Arizona Sees 33% Increase in BEAD Applications

Arizona and New Mexico reported a surge in applications for federal broadband funding after being directed to relaunch “technology-neutral” grant rounds under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. Nick Capozzi, Arizona’s state broadband director, said that the state received 33 percent more applications in the latest round. Capozzi said that every location in the state received at least one bid. On June 6, states were instructed by the National Telecommunication and Information Administration to run new “technology-neutral” bidding rounds to disburse BEAD funding, called the Benefit of the Bargain round. Arizona wasn’t the only state to report positive outcomes from the BoB round. Andrew Wilder, New Mexico’s BEAD program director, said two additional providers applied for funding, and the state received 87 applications—20 more than before.