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Policy & Regulation

BEAD Program

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program — a $42.5 billion federal initiative to expand broadband access to underserved and unserved areas across all 50 states.

What It Means

BEAD was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021) and is administered by NTIA. Each state received an allocation based on unserved locations (below 25/3 Mbps) and underserved locations (below 100/20 Mbps). States must prioritize fiber and other end-to-end technologies. BEAD is the largest broadband infrastructure investment in U.S. history. States submitted initial proposals in 2023-2024, with construction expected through 2028.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "BEAD Program" mean?

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program — a $42.5 billion federal initiative to expand broadband access to underserved and unserved areas across all 50 states.

Why does BEAD Program matter for internet quality?

BEAD was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021) and is administered by NTIA. Each state received an allocation based on unserved locations (below 25/3 Mbps) and underserved locations (below 100/20 Mbps). States must prioritize fiber and other end-to-end technologies. BEAD i...

Related Terms

Broadband
High-speed internet access that is always on and faster than traditional dial-up. The FCC defines broadband as a minimum of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload as of 2024.
Digital Divide
The gap between communities with access to fast, reliable, affordable internet and those without. Disproportionately affects rural, low-income, and tribal areas.
FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC)
The FCC's address-level broadband availability database that replaced the older Form 477 system. Collects data from every ISP twice a year covering over 116 million locations.
Net Neutrality
The principle that internet service providers must treat all internet traffic equally, without blocking, throttling, or prioritizing certain websites or services.

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About This Data

Definitions based on FCC standards, industry specifications, and federal broadband policy. Speed benchmarks reflect 2024 FCC standards. See our methodology.