NTIA has approved the full Initial Proposals of Connecticut (Vol. 1, Vol. 2), Hawaii (Vol. 1, Vol. 2), and Rhode Island (Vol. 1, Vol. 2) for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, bringing the total number of approved proposals to twenty. The BEAD program, which allocates $42.5 billion of federal funding to states and U.S. territories for the deployment of high-speed internet networks, requires program applicants to submit an Initial Proposal specifying how they will use the funding to deliver high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved areas in their jurisdiction. The approvals allow each state to begin implementing their plans and have access to a portion of their allocated funding. Connecticut will now have access to more than $144 million for broadband deployment, Hawaii to more than $149 million, and Rhode Island to more than $108 million. Once deployment goals are met, remaining funding may be used for other eligible uses such as training and workforce development.
NTIA has now approved the proposals of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington, and West Virginia. Applicants must submit a Final Proposal detailing their progress and continued plans one year after the date of Initial Proposal’s approval. NTIA will continue to approve proposals on a rolling basis.
