"The research - based on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Broadband Funding Map and state BEAD Final Proposal data - started from a baseline of 3,379,711 locations in the U.S. without terrestrial service at speeds of 100 Mbps download/20 Mbps upload. The report found that BEAD awards commitments will leave 1,101,356 locations unfunded. Factoring in multiple connections at a location (such as apartments) increases the unserved group to 1,342,667 units."
"The report found that approximately 53.8% of those below the 100/20 Mbps line are underserved (as opposed to unserved). The report said the FCC Broadband Funding Map shows that about one third (33.7%) of BEAD locations already have 100/20 Mbps service via wired or fixed wireless technology. This means that BEAD may pass the 20% overbuilding limit in the rules."
"The actual total of unserved or underserved may be greater, the report says. "[B]y setting aside all locations receiving funding from BEAD or another program, we are also implicitly assuming that 100% of funded locations will receive service," the report said. "However, if BEAD or other programs experience defaults - which are generally unavoidable for deployment programs - the number of unfunded and unserved/underserved locations will increase.""
BEAD awards commitments will leave 1,101,356 locations without funded terrestrial 100/20 Mbps service out of an initial baseline of 3,379,711 such locations. Counting multiple connections at locations increases the count to 1,342,667 unserved units. Approximately 53.8% of locations below the 100/20 threshold are underserved rather than unserved. Roughly 33.7% of BEAD-targeted locations already have 100/20 service via wired or fixed wireless, creating potential for exceeding the 20% overbuilding cap. Defaults in BEAD or other programs could raise unfunded and unserved totals. LEO provider impacts remain excluded pending Starlink's NTIA-related rider resolution.
Read at Telecompetitor
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