New BEAD round presents complications, uncertain timeline

While broadband advocates appear to broadly support the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's move to open up a supplemental funding round to reach remaining unserved Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program locations, it's also clear that many are concerned and curious about how that process will unfold from here. "Big picture, NTIA is recognizing that things change," said Carol Mattey, former Federal Communications Commission official and founder of Mattey Consulting, in a conversation hosted by the Fiber Broadband Association. That, she said, is a "good thing," but "there are some complications."