Vt., Mich. Seek Comment on Draft BEAD Plans

Vermont and Michigan released draft plans for NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program Friday. The Vermont Community Broadband Board is seeking comments Aug. 2 on the state’s draft BEAD five-year action plan and Aug. 18 on volume one of its draft initial proposal. VCBB plans to release more BEAD and digital equity draft plans for comment later this summer and in the fall, it said. Vermont’s draft plan includes a Dec. 31, 2028, goal of at least 100 Mbps symmetrical broadband in 100% of currently unserved or underserved on-grid locations, and 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload speeds in all off-grid locations. Vermont seeks 1 Gbps symmetrical speeds at all community anchor institutions by the same date, it said. Comments are due Aug. 4 on Michigan’s draft BEAD five-year-action plan and Aug. 15 on the state’s draft digital equity plan. The BEAD plan notes 30% of Michigan households lack affordable and reliable high-speed internet. The state envisions every Michigander having that by 2030, it said.