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.

The capital we have allocated for this program cannot remain idle—rural communities have waited long enough for access to next-generation broadband that can transform their economies and quality of life.  — Totelcom

Resources

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.

Read the op-ed

 

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.

Read the Op-Ed

 

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.

Read the article

 

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.

Read the Joint Letter

 

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.

Read the Issue Brief

 

Letter | Broadband 2025: Building the Future Faster
USTelecom sent a letter to President Donald Trump and the 119th Congress outlining six concrete actions that can be taken quickly to speed up connectivity to all in America. ‘Broadband 2025: Building the Future Faster’ outlines a series of key policy priorities with specific recommendations and strategies to advance each goal in the first 100 days.

Read Broadband 2025

 

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.

Read the AI Report

 

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.

Read the Op-Ed

 

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

 

Governors across the country have been hard at work investing significant time and resources to ensure the program’s success. You should feel confident relying on their boots-on-the-ground expertise as allocation decisions are made as quickly and efficiently as possible.  — Brightspeed

Event | And the BEAD Goes on….
Hear directly from representatives from NTIA, the New Jersey Broadband Office, and broadband providers who will share important insights into the process, timing, and next steps.

Watch the Event

 

Event | American Connectivity Forum
As policymakers in Washington D.C. and the states gear-up for critical decisions about the future of connectivity, this event brought together leading broadband executives for important discussions on common sense paths forward to connect our communities.

Watch the Event

 

Event | USTelecom Broadband Investment Forum
Broadband providers last year invested $94.7 billion in American connectivity, the second highest level in twenty-two years. What can the next administration do to help spur even more investment and innovation in our nation’s broadband networks?

Watch the Event