Full Speed Ahead

State broadband offices (SBOs) have seemingly aligned to put pressure on the federal government to get the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment awards made and the construction process started in 2025. While there might be a few exceptions, most SBOs have accelerated the grant review process and are either ready to make BEAD awards now or soon will be in a position to do so. Broadband offices and state and local officials all want to see the grant funding awarded to their states to build as much fiber as possible while still assuring that all BEAD-eligible locations get some better broadband solution. I think the big fear is not only that more funding will go to satellite, but that ‘excess funds’ will be reclaimed by Treasury and not spent on broadband. The phrase ‘once in a generation’ funding has probably been used too often for BEAD, to the point that people don’t really hear what it means. States are doing a magnificent job of spreading the BEAD money to bring as much public benefit as possible, and they are all asking to be left alone to finish the job.