The Buildout: Comcast, Verizon tapped for Delaware BEAD programThe Buildout: Comcast, Verizon tapped for Delaware BEAD program

Delaware has selected Comcast and Verizon to close that state's broadband access gaps through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. In a press release, the state announced it will award $17.4 million in BEAD funds to enable the two ISPs to reach 5,635 unserved and underserved homes and businesses, "which represent the final homes in Delaware without access to the internet or without another government program funding deployment of service." Comcast and Verizon were selected from a group of five ISPs that submitted 21 proposals for BEAD funding, according to the state. Notably, according to state records, Verizon will get the full $17.4 million to reach 4,600 locations, while Comcast will serve the remaining locations without financial support. Verizon will commit $66.8 million in matching funds, and Comcast will invest $22.3 million. Delaware was allocated $107 million through the BEAD program; however, the state said that the $17 million awarded "will be sufficient to build wireline, fiber internet to all homes and businesses in Delaware that are eligible under the federal BEAD program to be served." Thus, pending federal approval, the state will use its remaining BEAD funding for eligible uses including "building internet and cellular network resiliency, increasing cybersecurity protections, expanding digital governance, and engaging in tech workforce development." With this announcement, Delaware is the second state, following Louisiana, to announce its BEAD award recipients.

Utopia Fiber has finished its open access fiber buildout in West Haven City, Utah. The company began construction on the $17.6 million project in June 2023, with the first homes coming online in April 2024. Now complete, the West Haven network reaches 6,615 homes. According to a press release, this marks the 20th city in Utah where Utopia has completed its fiber construction.

GoNetspeed will start construction in early 2025 to bring its fiber network to Danbury, Connecticut. The company, which is funded by Oak Hill Capital, will invest $7.6 million to deliver fiber broadband to more than 14,300 homes and businesses in the region. GoNetspeed is active in over 40 Connecticut communities, according to a press release.

Bluepeak will start construction in 2025 to bring its fiber network to Okmulgee, Oklahoma. According to a press release, the company's network will roll out in phases, ultimately reaching 6,100 homes and businesses. The news follows an earlier announcement from Bluepeak that the company is upping its investment in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where construction commenced last month to reach 16,000 homes and businesses. This year also saw Bluepeak announce 2025 construction plans for parts of Texas. Bluepeak was acquired by GI Data Infrastructure in 2021 and received a strategic investment from Ares Management in early 2024 to further accelerate its fiber deployment plans.

Consolidated Communications' Fidium Fiber launched services for more homes and businesses in Maine. That includes Dover-Foxcroft and Dexter, where the company turned on its fiber network for 7,200 locations; as well as Freeport, where Fidium Fiber is now live for 4,000 homes and businesses. In a press release, Fidium Fiber said it now reaches over 294,000 locations throughout Maine.

Charter's Spectrum launched services in parts of Illinois, Missouri and South Carolina. In Illinois, the company said it completed construction on a privately funded $630,000 network expansion project in the town of Brooklyn, bringing service to more than 280 homes and businesses. Over in Missouri, Spectrum launched for more than 800 homes and businesses in rural areas of Cass County, where the company received funding from the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). And in South Carolina, Spectrum launched services for 575 homes and small businesses in the town of Norway. Spectrum received $940,500 in capital projects funding via the American Rescue Plan for the Norway buildout, paired with a $1.2 million investment from Spectrum. In a press release, the company said it will also make a Wi-Fi access point open "to all users for one year" as part of the Norway launch.