Senators introduce a blueprint for allocation of BEAD non-deployment funds

"This week, senators from two states introduced a bill aimed at creating a structure for allocating the funds. The bill was introduced by Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia). A tremendous amount of money - the press release cites estimates of $20 billion to $22 billion - will remain available after the deployment phase of the BEAD Program concludes."

"If the Supporting U.S. Critical Connectivity and Economic Strategy and Security for BEAD Act (SUCCESS for BEAD Act) becomes law, non-deployment funds would: Be awarded via competitive subgrants (with limited workforce exceptions) Give priority to projects that improve infrastructure in rural areas, enhance public safety or national security, strengthen network resiliency and cybersecurity, support federal or military facilities, reduce network latency, or advance artificial intelligence (AI)-related technology"

""The SUCCESS for BEAD Act is a timely, pragmatic proposal that helps ensure every non-deployment federal BEAD dollar delivers the greatest possible benefit for the American people," Jonathan Spalter, the president and CEO of USTelecom-The Broadband Association, said in a press release. "Once a state completes its deployment plan, any remaining funds should be put to work advancing the security, resilience, and long-term performance of our communications networks-especially as connectivity becomes more central to public safety, economic growth, and U.S. technology leadership.""

Congressional sponsors Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) introduced the SUCCESS for BEAD Act to govern roughly $20–$22 billion in BEAD non-deployment funds. The proposal would allocate remaining funds through competitive subgrants with limited workforce exceptions and generally require a 25% state match subject to waivers. Priority would go to rural infrastructure, public safety and national security, network resiliency and cybersecurity, federal or military facilities, reduced latency, and AI-related technology. The bill would create a mandatory public challenge process before awarding wholesale fiber subgrants to prevent unnecessary overbuilding, with standards and transparency requirements.

Read at Telecompetitor