$826M Colorado BEAD Funding Underway

Amazon Kuiper and Starlink Receive Some Funding

Colorado’s broadband expansion plan has taken a surprising turn. In the state’s revised Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, satellite internet providers Amazon’s Project Kuiper and SpaceX’s Starlink captured a share of the underserved service locations. Yet their bids were so much cheaper than competitors’ that they received only 8% of Colorado’s $826 million federal allocation.

The Colorado Broadband Office announced the preliminary awards on August 23, targeting about 90,000 homes and businesses without reliable broadband service. While fiber once dominated early drafts, a federal policy shift in June 2025 forced states to choose the lowest-cost, technology-neutral bids. That change gave low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites a competitive edge.

“LEO was really aggressive in their coverage and pricing,” said Brandy Reitter, executive director of the Colorado Broadband Office. “They decreased their cost per broadband serviceable location quite a bit to be more competitive against the other technologies.”

How the Awards Break Down

• Amazon Kuiper: $25.4 million to cover 42,252 locations — just $560 per site. Service expected in late 2025, with full commitments by 2027.

• Starlink: $9.16 million for 5,400 locations — averaging $1,700 per site. Already offers coverage across Colorado.

• Fiber providers: 48% of locations and 91% of awarded dollars ($409 million).

• Fixed wireless: 2% of locations and 1% of funds.

Because satellites won so many sites at low cost, Colorado awarded only half of its BEAD budget ($409 million) this round, leaving the remainder for other broadband initiatives.