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Rules for the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) rural broadband program call for funding recipients to deploy fiber broadband or other “reliable” technologies, except in certain circumstances. The National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA) detailed those circumstances — and which alternative technologies can be used — late last week. Here’s what providers need to know about the 15-page guidelines.
Individual states and territories are administering the BEAD Program, but must follow NTIA’s direction. As NTIA wrote in the alternative technology guidelines, the states and territories “must seek the most robust technology feasible at each location.”
The agency prioritizes fiber broadband, followed by other “reliable” technologies, which include: 1) cable modem/hybrid fiber coax, 2) digital subscriber line, and 3) fixed wireless technology using licensed spectrum or a hybrid of licensed and unlicensed spectrum. In any case, the technology must meet minimum speed and other technical requirements.
NTIA previously clarified that deployments in the CBRS band would be considered “reliable” even if the provider uses the portion of the band known as general authorized access (GAA).
According to the NTIA definitions, “alternative” technologies include two other options: fixed wireless deployed in unlicensed spectrum and low earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband. Here, too, the technology must meet minimum speed and other technical requirements.
NTIA specifically notes that geostationary satellite broadband is never eligible for BEAD funding.
A state can award BEAD funding for alternative technologies if no provider applies for funding to deploy a “reliable” technology at a level of support at or below the extremely high-cost threshold established by the state.
Before doing so, however, the state must confirm whether a fixed wireless provider using unlicensed spectrum already serves the project area and has the capacity to meet speed and other requirements for at least four years.
If such a provider exists, the locations involved will not be eligible for BEAD.
This is important, because previously these locations would have been eligible for BEAD even if they met minimum speed requirements because unlicensed fixed wireless was not considered “reliable”.
This is a victory — a small one, at least — for fixed wireless providers that use unlicensed spectrum because it will reduce the risk that a competitor will win BEAD funding to overbuild them.
The BEAD alternative technology guidelines also address the unique nature of satellite broadband. Theoretically, that service could reach any location in its footprint. But it must have sufficient capacity to do so.
To address this, states will be able to award BEAD funding to LEO satellite providers to reserve capacity on the satellite network.
Within four years, satellite broadband providers must begin delivering service to all locations for which they were awarded funding. That means LEO satellite broadband pioneer SpaceX should expect competition for BEAD awards.
Although SpaceX’s Starlink service has been the primary LEO winner of broadband funding to date, don’t count out Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which already won BEAD funding in Nevada.
Additional details about the BEAD alternative technology guidelines can be found in the notice at this link.
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