Biden Administration Plans to Allocate $42 Billion for High-Speed Broadband Infrastructure via Satellite

On Monday, the White House announced that the Biden Administration will be investing $42.45 billion in a high-speed broadband program aimed at connecting every resident and small business with high-speed internet by 2030. The funding will be provided through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which was created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program will prioritize unserved and underserved locations that have no internet access or have access under 25/3 Mbps and 100/20 Mbps, respectively. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will allocate the funds to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories, with awards ranging from $27 million to over $3.3 billion. Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the importance of high-speed internet in the 21st century and stated that every person in the nation should be able to access and afford it.