Some states are seeing an increase in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) applications in their Benefit of the Bargain funding rounds. Others are seeing applications decline. Below you’ll see our summary of the varying results.
In June, the BEAD program rules were changed to remove the original preference for fiber broadband. States that had already accepted applications under the original rules were required to do an additional funding round based on the new rules.
Funding rounds conducted under the new rules are commonly referred to as the Benefit of the Bargain rounds.
Here’s a breakdown of what states are seeing in these rounds.
States with BEAD Applications for All Locations
Arizona and Vermont are the latest states to issue announcements stating that they received at least one application for all areas eligible for funding in the rural broadband deployment program.
The Arizona Commerce Authority provided some additional details. The state received 206 applications from 28 network operators. The applications included “all technology types,” according to the announcement.
Christine Hallquist, executive director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board, noted that her state also received applications planning to use a mix of technologies. She specifically cited fiber, hybrid-fiber coax, and low Earth orbit satellite technology.
“We’re pleased with the amount and technological variety of bids we received,” Hallquist said in a prepared statement.
Tennessee and Washington were already on the list of states that received applications for all eligible areas in the Benefit of the Bargain round.
Some States Tout Increase in Applications
Not all states are detailing whether all project areas received applications but have revealed that they saw an increase in applications in the Benefit of the Bargain round.
For example, New Mexico said recently that it received 42 new applications via the Benefit of the Bargain round.
Decreases in BEAD Applications
The Benefit of the Bargain results from at least two states were less positive, according to published reports from the Mountain Connect conference this week.
An Arkansas official reportedly said the number of applicants declined from 44 to 33.
A Minnesota official reportedly said that the state lost 10 applications from fiber providers. About 29% of locations did not receive bids, according to the report.
