As the second version of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) National Broadband Map was released on May 30, 2023, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is still on schedule to announce allocation levels to eligible entities by June 30, 2023, for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
Initially launched in November 2022, the National Broadband Map plays a valuable role for policymakers and broadband providers as it helps identify areas lacking broadband access. At the same time, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which includes $42.5 billion for broadband deployment, requires the FCC to use an accurate map to distribute funding, which is disseminated through the NTIA BEAD program.
The FCC initiated an update to the first version of the map but was also prompted by a letter signed by 14 U.S. Senators in March, which deemed it "significantly flawed." The letter also expressed the worry that "incomplete and inaccurate data will tilt the distribution of federal resources away from rural states" and asked that the FCC make updates to the location fabric monthly, not on a biannual basis.
The changes could have a significant impact on states’ eventual allocation from the BEAD program. For example, Colorado officials hope by submitting corrections to the FCC map, the state could increase funding from the BEAD program to the upper end of a range officials estimate at between $400 million and $700 million.
The latest version of the map includes multiple changes, additions and findings, including:
- Identifying 114 million locations where fixed broadband service could be installed, up from just 8.1 million census blocks in the previous version.
- 3 million locations were added, and 2 million locations were removed, with the most significant being in Alaska, U.S. Territories and Tribal Lands.
- The map now shows that there are more unserved locations in the United States than previously thought. The percentage of unserved locations nationwide increased by 0.2%, totaling 8.3 million U.S. homes and businesses lacking access to high-speed broadband. Of the 330,000 unserved areas found, 86,000 came from West Virginia.
The FCC also announced the release of a major update twice a year, using a more sophisticated methodology to assess broadband availability. The next date for businesses to be on the lookout for is NTIA's announcement on BEAD Program funding, set to be released by June 30, 2023.
Stateside Associates has helped clients navigate the complex landscape of infrastructure funding opportunities by providing resources and expertise to identify, apply for, partner with, and leverage programs as states and local government entities identify their infrastructure projects. States are actively now looking for partners for a multitude of projects. Click here to learn more, or contact us today.