Executive Round Up: What’s Next on the Agenda for BEAD?

We asked executives across the industry what their organizations are doing now that NTIA has released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the BEAD program. Here’s what they had to say. 

Gary Bolton
President and CEO
Fiber Broadband Association

“Actually, the Fiber Broadband Association’s efforts started well before the NTIA NOFO. Last year we were focused on ensuring that Broadband Infrastructure gained bipartisan support and as soon as the IIJA was signed into law, we developed the Broadband Infrastructure Playbook to help State Broadband Offices prepare for the NTIA NOFO that would be released in 180 days (5/13/2022). The Playbook was spot on, and we are now issuing a final updated version.”

Drew Petersen
SVP of Corporate Affairs
TDS Telecom

“Because it’s a once-in-a-generation funding opportunity to provide connectivity to unserved and underserved areas, TDS Telecom is developing a strategic action plan for the BEAD program. We also continue to be aggressive in applying for state broadband grants and making challenges to applicants looking to overbuild in our service areas where we meet speed thresholds. It’s clear there will be intense competition so perfecting our processes now will be key to success later.”

Nicol Turner Lee
Director
Brookings Center for Technology Innovation

“As a nonprofit public policy organization, the Brookings Institution Center for Technology Innovation will not seek a BEAD grant itself, but instead aims to provide high-quality research to BEAD-eligible entities and other interested stakeholders. To that end, we are now analyzing how eligible state entities can best prioritize stated adoption and deployment goals through both a digital equity and workforce development lens, with specific focus on closing the digital equity divides primarily impacting communities of color and rural populations.”