Sep 14, 2026 · 11 min · 9 segments
In this week’s episode of The Broadband Exchange, from [Telecompeitor](https://www.telecompetitor.com/ "Telecompetitor, The Broadband Exchange"), we discuss the NTIA’s announcement of a new BEAD…
Ian DescherHost
In our August 31st episode, we reported that all 56 BEAD final proposals had received NTIA approval.
Now the agency is opening another opportunity to reach locations those proposals don't cover.
The NTIA is allowing states and territories to use a portion of their bead savings for newly identified unserved locations.
These could include addresses missing from earlier broadband maps or locations that become eligible because another federally or state-funded project falls through.
The NTIA says its benefit of the bargain reforms generated roughly $21 billion in what they refer to as savings.
The true-up creates a path to put a portion of those savings toward additional deployment rather than committing the entire amount to this round.
For providers and state broadband offices, the immediate significance, of course, is another chance to address gaps that remained after the first round of selections.
The Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute at New York Law School says the number of bead-eligible locations has fallen from about 11.9 million to 3.7 million, a decline of roughly 69%.
The reduction includes newly served addresses, locations no longer considered serviceable, and locations covered by commitments from other funding programs.
The researchers argue that continued provider investment rather than bead-funded construction explains much of the progress.
They estimate that another funding round could require between $5.3 billion and $8.8 billion and recommend reserving money for project defaults and rising construction costs.
In our August 31st episode, we reported that all 56 BEAD final proposals had received NTIA approval.
Now the agency is opening another opportunity to reach locations those proposals don't cover.
The NTIA is allowing states and territories to use a portion of their bead savings for newly identified unserved locations.
These could include addresses missing from earlier broadband maps or locations that become eligible because another federally or state-funded project falls through.
The NTIA says its benefit of the bargain reforms generated roughly $21 billion in what they refer to as savings.
The true-up creates a path to put a portion of those savings toward additional deployment rather than committing the entire amount to this round.
For providers and state broadband offices, the immediate significance, of course, is another chance to address gaps that remained after the first round of selections.
The Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute at New York Law School says the number of bead-eligible locations has fallen from about 11.9 million to 3.7 million, a decline of roughly 69%.
The reduction includes newly served addresses, locations no longer considered serviceable, and locations covered by commitments from other funding programs.
The researchers argue that continued provider investment rather than bead-funded construction explains much of the progress.
They estimate that another funding round could require between $5.3 billion and $8.8 billion and recommend reserving money for project defaults and rising construction costs.
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