NTIA approves Arizona's initial BEAD proposal

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Arizona's Initial Proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration's "Internet for All" initiative.

This approval enables Arizona to request access to funding and begin implementation of the BEAD program—a major step towards closing the digital divide and meeting the President's goal of connecting everyone in America with affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service.

The BEAD program is a $42.45 billion state grant program authorized by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Arizona was allocated over $993 million to deploy or upgrade high-speed Internet networks to ensure that everyone has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed Internet service.

Once deployment goals are met, any remaining funding can be used on high-speed Internet adoption, training, and workforce development efforts, among other eligible uses.

Read the full press release here.

NTIA