rules—giving states 90 days to cut costs and redo their plans. What was already an ambitious target became near impossible. Yes, BEAD will likely remain one of the biggest broadband investments in US history. But alone, it will not close the digital divide. We should see BEAD as the new floor to work from, not the finish line. Here’s why: 

1. Places that need broadband investment, aren’t getting it
2.  Satellite is not a real replacement for fiber
3. “Good enough” today is obsolete tomorrow
4. BEAD doesn’t address affordability
5. Digital adoption funding has been decimated
6. Maintenance matters
7. Some projects will default
8. Private equity isn’t incentivized to close the gaps