NTIA approves BEAD Funds for Colorado and New Hampshire

BEAD Volume Two

Volume two of the BEAD funding proposals outlines how states will manage their grant programs, following volume one, which focused on how states would challenge broadband coverage data to accurately identify unconnected homes and businesses.

Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper made a statement on the approval; “Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the largest investment in high-speed and affordable broadband ever, is closing the digital divide for Tribes and small business owners in rural communities across Colorado.”

Colorado’s approved BEAD funding plan had few modifications from the draft circulated last fall. The state raised the price threshold at which grant applications could start to receive additional points for affordability from $85 per month to approximately $118, based on the FCC’s Urban Rate Survey. This increase was “requested by several commenters,” the state noted.

A provision that remained unchanged requires participating providers to offer plans at $30 per month to low-income households served by BEAD infrastructure. Providers can charge a maximum of $50 per month if they receive a state-approved waiver. This low-cost plan, mandated by the NTIA, has faced controversy on Capitol Hill, with Congressional Republicans accusing the agency of violating the Infrastructure Law’s prohibition on rate regulation. Broadband industry groups have echoed these concerns to state broadband offices.

Colorado completed its challenges to broadband coverage data in February, and has submitted its final list of BEAD-eligible homes and businesses to the NTIA, awaiting the agency’s approval. The state plans to publish subgrant guidelines for public comment this summer.

New Hampshire has not yet published its approved volume two.