What Does Tech-Neutrality Mean for BEAD?

The BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice released on June 6, 2025, is full of changes. One is a shift in language from “fiber first” and “Extremely High Cost per Location Threshold” to “technology-neutral.” After another round of bidding, under new rules, where will BEAD end up?  Will the fiber networks the public has been expecting emerge, or will they be largely replaced by fixed wireless networks and satellite? A hopeful scenario is that:

1. Fiber will continue to dominate as in the Biden-era BEAD.
2. State plans will change slightly, primarily at the margins.
3. Hybrid technology networks will become more common, with “alternative” technology choices appearing in geographically remote/expensive to serve (with any technology) locations.

[Randolph Luening is the founder of BroadbandToolkit.com, a leading provider of broadband infrastructure planning software and services.]