Broadband Experts Talk Next Steps After 65% Drop in BEAD-Eligible Locations

Wireless Now Dominates Colorado’s BEAD Applications

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2025 – Analysis of Colorado’s ‘Benefit of the Bargain’ broadband funding round to reallocate the state’s $826.5 million in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment funds revealed a sharp drop in fiber deployment proposals.Fiber applicants, once the majority, fell from 64 percent of total applications to just 40 percent in the revised round. The number of locations targeted to be served by fiber technology also sharpl…

Broadband Experts Talk Next Steps After 65% Drop in BEAD-Eligible Locations

With an almost 65% reduction in BEAD-eligible locations over the past two years, broadband experts on Wednesday highlighted several challenges to deployment and funding that could affect the program's progress. "The question has kind of shifted...