With indicators pointing toward the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program nearing the distribution stage to states — and broadband construction on BEAD projects beginning in coming months — a recent analysis by The Pew Charitable Trusts examined the factors that could cause future delays in BEAD project completions.
The legislation authorizing BEAD gives states and subgrantees just four years after distribution to finish construction.
“As program guidance continues to solidify and evolve through the implementation process, federal lawmakers can work with states and the [National Telecommunications and Information Administration] to eliminate roadblocks and answer questions,” Pew says in an analysis paper, “What’s Next for Broadband Expansion?” Lack of coordination could risk missing the four-year deadline in some cases.
For example, federal and state officials will have to work together to streamline permitting issues during construction preparation. NTIA has created an online Environmental Screening and Permitting Tracking Tool to help projects through the permitting process, allowing states to keep track of specific federal permitting cases and offering an escalation option for permits that seem to be jammed in the process.
However, the Pew analysis notes that NTIA has concerns about whether federal agencies have the staffing required to meet the likely upturn in permitting requests BEAD will cause.
Once construction begins, the analysis envisions broadband service providers facing potential shortages of fiber plant and other construction materials, as well as shortages of construction workers and communications technicians. Beyond close monitoring of the situation by federal policymakers, Pew does not suggest potential solutions to supply chain and workforce issues.
The analysis also addresses the ongoing controversy over BEAD non-deployment funding. NTIA has approved or provisionally approved less than half the funds Congress made available for broadband construction in the $42.5 billion BEAD program. The statue gives states the authority to apply unused funds toward several related tasks, including activities to prevent permitting and workforce delays in construction.
However, President Trump recently signed an executive order making certain states applying regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) development and deployment ineligible for non-deployment funds. The executive order gives NTIA until March 11 to “publish an evaluation of existing State AI laws that identifies onerous laws that conflict with [administration] policy.”
“Promptly resolving the uncertainty around the use of these funds will be essential for states to address deployment barriers and connect locations,” the Pew BEAD analysis concludes.
