States Get Mixed Grades From ITIF on BEAD Plans

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation said in a report Monday that no state "is performing particularly strongly or particularly poorly in every area examined” as plans for the broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program take shape. In a report card, ITIF gave better grades to states whose plans include using a variety of network technologies, streamlining regulations and crafting digital inclusion strategies. ITIF awarded A’s to Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Idaho, Oregon and Virginia. Receiving C's, the nonprofit's lowest grade, were Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana and Nevada. No state’s “trajectory is set in stone,” ITIF noted. “Addressing broadband needs and successfully implementing the BEAD program is a complex, ongoing task that requires a thoughtful, collaborative approach and must be able to adjust when the broadband landscape, available resources, or even community needs change.”