Following West Virginia’s recent 90-day extension, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has now issued a blanket extension for all states and territories.
Under the $42.45 billion BEAD program, final proposals were originally due one year after a state’s initial plan received NTIA approval. With this update, all entities now have an additional 90 days to submit their spending plans.
This confirms what many in the industry suspected: the complexity of BEAD planning—along with the demands of stakeholder coordination and securing matching funds—requires more time. And now, every state has it.
At Mission Broadband, we’re closely tracking these changes and helping clients use this extension window strategically. This includes revisiting deployment plans, refining economic impact strategies, and preparing for what comes next.
The NTIA is also expected to issue updated guidance within the next month, potentially softening the program’s original preference for fiber broadband and revising other requirements. The full scope of these changes remains to be seen, but we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
How do you think this extension will affect the timeline for BEAD-funded deployments?
And what does your team plan to do with the extra time?
Read more: https://broadbandbreakfast.com/ntia-issues-blanket-90-day-extension-for-bead-plans/