Overhaul of the BEAD Program Announced
The Trump administration is working to revamp the Biden-era BEAD program, aiming to cut costs by $21 billion while improving internet access across the United States. This information came from Ariel Ross, the assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information, during a speech at the Free State Foundation on Tuesday.
Ross, who leads the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA), made her comments at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. She addressed strategies to bridge what’s often referred to as the “digital divide”—the gap between those with steady internet access and those without.
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, established under President Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, had a robust budget of $42.5 billion. Yet, it struggled to fulfill its promise of expanding internet access during Biden’s time in office.
“For almost four years, BEAD has been bogged down by red tape, regulations that distort the market, and overly strict social mandates,” Ross noted. The program was in danger of being just another failure in broadband efforts.
Previous challenges included:
- Burdening labor requirements
- Favoring government-owned networks over private investments
- Exclusion of non-fiber internet projects
- Confusion over affordability and rate regulations, which delayed rollouts
- Requirements to consider “climate-related” risks that weren’t clearly defined in the bill
In her speech, Ross said the Trump administration has shifted BEAD “into a genuine success for the American public.” She expressed optimism about saving around $21 billion due to efforts aimed at reducing bureaucratic hurdles and focusing on accessible connectivity.
In June, Ross implemented the Great Value Benefits plan, which reformed BEAD by alleviating strict requirements, lowering costs, and opening the program to a broader range of technological solutions beyond just fiber-optic options.
Success stories are already coming in: Louisiana connected over 127,000 sites for under $500 million, which is quite a bit less than what the Biden plan proposed. In West Virginia, private funding increased significantly while costs were reduced sharply. Georgia’s state contributions also surprised many, matching federal funds significantly, all while spending less than initially planned.
These achievements stemmed from an increase in provider participation. Many who hesitated under stringent rules have come back into the fold, fostering competition and improving value for taxpayers.
“States are now free from one-size-fits-all regulations and can accurately assess their needs,” Ross pointed out. The diversity in local technology solutions reflects the varying geographical and demographic needs across the country.
Other states reported similar benefits as a result of the new plan. For example, Virginia saw a surge in applications, and Texas managed to expedite its proposal timeline significantly under these newer guidelines.
Ross emphasized that allowing market forces to dictate broadband solutions is essential for innovation. “The U.S. has been at the forefront of broadband advancements due to our principles of competition and technology neutrality,” she asserted.
She added that the NTIA is diligently working to approve more state applications by year-end. Recently, approvals were granted to several states, including South Dakota and New Jersey, signaling progress.
Ross concluded by cautioning against policies that singularly prioritize one technology, which has implications that go beyond mere connectivity. She hinted that more updates would be coming in early 2026, encouraging patience as the plans take shape.
