Missouri Approved for $800 Million in BEAD Funds

01 February 2026 | BEAD News

The Missouri Office of Broadband is advancing efforts to close the state’s digital divide, with a strong focus on expanding access in rural and underserved communities.

BJ Tanksley, Director of the Office of Broadband at the Missouri Department of Economic Development, emphasized that significant gaps in broadband access remain, particularly in areas that have historically lacked reliable connectivity.

Through the BEAD program, Missouri plans to bring broadband service to more than 200,000 unserved and underserved homes and businesses statewide.

Missouri’s Broadband Eligibility Map for BEAD Funding

Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Missouri was allocated $1.7 billion in federal funding, with $800 million recently approved for broadband infrastructure projects. Tanksley noted that this funding represents a major opportunity to accelerate statewide connectivity initiatives.

State officials highlighted that broadband gaps become apparent just beyond major population centers, underscoring the need for continued investment outside urban cores.

The Office of Broadband expressed optimism about current progress and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring every Missourian has access to high-speed internet.

According to the Missouri Department of Economic Development, broadband expansion is essential to the state’s long-term economic growth, educational opportunity, and access to health care.

Officials warned that without reliable high-speed connectivity, disparities between connected and unconnected communities will continue to widen. State data show that many counties across Missouri still face substantial broadband access challenges.

The department stressed that while broadband access alone does not guarantee economic advancement, the absence of connectivity significantly limits opportunities and holds communities back.