NC BEAD Non-Deployment Funding

Thank you to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for accelerating broadband deployment through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and for the opportunity to provide comments on North Carolina's $1.53 billion allocation.

North Carolina's $319 million for broadband deployment has been approved by NTIA, and we are carefully planning for the remaining funds. Our primary request is simple and clear: preserve state flexibility within the statutorily defined eligible uses for these funds.<_o3a_p>

Congress intentionally gave states discretion to determine how best to serve their citizens once access gaps are addressed. States know their communities best, and flexible approaches will allow states to design programs and allocate funding based on real, on-the-ground needs, serving citizens more effectively than prescriptive federal policies.

For North Carolina, flexibility is especially important to continue investing in critical infrastructure because broadband availability data is not static. Following the BEAD subgrantee selection process, we identified almost 22,000 remaining unserved and underserved locations across the state, including communities affected by natural disasters like Hurricane Helene. The ability to invest in continued deployment, recovery, and network resiliency is critical to ensuring reliable infrastructure that can withstand future disruptions.

States should be allowed to submit action plans for the remaining funds-within the statutory uses-for NTIA approval that identify broad categories of eligible projects aligned with BEAD's goals. This approach reduces administrative burden, accelerates deployment, and allows states to respond to local needs.

Governor Josh Stein recently sent a letter to Secretary Lutnick and Administrator Roth to share North Carolina's specific priorities for the remaining BEAD program allocation that support broadband deployment, drive innovation, and improve economic opportunity and workforce development. This includes continued deployment, cybersecurity, and resiliency to ensure our networks are reliable even in times of disaster. We have projects that could move forward quickly if funding is made available. At the same time, if policy changes are significant or overly prescriptive, states will need time to adjust program design. Clear guidance, adequate planning time, and light-touch processes are essential.

In closing, we respectfully ask NTIA to trust states and support flexibility for eligible entities in deploying remaining BEAD allocations. These funds were allocated to meet documented needs of our citizens. With flexibility, North Carolina can provide measurable deliverables on broadband deployment and workforce development and maximize the long-term impact of this historic investment.
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Annette Taylor<_o3a_p>

Deputy Secretary, Broadband and Digital Opportunity<_o3a_p>

N.C. Department of Information Technology<_o3a_p>

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