On November 15, 2021 H.R, 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), was signed into law. This sweeping $1.2 trillion package funded everything from roads and bridges to workforce development and included $65 billion to provide high-speed internet access to under-connected parts of the country. The largest slice of this earmarked funding—$42.45 billion—was handed to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to administer a new high-speed internet infrastructure grant program: the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Why Does BEAD Matter? 

The BEAD program was designed to help bring affordable and reliable high-speed internet to everyone in the United States, as 26 million Americans lack access to high-speed internet and 42 million Americans face affordability challenges in accessing high-speed internet. While internet use has been steadily rising over the years across demographics, access to high-speed internet remains uneven, especially among lower-income households and rural communities. The BEAD program focused on reaching under-connected communities by funding high-speed internet infrastructure projects and providing the necessary technology to connect Americans to the internet. Simplified, the goal has been to ensure every American, regardless of where they live, can fully participate in the digital world and economy.

The Original Process

All 50 states plus Washington D.C and five U.S. territories were preliminarily awarded funds, ranging from $27 million allocated to the U.S. Virgin Islands on the low end to $3.3 billion allocated to Texas on the high end, based on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mapping of locations in need of access to high-speed internet. In order to receive those funds, all 56 applicants are required to submit a series of planning documents to the NTIA for approval. 

These funds allow states, in partnership with Internet Service Providers (ISPs), to build and upgrade high-speed internet networks in under-connected areas. Within the original BEAD guidance, if states and territories have funds remaining after deployment of physical infrastructure, states may propose additional investments in programs that promote increased access to, adoption of and skills around high-speed internet.

Why High-Speed Internet Matters 

As Americans know well, high-speed internet is more than convenience—it’s a lifeline. It is vital for everything from how you search for a job, train for a job and go to work along with education, health care and beyond. When BEAD dollars are in the hands of all 56 states and territories, Americans can go to work, participate in school, access care and engage in the digital economy, which is why we classify access to high-speed internet as the number one economic issue of our time.

• High-speed internet and workforce: Remote jobs, emails and Zoom meetings depend on reliable high-speed internet. According to a 2023 report by the National Skills Coalition, 92% of jobs now require the use of digital skills. For example, the demand for an employee that has at least one AI skill in all job postings has increased 240% from 2010 to 2024, according to a 2025 report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. 
• High-speed internet and education: Internet access is an integral part of  education, and students without reliable access are often at a steep disadvantage compared to their peers. Students need the internet to complete homework and access resources, like e-textbooks, digital resources or online lessons. 
• High-speed internet and health care: Telehealth is a highly successful means of increasing access to medical care for many Americans—especially those in rural communities where physical facilities are fewer and farther between. Additionally, telehealth is expected to experience a compounded annual growth rate of 24% from 2023 to 2030, underscoring the importance of high-speed internet for access to virtual appointments and test results. 
• High-speed internet and the digital economy: Banking and financial services are increasingly moving online. Access to online banking services, like direct-deposits, retirement savings or investments, are much harder to manage successfully without high-speed internet. 

The benefits of high-speed internet don’t stop there. Investing in high-speed internet creates new long-lasting careers, from the telecommunications sector to AI, data centers and manufacturing, while uplifting the American economy.

The Current Status: Every Day Without Internet Access Costs Us All

Each day Americans in the heartland remain disconnected from high-speed internet is another day of lost economic opportunity, missed educational growth and stalled career pathways. The under-connected divide impacts individuals, holds back communities and weakens our national economy. Collaboration among key players, such as the federal government, state governments, ISPs and technology partners is vital in providing internet access so we can grow our economies, safeguard health and strengthen community well-being.

What began as a nonpartisan commitment must remain one—because no matter the zip code, every community deserves the tools to innovate, learn, access health care and work.

State Broadband Offices and ISPs continue to drive momentum through state broadband action plans alongside NTIA and budget approvals. Together, they are advancing the #1 economic issue of our time: ensuring every American has access to high-speed internet.

As of now, all 56 states and territories have until September 4th to submit their final proposals. In the following weeks NTIA will begin issuing final approvals. The next phase of working towards high-speed internet is near, as deploying dollars, breaking ground on infrastructure and delivering technology will work to connect all American’s households.

The time to act, to connect all Americans to high-speed internet, is NOW.