Initial Proposals, including both Volumes 1 and 2, in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program from Kansas, Nevada and West Virginia have been approved, according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
The three states can now request access to funding and begin implementing the program. Kansas was authorized to receive $451.7 million, while Nevada will get $416.6 million and West Virginia will get $1.2 billion.
BEAD is a $42.45 billion rural broadband funding program that is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The goal is to provide access to reliable, affordable and high-speed Internet service to all unserved and underserved locations in the country.
Previously, Louisiana was the only entity that had been approved for both volumes of its Initial Proposal. Final approval came in mid-December, freeing up $1.3 billion in BEAD funding for the state.
“Kansas, Nevada and West Virginia have created strong plans — reflecting their unique needs — to deploy reliable, affordable high-speed Internet service across their states,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson in a press release about the approval of the BEAD proposals. “I congratulate each of the state broadband offices for their commitment to connecting the unconnected within their borders.”
There are 56 entities that will make BEAD funding decisions – the 50 states, the District of Columbia and territories. Their status toward full NTIA approval can be followed here.
Each state must submit a final proposal a year after their initial proposal is fully accepted. The final proposal deals with issues such as how the outcome of the subgrantee selection process and how the state will ensure service to all locations.
Joan Engebretson contributed to this report
