As of last week, the federal government has obligated all $42.45 billion in BEAD funding to states and territories (the “Eligible Entities”). This means that, subject to the terms and conditions of their awards, Eligible Entities can access their BEAD allocation to connect every resident to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service. With all 56 Eligible Entities having now reached this critical milestone, we know that grantees are eager to begin deployment of new high-speed Internet networks.

Date/Time: May 22, 2025, 1:00-4:00 PM CST

Location: Intercontinental Magnificent Mile, Chicago, IL

Date/Time: May 14, 2025, 1:00-4:00 PM EST

Location: Hyatt Regency, Boston, MA

Date/Time: April 23, 2025, 1:00-4:00 PM PM AKST

Location: Egan Civic Center, Anchorage, AK

Date/Time: April 9, 2025, 1:00-4:00 PM CST

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, Austin, TX

Date/Time: March 19, 2025, 1:00-4:00 PM PST

Location: Hilton Mission Valley, San Diego, CA

Date/Time: March 11, 2025, 1:00-4:00 PM MST

Location: Embassy Suites by Hilton, Boulder, CO

Date/Time: February 14, 2025, 1:00-4:00 PM EST

Location: Courtland Grand Hotel, Atlanta, GA

By:  Will Arbuckle, Senior Policy Advisor, NTIA

The $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program aims to connect 25 million Americans currently without high-speed Internet access. Building these broadband networks on time and at scale across 56 states and territories will require tens of thousands of broadband construction workers: from network designers to pole surveyors, from locators to drill operators, from general laborers to fiber splicers.