Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

When it comes to federal efforts to close the digital divide, Minnesota has been left behind. Program after program has promised transformational change—yet time and again, your communities are still waiting. But Minnesota has the power—and the track record—to build its own broadband future. Federal broadband programs have failed the state. They promised a feast and delivered crumbs. In the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, ISPs defaulted on 80% of  more than $400,000,000 in state RDOF funds and on 78% of the over 142,000 RDOF locations.

In the absence of federal leadership on internet affordability, states have become laboratories of innovation. From low-cost plans to consumer protections to housing-based incentives, they are testing resourceful ways to help residents become and stay connected. States looking to take action should study their peers, many of whom are pioneering creative strategies to get more people online. Some state governments have long prioritized broadband affordability, while others are only now stepping in to fill the vacuum left by Washington.

In Rural America, we still talk with respect about President Franklin Roosevelt and Rural Electrification, nearly a century after FDR literally brought light to rural darkness across the entire United States. The Rural Electrification Administration made such a huge impact because the utility companies of the day did not believe that there was any money in Rural America, so they did not bother bringing electricity to us.

More than 36 Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program draft final proposals have been released by states and territories. In these plans, each state is deciding how to connect its un- and underserved locations before submitting its final proposals to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for approval. Through these draft final proposals, we are seeing how states have adjusted their broadband deployment activities as a result of the BEAD Program restructuring and the Benefit of the Bargain application round.

Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program draft final proposals continue to pour in as each state prepares to submit its final plans to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Each state is deciding how to connect its un- and underserved locations in what is called the Benefit of the Bargain application round. Today's edition of this series covers ten more states' draft final proposals.

Chairman Carr’s moves today are very unfortunate as they further signal that the Commission is no longer prioritizing closing the digital divide. In the 21st Century, education doesn’t stop when a student leaves school and today’s actions could lead to many students having a tougher time completing homework assignments because their families lack internet access. The Wi-Fi on school buses is particularly helpful for students in rural areas that face long, daily commutes.

Following a June 6 announcement from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that restructured the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, all states and territories have been tasked with reevaluating their plans to connect un- and underserved locations to high-speed internet.

The "Digital Determinants" podcast offers critical insights into how historical events, particularly the Great Migration, intersect with today’s pervasive digital inequities. Each episode offers intersectional analysis, tying technological barriers to broader socio-political challenges. Through storytelling, historical frameworks, and actionable insights, the podcast converges different disciplines to advocate for digital equity.

On August 19, 2025, West Virginia released its revised Final Proposal for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The West Virginia Office of Broadband recommends awarding $625 million in BEAD funding to deploy broadband infrastructure to 73,701 eligible locations. Of those locations, 94.2 percent would be served by fiber to the premises and 5.8 percent by low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite.

Although the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) just approved an update to its pole attachment rules, the FCC also launched a new proceeding to make the process more efficient. With the goal of expediting broadband deployment in mind, the FCC is seeking public input on how to further reduce barriers to infrastructure investment. The FCC has questions about six specific proposals and their potential impact on the industry.