On June 6, 2025, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Policy Notice (Notice) implementing major reforms to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed broadband access across the United States. Administered by NTIA, the BEAD Program is designed to ensure that American taxpayers receive the greatest value, or “Benefit of the Bargain,” from their broadband investment. See also Fact Sheet, Press Release.
The Policy Notice replaces and modifies several requirements from the original BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), including removing technology-specific preferences and regulatory burdens imposed by the prior Administration. For instance, the Notice removes or modifies:
- Labor Requirements
- Eliminates NOFO mandates on “Fair Labor Practices,” “Equitable Workforce Development,” DEI reporting, and small/minority/women-owned business preferences.
- Replaces these mandates with a self-certification of compliance with federal labor laws.
- Climate Policy
- Eliminates the “Climate Resilience” section of the NOFO and the related Initial Proposal and Final Proposal.
- Open Access/Net Neutrality
- Eliminates consumer protection rules such as bans on data caps and mandates on open interconnection and wholesale access.
- Local Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement
- Eliminates expanded requirements for stakeholder engagement with demographic groups; retains basic statutory local coordination only.
- Non-Traditional Broadband Providers
- Removes preference for municipal/non-traditional providers in award scoring.
- Middle-Class Affordability Plan
- Eliminates requirement for states to submit and update a separate affordability plan.
- Low-Cost Service Option
- Removes NTIA-set pricing model and allows subgrantees to define their own Low-Cost Service Option (LCSO), subject to performance minimums (100/20 Mbps, ≤100 ms latency).
- Redefines “eligible subscriber” to align with the FCC’s Lifeline Program instead of the now-defunct Affordable Connectivity Program.
- Technology Neutrality
- Prioritizes a technology-neutral, cost-effective approach and directs states and territories (Eligible Entities) to conduct an additional “Benefit of the Bargain Round” of subgrantee selection to ensure all applicants compete fairly.
- Removes the fiber preference and puts LEO satellite and fixed wireless on a more even ground with fiber technology. “Fiber-optic technology, cable modem/hybrid fiber-coaxial technology, LEO satellite services, and terrestrial fixed wireless technology utilizing entirely licensed spectrum, entirely unlicensed spectrum, or a hybrid of licensed and unlicensed spectrum, may be used in applications.”
States will have 90 days to comply with this Notice, and compliance is required for final proposal approval by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
Additionally, to accelerate implementation, NTIA introduced the Environmental Screening and Permitting Tracking Tool (ESAPTT) to streamline National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews and broadband permitting.
Collectively, these changes aim to reduce costs, increase competition, and rapidly expand broadband access throughout the country.
- U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick shared the following statement: “Today we proudly announce a new direction for the BEAD program that will deliver high-speed internet access efficiently on a technology-neutral basis, and at the right price. President Trump promised to put an end to wasteful spending, and thanks to his leadership, the American people will get the benefit of the bargain, with connectivity delivered around the country at a fraction of the cost of the original program.”
- Adam Cassady, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Acting NTIA Administrator, also shared the following remarks: “Today’s announcement, made possible by President Trump, Secretary Lutnick, and the talented NTIA team, puts the BEAD program on a path for success. Thanks to today’s reforms, the BEAD program can focus on what Congress intended: broadband deployment. Shelving the previous Administration’s unnecessary burdens, and opening access to all technology types, connects more Americans to broadband more quickly, and at a lower cost to the American taxpayer.”
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