NTIA Clears 3 BEAD Initial Plans

Illinois, Oregon and Puerto Rico received NTIA clearance to collect federal funding for the $42.5 billion broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program, the agency said Thursday. With both volumes of their initial proposals now approved, Illinois may request access to about $1 billion, Oregon about $196 million and Puerto Rico roughly $334 million, NTIA said. The states and territory will have one year to submit a final proposal, including the outcome of their subgrantee selection process. NTIA greenlit Colorado and New Hampshire earlier this week (see 2406110046). It has approved volume 2 for 12 states and Puerto Rico. All states, territories and the District of Columbia have received volume 1 approval (see 2405310050).