As we anticipate the State of Louisiana’s imminent public announcement of the first BEAD sub-awards, we’re experiencing a monumental change in the federal government. While there is a lot of speculation about how a new Trump Administration and Congress could impact the BEAD program, it’s important to take stock of what we know.
Let’s stick to the facts.
Fact #1: The political makeup of the governors post-election remains status quo. Out of the 11 states that elected governors last week, three incumbents won (MT, UT, VT), and eight states (DE, IN, MO, NC, NH, ND, WA, WV) elected a new governor of the incumbent party—meaning the new governor is of the same party as the previous governor. So, while there may be changes to the leadership in those eight state broadband offices, it’s unlikely there will be as many as if a change in party occurred. Thus, the disruption on the state level is likely to be minimal.
Fact #2: States have a significant amount of control in this phase of BEAD. As of the writing of this article, every state but Texas has received approval of their Initial Proposal Volume 2, and Texas is expected to get their approval shortly. This is significant because it means the federal government has legally obligated the full allocation of BEAD funding to all the states and territories. Keep in mind that the states and territories are the actual recipients of BEAD funding and are in control of the subgrantee selection process.
Fact #3: States are moving quickly. Currently, there are five states (CO, LA, MT, NV, WV) that have opened and closed their BEAD grant window for accepting bid applications. Multiple states have indicated they will open their BEAD grant window in the next 30 days, and there are at least three additional states (AR, IL, MI) that have published their list of likely or prequalified bidders. Thus, states are implementing their programs according to their published plans.
Anyone who has attended broadband conferences this past year has listened to state broadband officers speak passionately about their program, and it’s clear that all states are invested in the success of the BEAD program. In some cases, state legislators have talked about how they have held back state appropriations for broadband as they expect BEAD will go a long way in closing the digital divide. BEAD was designed to be a fiber-first program, and state narratives mimic that sentiment with the expectation that alternative technologies will be necessary to reach the hardest of locations.
Between now and January 20th, we are likely to see NTIA move more quickly to grant approvals. We are also likely to see Louisiana’s Final Proposal and final awards approved before the Biden Administration closes its doors on January 20th. Nevada has also publicly stated that it intends to submit its Final Proposal in December and could be setting up for a January approval by NTIA. It is also likely that a vast majority of states will open a grant window in the next two months.
The bottom line is this: applicants should not take their foot off the gas. If you are thinking of applying for BEAD, be prepared for anything and use the information in front of you to make decisions. It would be a mistake to wait until after January 20th to see if some of the more controversial aspects of the BEAD program are removed or waived. By that time, most of the states will have already opened up a grant window and it will be too late to jump in the pool.
Time is of the essence for pulling a competitive application together. Remember that BEAD is not a typical grant program. The Buy America certification requirements — and the anticipated demand for resources and supplies across all 50 states — will impact a BEAD budget, supply chain, and deployment timelines. Make sure to lock in your vendors, materials, and supplies now. Make the best possible decisions based on what you know today.
Lori Adams, VP of Broadband Policy & Funding Strategy
Nokia
Lori Adams, VP of Broadband Policy & Funding Strategy, Nokia is responsible for developing strategies and tools to enable increased company participation in state, federal, and international programs supporting infrastructure deployment by Nokia’s business organizations. Adams is a highly skilled telecommunications attorney with more than twenty years’ experience and a successful track record in the government and private sector.
