https://flipnews.co.uk/topics/bead/ The latest Flip News stories on BEAD. en-GB Sun, 04 Oct 2026 21:23:22 GMT https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/bead-enters-cleanup-phase-supplemental-round/ https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/bead-enters-cleanup-phase-supplemental-round/ Wed, 30 Sep 2026 22:12:00 GMT With all 50 states' BEAD plans approved, NTIA is preparing a supplemental funding round for locations the original process missed — a process broadband expert Carol Mattey estimates could take nine months. Priya Raman BEAD NTIA broadband funding Carol Mattey supplemental round Broadband Breakfast https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/bead-true-up-round-state-directors-gaps/ https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/bead-true-up-round-state-directors-gaps/ Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:10:00 GMT Four state broadband directors told a Broadband Breakfast panel that NTIA's supplemental BEAD round excludes underserved locations and may underfund the rest. James Calloway BEAD broadband NTIA state grants Broadband Breakfast https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/washington-state-broadband-office-bead-contracts/ https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/washington-state-broadband-office-bead-contracts/ Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Washington's broadband office has signed its first seven contracts under the federal BEAD programme — more than $165m to connect an estimated 121,882 homes. James Calloway BEAD Washington WSBO rural broadband digital divide WA Dept of Commerce https://flipnews.co.uk/guides/bead-challenge-process-explained/ https://flipnews.co.uk/guides/bead-challenge-process-explained/ Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Before any BEAD money could be awarded, every state had to let its broadband maps be challenged — and correct the errors. Here is how the four-phase challenge process worked, who could take part, and why it matters again now. Tom Ellery BEAD NTIA challenge process explainer unserved underserved NTIA BEAD Challenge Process Policy Notice https://flipnews.co.uk/guides/fibre-fixed-wireless-satellite-explained/ https://flipnews.co.uk/guides/fibre-fixed-wireless-satellite-explained/ Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT With all 56 BEAD final proposals approved, the technology split is finally legible: fibre won roughly two-thirds of funded locations, satellite took a fifth, and fixed wireless the rest. Here is what each technology is, why the split looks like this, and what it means for your county. Tom Ellery BEAD NTIA fibre fixed wireless LEO satellite explainer Telecompetitor — updated comprehensive list of NTIA BEAD approvals https://flipnews.co.uk/guides/unserved-underserved-explained/ https://flipnews.co.uk/guides/unserved-underserved-explained/ Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT BEAD funding follows a strict order: unserved locations first, underserved second. The two labels are defined by hard speed thresholds — here is what each means, who set them, and why every state just locked its list. Tom Ellery BEAD NTIA unserved underserved explainer FCC NTIA BEAD programme FAQs https://flipnews.co.uk/broadband/2026-09-23-0300-bead-fibre-vs-fixed-wireless/ https://flipnews.co.uk/broadband/2026-09-23-0300-bead-fibre-vs-fixed-wireless/ Tue, 22 Sep 2026 22:00:00 GMT With all 56 BEAD final proposals now approved, the technology choices are clear: fibre took roughly two-thirds of funded locations, while satellite and… Priya Raman BEAD NTIA fibre fixed wireless LEO satellite state awards Telecompetitor https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/nreca-bead-coops-withdraw/ https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/nreca-bead-coops-withdraw/ Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT NRECA says 63 co-operatives won BEAD funding in 27 states, but nearly one in three have pulled out — with one co-op's US-made fibre prices jumping 40% in August alone. James Calloway BEAD NRECA NTIA rural broadband co-ops Broadband Breakfast https://flipnews.co.uk/guides/bead-vs-rdof-caf-reconnect-explained/ https://flipnews.co.uk/guides/bead-vs-rdof-caf-reconnect-explained/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Four federal programmes have poured tens of billions into rural broadband — BEAD, RDOF, CAF, and ReConnect. They differ in who runs them, how the money moves, and how much actually got built. Here's the comparison. Tom Ellery BEAD RDOF CAF ReConnect explainer federal broadband funding FCC — Rural Digital Opportunity Fund https://flipnews.co.uk/guides/what-is-bead-explained/ https://flipnews.co.uk/guides/what-is-bead-explained/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT BEAD is the largest single broadband investment in US history: $42.45 billion of federal money for states to bring high-speed internet to every unserved home and business. Here's how it works, what changed in 2025, and where it stands now. Tom Ellery BEAD explainer NTIA federal broadband funding NTIA BroadbandUSA — BEAD Program https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/ntia-bead-supplemental-round-unspent-billions/ https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/ntia-bead-supplemental-round-unspent-billions/ Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT On 3 September 2026, NTIA released its Supplemental Deployment Policy Notice, letting states use leftover BEAD money to connect locations missed in the first round of awards. Sarah Whitfield BEAD NTIA Arielle Roth non-deployment funds policy Broadband Communities https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/west-virginia-armstrong-100m-fiber-expansion/ https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/west-virginia-armstrong-100m-fiber-expansion/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Governor Patrick Morrisey announced a $100M-plus fibre expansion with Armstrong that will reach 5,000 unserved locations and support service for about 10,000 rural West Virginia homes and businesses. Sarah Whitfield West Virginia Armstrong BEAD Governor Patrick Morrisey grant awards Governor of West Virginia https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/paulding-putnam-coop-132m-bead-indiana/ https://flipnews.co.uk/state-grants/paulding-putnam-coop-132m-bead-indiana/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative secured $13.2 million in BEAD funding from the Indiana Broadband Office, matched by $10.3 million of its own money, to bring fibre to unserved homes in four northeast Indiana counties. Sarah Whitfield Indiana BEAD electric cooperative Paulding Putnam grant awards Community Networks