Tight BEAD Schedules Preclude Multiple Bidding Rounds, Some States Say
Some state broadband directors said they don't anticipate multiple rounds of broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program bidding by providers due to the tight 12-month time frame between when NTIA approves initial state proposals and when finalized proposals with the list of subgrantees are due to the agency. There's also concern there will be serviceable locations that don't get provider bids, and it's not clear how to address those without more bidding rounds, said Brian Newby, North Dakota broadband program director, at a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday.
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Some said questions remain about BEAD's fiber preference over other technologies. Newby said North Dakota sees fiber as "the way to go" for unserved locations, but numerous fixed wireless customers already are in the state. He said it's trying to learn from other states and their views on fixed wireless. South Carolina is taking a "wireless bridge to a wired future" approach, being bullish on connecting a home now via wireless rather than waiting a couple of years for fiber funding, said Jim Stritzinger, state broadband office director. The challenges are NTIA's fiber preference and not wanting to block someone from getting fiber later, he said.
One other fiber advantage is that it's the platform "by which we fix other stuff" like a lack of mobile coverage due to lack of mobile backhaul in rural areas, Stritzinger said. For very high-cost areas, satellite broadband would serve some homes better than fiber, he said.
One North Dakota priority is trying to get at the actual number of unserved locations, with FCC mapping saying 10,000 and carriers saying 500, Newby said. He said the state believes it has sufficient funds to connect the remaining locations, though there's a concern about inflation eroding the cost value of the capital the state will be awarded.
Mapping of South Carolina based on underserved criteria of 100/20 Mbps availability indicates 133,000 serviceable locations, said Stritzinger. He said the state still has about $225 million in American Rescue Plan dollars to deploy, and that money should be running out in summer 2024, just as BEAD money becomes available. He said one BEAD concern is if the state funds a project that ultimately doesn't go live, with clawback being "a real material fear for all of us."
Wireless propagation is a challenge in Vermont because of its terrain and foliage, so the state set a goal of getting fiber to every address, said Christine Hallquist, Vermont Community Broadband Board executive director. It was at about 30% of that goal last year and expects to end this year at about 40%, she said.
Stritzinger said South Carolina's BEAD challenge will likely run in Q3 2024. He said speed is important but only to a certain level. Once 100 Mbps symmetrical is being delivered, "it's not my problem anymore. We kind of move on," he said. Most ISPs have those speeds available as a minimum package available to consumers, especially electric co-ops and cable companies, he said. He said some data from the FCC speed test app is browser based and thus not very precise on location.
When selecting technologies for connectivity for trailer parks and low-income housing, ensuring resilient internet is important, Stritzinger said. In communities where paying power bills can be a struggle, having the power off makes connectivity access superfluous, he said.