Tammie Davis’ Post

📢 BEAD Funding Update 📢 26+ states and territories have completed the 10 initial proposal stages for BEAD funding. What's next? Unserved areas in your service territory may become eligible for funding, and applications open soon after. It’s time to reassess broadband feasibility. Don't miss out on this opportunity to bring high-speed internet to your community. With Irby Utilities, you can: • Get an updated feasibility study • Determine if BEAD makes broadband possible for you • Prepare your bid Ready to explore what's possible with BEAD funding? Gain a no-cost, no-obligation feasibility study, here: https://lnkd.in/giapNhh3

Utilities….. In the future you will have to build fiber infrastructure to keep up with smart grid technologies and grid modernization. Why not see if you can get some help so your rate payers don’t have to pay it in full?

Today, the Colorado Broadband Office releases critical components of the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) grant program for public comment. This is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback on the Advance Colorado Broadband BEAD Grant Program before it opens for applications later this summer. 1. The Advance-BEAD Draft Grant Program Guidelines outline Colorado’s goals and objectives for BEAD funding, the application process, scoring criteria and requirements for recipients of BEAD funds. The Advance-BEAD Draft Grant Agreement is also available for review. 2. The Advance-BEAD Draft Project Area Map shows Colorado locations eligible for BEAD funding (pending NTIA approval) and potential inclusion in BEAD project proposals. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gGyVGQwk

1. Robust challenge process? ✅ Michigan received more than 482,000 challenges during the BEAD Challenge Process. 2. Small, customizable project areas? ✅ Michigan is using a creative 1.5-mile hexagonal grid approach to defining BEAD project areas. 3. Investing in connectivity for the future? ✅ Michigan is prioritizing fiber while still recognizing that it will take all technologies to reach our goal. 4. Not taxing broadband grants? ✅ The Michigan legislature advanced a bill recently to exempt broadband grants from corporate income tax. We're excited to implement BEAD and achieve our goal of universal high-speed internet availability. Shirley Bloomfield #NTCA #internetforall https://lnkd.in/g_V7iBK4

This includes areas where service by mobile broadband providers (such as T-Mobile) are unreliable (1 bar or less of service), but this is very helpful for illustrating the work still to be done in connecting our communities to care, opportunities, and other resources.

With over 1,000 days since the enactment of the BEAD program, not surprisingly, progress is still slow. We recently had several conversations about this BEAD program and its possible impact on cellular work. Even if the money starts to flow, there is a worry around project timelines and possible misunderstandings of fund allocations. On top of this, there is a feeling that due to the anticipation of BEAD and fiber, there is a lack of interest and funding for cellular. Which then is driving the lack of investment and work. Please let me know what your thoughts are. I would love to hear from others on this topic. https://lnkd.in/evhpYJTP

In our latest BEAD Program Framework study, we expect there to be 6.4 million eligible locations for BEAD funding in June 2024 – 4.1 million unserved and 2.2 million underserved. One year ago, we projected there would be 7.8 million locations. This decrease has been the result of new builds funded by the private sector and government. View the full study at https://lnkd.in/d-YMCNXC. Cartesian

This is a neat tool.

This is such an awesome project. Covid showed us that Internet access is now a necessary utility, rather than a luxury like cable or satellite. Rural communities need to have this service just as much as more densely populated areas, even though internet providers will not see the same ROI in these areas. Why are we not regulating and subsidizing internet the same way we do for water and electricity? We need to have more green on that map.

Hot off the press! WIA's latest blog on states implementing predictable, proportional, and transparent permitting enabling faster broadband deployments.