In the third and final episode of a three-part series, Telecompetitor welcomes Chris Konechne and Tim Arbeiter of Finley to discuss what trends we’re seeing among early Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program award winners and others involved in the process, and how implementation of fiber expansion is likely to proceed. The theme of the third episode is “Be ready.”

In the second episode of this three-part series, Telecompetitor welcomes Chris Konechne and Tim Arbeiter of Finley to discuss how providers can take proactive steps to make sure they are beating the competition as they pursue funding, whether through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program or beyond it. The theme of this second episode is “Be aggressive.”

In Part 1 of this three-part series, Telecompetitor talks with Finley's Chris Konechne and Tim Arbeiter about how broadband providers are navigating expansion, whether participating in the BEAD Program or not. Episode theme: “Be comfortable.”

Be on the lookout for Part 2 in the series, sponsored by Finley.

In the third and final episode of this three-part series, we explore how supply chain and procurement will impact deployment. What deployment challenges have you faced with BEAD projects, and what challenges do you anticipate as we move forward?

The second episode of this three-part series dives into procurement challenges within BEAD. If you missed the first episode, we covered key lessons learned from the early BEAD awards.

What procurement challenges are you encountering with BEAD projects so far, or what do you anticipate facing moving forward?

The second episode of this three-part series focuses on the procurement challenges within BEAD. If you missed the first episode, we discussed key lessons learned from the early BEAD awards.

Be on the lookout for Part 3 in the BEAD Journey series, sponsored by Nokia, where we’ll tackle the challenges around BEAD deployment.

In this first episode of this series, Ian Doescher, Telecompetitor’s Managing Editor, welcomes Lori Adams, Vice President of Broadband Policy and Funding Strategy at Nokia, to discuss lessons learned from the early BEAD funding awards in Louisiana, Delaware, and Nevada. Lori shares insights on how states are allocating BEAD funds, the role of fiber in broadband expansion, and key strategies that successful applicants have used to secure funding.

Lori discusses Louisiana’s achievement of 96% fiber deployment, Nevada’s 80% fiber approach, and how local companies are making a significant impact in both states. She emphasizes the importance of understanding program rules and scoring rubrics for those applying for BEAD awards. She also advises companies that are just beginning the application process to act quickly, as many states’ grant windows are closing soon.

The episode highlights the need for strategic planning, consortiums, and a deep understanding of state-specific funding processes to increase the chances of success in BEAD applications.

Be on the lookout for Part 2 in the BEAD Journey series, sponsored by Nokia.