PITTSBURGH, June 28, 2023 – In response to NTIA’s release today of its BEAD Program State Challenge Process Guidance, ACA Connects President and CEO Grant Spellmeyer issued the following statement:
“ACA Connects appreciates NTIA’s diligence in reviewing the many comments and revising the proposed guidance on the BEAD State Challenge Process. All stakeholders agree that this process is critical to ensure that the limited BEAD funds are targeted to bringing high-performance broadband to locations that are truly unserved and underserved. In issuing the final guidance, NTIA encourages States and Territories to use the most recent version of the National Broadband Map, which, as ACA Connects has observed, is the authoritative source for identifying unserved and underserved locations. In addition, NTIA makes a series of refinements to the process, including wisely extending the deadline for completing the challenge process, as suggested by ACA Connects, which will make the process more robust and equitable. ACA Connects Members will now turn their attention to working with States and Territories to implement the Challenge Process Guidance.”
About ACA Connects: America’s Communications Association –America’s Communications Association – ACA Connects is a trade organization representing approximately 500 smaller and medium-sized, independent companies that provide broadband, video, and phone services covering 29.5 million households. ACA Connects Members operate in every state, providing advanced communications to connect homes, companies, main street, schools, hospitals and more. America’s economic prosperity in smaller communities and rural areas depends on the growth and success of ACA Connects Members, who believe a connected nation is a prosperous nation.