NTIA Announces Approval of 18 BEAD Final Proposals
Thanks to Benefit of the Bargain Reforms, First Set of Final Proposals Save Approximately $6 Billion
WASHINGTON—Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the approval of 18 Eligible Entities’ Final Proposals to deliver universal broadband access through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Thanks to the Trump Administration’s Benefit of the Bargain reforms, these states saw a surge in participation, competition, and private sector matching contributions—driving down costs, increasing skin in the game, and advancing innovative solutions for consumers. Combined, the 18 Final Proposals approved today will save approximately $6 billion.
"We are delivering the Benefit of the Bargain through the BEAD program that best serves the interests of the American people," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. "After stripping away burdensome rules and regulations and wasteful requirements, taxpayers will save billions in unnecessary costs while connecting those in need to high-speed broadband through the full spectrum of broadband technologies."
"The Trump Administration is on track to deliver universal connectivity in the United States once and for all, with huge cost savings for the American people," said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth. "The Final Proposals approved today show that the Benefit of the Bargain reforms are working and that our focus on results and strong oversight is paying dividends for communities across the country."
The States and Territories approved by NTIA include Louisiana, Wyoming, Iowa, American Samoa, Georgia, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam, Maine, New Hampshire, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Connecticut, South Carolina, North Dakota, Hawaii, Montana, Rhode Island, and Virginia. And, one state, Louisiana, has signed its award amendment, allowing the state to access BEAD funds to begin delivering broadband to its constituents. More information on Final Proposals will be made available here.
In June, NTIA issued the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice (RPN), which removed extralegal regulatory burdens and implemented critical reforms to lower costs, speed up deployment, and ensure all technology solutions were considered. States and other Eligible Entities had until Sept. 4, 2025, to comply with the RPN and conduct an additional subgrantee selection round that delivered the Benefit of the Bargain for American taxpayers. NTIA then committed to reviewing these proposals and approving them within 90 days.
As of today, 53 of the 56 states and territories have submitted Final Proposals. Total savings for American taxpayers are now estimated to be at least $21 billion, with that number expected to increase with the submission of the remaining Final Proposals.
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About the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus on expanding broadband internet access in America, maximizing the use of spectrum by all users, advancing public safety communications, and ensuring that the internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth.