In this edition of the ICORE Blog we discuss recent notable events related to the BEAD Program. Please note the following:
On February 9, 2026, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that it has now approved 50 out of 56 Final proposals from States and territories for broadband deployment through the BEAD Program. Arielle Roth, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator, made the announcement and stated further that NTIA is working diligently to get the six remaining final proposals over the finish line. She added that as a result of the BEAD Benefit of the Bargain reforms (see ICORE Blog dated 6/11/25) the costs related to broadband deployment for the BEAD Program were reduced by an estimated $21 billion dollars, approximately half of the total funding allocated to the BEAD Program. In addition, she announced that NTIA will convene a listening session with stakeholders to gather input on how these savings can best be used to maximize the BEAD Program’s value taxpayers and consumers. (see ICORE Blog dated 12/22/25 re: BEAD non-deployments funds).
On February 10, 2026, U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies and addressed the BEAD Program. In discussing the BEAD Program, he too addressed the reforms to the program made by the current administration and the Benefit of the Bargain Round including initiating a more technology neutral approach resulting in the significant deployment savings mentioned above. When questioned as to what would become of the $21B of deployment savings Secretary Lutnick stated that the funds would not be returned to the U.S. Treasury and pointed to the listening session with stakeholders mentioned above to secure input as to the best ways to utilize those funds.
In regard to the listening session referenced above, the virtual session was held on February 11, 2026 and was attended by over 1400 registrants including local officials, industry representatives/advocates, and members of the public. Regarding the use of BEAD non-deployment funds many participants suggested that the funds should be used to enhance public safety by funding upgrades to outdated 911 centers including infrastructure upgrades to Next Generation 911. Other participants suggested that funding could be used to streamline state and local permitting processes and other means to prevent delays in broadband buildouts. It was also suggested that the remaining BEAD funds should be used to address broadband resilience and redundancy to ensure that consumers remain connected in the event of natural disasters and cyber-attacks. Finally, many participants suggested using a portion of the remaining funds as a reserve fund that could be used to connect any remaining unserved locations that might occur due to defaults in other broadband programs or new unserved locations identified in the latest national Broadband Map.
It’s encouraging to hear that the $21B of BEAD Program funds will be utilized in a manner consistent with the intent of Congress when the funds were appropriated. The listening session described above provided many excellent examples as to how the funds could be deployed and we hope that NTIA moves quickly to release these non-deployment funds in order that the suggested enhancements can be addressed in a timely manner.
