Rural Nebraska Offers Insights into BEAD and Technological Neutrality

On June 6, 2025, a policy notice from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) forced state broadband offices back to the drawing board. With plans for the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program nearly final, the preference for fiber broadband—established in the program’s original Notice of Funding Opportunity—was eliminated. Under the new rules, any technology that can claim speeds of 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up is treated as equal, with project selection defaulting to the lowest‑cost bidder. The new rules additionally allow unlicensed fixed wireless (ULFW) providers to compete for BEAD funding under the same conditions as providers of other technologies. ULFW providers may also claim that they already serve BEAD‑eligible locations if service meets the 100/20 Mbps standard and other related requirements, potentially removing locations and areas from the list of locations for the subaward competition. NTIA calls this change “technology neutral.” However, as some advocates have warned, a “technology blind” approach that shifts focus from selection for long‑term value to the lowest upfront cost creates significant risks. Households once slated for a fiber upgrade could instead be assigned more expensive satellite internet service with the same high latency and weather disruptions they sought to escape, to say nothing of those households that are now ineligible for an upgrade. The NTIA’s rationale is to maximize locations served for the lowest cost. But is the cheapest technology truly the right fit for rural communities?