“Benefit of the Bargain” Reforms Turbocharge Speed and Savings

Plans include broad range of technologies and save American taxpayers at least $13 billion

WASHINGTON - The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that 36 out of 56 states and territories have submitted Final Proposals that outline how they will use Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding to close broadband gaps and connect all Americans to high-speed internet.

"After years of delay, the Trump Administration has made monumental progress in moving the BEAD program forward," said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth. "We appreciate the hard work of the 36 states that have submitted their Final Proposals, and we are eager to review these plans so that we can deliver on Secretary Lutnick's goal of approving deployment projects by the end of the year and immediately begin connecting Americans across the country."

In June, NTIA issued the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, which removed extralegal regulatory burdens and implemented critical reforms to lower costs, speed up deployment, and ensure all technology solutions were considered. States and other eligible entities had until Sept. 4, 2025, to comply with the Notice and conduct an additional subgrantee selection round that delivered the Benefit of the Bargain for American taxpayers.

In the plans submitted today, states are already projecting savings of at least $13 billion for American taxpayers - driven by a rise in participation by the private sector, increased matching commitments by subgrantees, and a surge of innovative technology solutions to deliver high-speed connectivity.

NTIA has committed to completing its review of the Final Proposals within 90 days of submission. The remaining 20 eligible entities have been granted short-term extensions and will be submitting their Final Proposals in the coming weeks.

###

About the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA's programs and policymaking focus on expanding broadband internet access in America, maximizing the use of spectrum by all users, advancing public safety communications, and ensuring that the internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth.