Three states have provided updates in the long process of granting funds under the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
Arizona BEAD Updates: The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) has extended the main round application deadline to March 7. The state was allocated $993.1 million to connect underserved or unserved locations in the state.
The new round one application review window from March 7 to April 8 and the round two application window is from May 12 to June 11, according to the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC).
Oregon BEAD Updates: Business Oregon says that its BEAD Deployment Subgrantee Selection, which opened on February 12, is nearing its March 14 completion.
South Dakota BEAD Updates: Connect South Dakota says that it is nearing completion of the location list and anticipates opening its application portal on Monday, March 3. The press release says that those who have had access to the portal through ConnectSD can use the same login information when registering for the application portal.
Three updates this month suggest how potent BEAD’s impact could be:
- Preliminary applications from Vermont broadband service providers could serve virtually every eligible address in the state, according to the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB).
- The first round of program applications from Washington, which closed at the end of January, garnered 307 applications, according to the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO).
- Missouri announced this week that it received 519 BEAD Round 1 applications. The Missouri Office of Broadband Development said this represents 90% of the locations eligible for the funding.
Additional information about state funding resources, state-specific Telecompetitor coverage, BEAD Program updates, awards made, and more, can be found at Telecompetitor’s Broadband Nation webpage.
