The Need for BEAD
In 2021, Congress made a historic commitment to finish the job of bringing high-speed broadband to every rural community. Yet four years later, not a single home or business has been connected through the $42.5 billion BEAD program. After years of bureaucratic delays in Washington, the Trump Administration is now taking action to cut through the red tape and accelerate the release of BEAD funding to states—so broadband expansion can finally move from plans on paper to projects on the ground.
Broadband providers are ready—shovels in the ground, crews on standby—to launch projects that will connect rural communities across America. Reliable broadband is no longer optional; it is the foundation for revitalizing advanced manufacturing, strengthening U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence, expanding telehealth and online learning, and powering the next wave of economic growth.
This is a make-or-break moment. Rural communities must not be left behind—they deserve the opportunity to participate in, and help drive, the next chapter of American innovation and prosperity.
State leaders, not Washington bureaucrats, should make the final decisions about which technologies and deployment strategies best serve their communities. A technology-neutral approach is necessary to reach every corner of the country, but fiber broadband stands out as the most reliable, scalable, and future-proof solution. In Texas, state analysis projects that fiber will save taxpayers $4 billion over time—a clear example of why empowering states to move quickly and choose the best solutions will benefit both rural families and taxpayers.
The Trump Administration’s effort to fast-track BEAD funds to the states is the decisive step needed to unlock progress. The time for delays is over. The time to connect communities is now.
Keep reading below for resources on the importance of BEAD and USTelecom’s work to ensure its success.
Resources
Blog + Video | 2026: A Year for Transformational Connectivity in America
Read USTelecom President & CEO Jonathan Spalter’s blog how 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for our nation and for connectivity. 2026 is especially consequential. This is the year BEAD-funded broadband builds transition from policies on paper to shovels in the ground—when public and private investment begins building the foundation for real jobs and economic opportunity, powered by real broadband networks.
Op-Ed | Why fiber broadband is best deal for rural America
In Agri-Pulse, USTelecom President and CEO Jonathan Spalter makes the case that fiber is the true long-term bargain for rural communities given its longevity, future-proof, and scalability to meet the modern moment.
Letter | Fiber broadband is the key to AI innovation
In Washington Examiner, USTelecom President and CEO Jonathan Spalter argues that if America is serious about becoming the AI epicenter our leaders envision, only fiber-optic broadband — with its superior capacity, reliability, and future-proof scalability — can deliver the performance level AI demands.
USTelecom Members Speak Out
Totelcom’s Jennifer Prather and CTC’s Kristi Westbrock have been helping us run a full-court press on television, pushing for our priorities on BEAD.
Watch Jennifer’s Video Watch Kristi’s Video
In a Capital Press article, Blackfoot CEO and USTelecom Board Chair Jason Williams and Hunter Communications’ Michael Wynschenk reinforced how much work has already gone into the bidding process for BEAD and proving they are ready to get shovels in the ground.
Letter | Urging Action on BEAD Deployment
USTelecom sent a joint letter, representing the companies building, maintaining, and supplying broadband in rural America, to President Trump urging immediate action to move the BEAD program forward.
Issue Brief | Removing Barriers to Connecting Communities
To prepare for the influx of broadband builds enabled by BEAD, Congress should act now to standardize and streamline permitting for fiber deployment on federal lands; and make clear that BEAD funds should remain in the communities they aim to serve – rather than be taxed back to Washington. Quick and decisive action will accelerate broadband deployment and prevent added costs due to unnecessary delays.
Report | The Backbone of Innovation: Building Broadband for America’s AI Future
Broadband isn’t just part of the AI future—it’s the backbone. Simply by allowing the shovel-ready fiber broadband projects set for BEAD funding to move forward, thousands of homes and communities can connect to the promise and potential of broadband within months.
Op-Ed | Shifting to a GSD mindset on broadband
In an op-ed in Agri-Pulse, we argued for unlocking BEAD funding, making USF more sustainable, desperately needed permitting reform, and the path to network modernization.
Quotes | Understanding the Importance of BEAD
Learn more from service providers and industry partners about how BEAD empowers new opportunities for connectivity — especially in rural America.
Read the Industry’s Take on BEAD