The Need for BEAD

In 2021, Congress enacted historic, bipartisan legislation aimed at finishing the job of connecting all communities to high-speed broadband. Yet the administration of the resulting $42.5 billion BEAD Program has been bogged down under the weight of entirely unrelated political objectives and social mandates.

Restoring a tight focus on the mission—broadband deployment—can dramatically accelerate efforts to fill gaps in high-speed service, helping unlock economic opportunities and access to innovation throughout our country.

Resources

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

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

Events

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