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Highlights | Meet NTIA's OICG Staff | Programmatic Updates |
Upcoming Events
Highlights
Assistant Secretary Arielle Roth Addresses the Free State Foundation
On December 2nd, Assistant Secretary Roth addressed the Free State Foundation during its luncheon at the National Press Club. The Assistant Secretary’s remarks provided another BEAD update, highlighted NTIA’s principles for allocating the Benefit of the Bargain savings, and announced a listening session on children’s excessive screen time.
Specifically, her remarks laid out how Benefit of the Bargain reforms allowed states, freed from unlawful one-size-fits-all mandates, to evaluate projects on a granular basis and select those that truly fit their needs. This resulted in a huge diversity in state technology mixes—both within and across states—reflecting the realities of our country’s geographic, topographic, and population density differences, as well as our guiding principle of market-driven technological innovation. Additionally, states also saw huge savings stemming from increased participation, competition, and private matching.
The Assistant Secretary also announced that NTIA would be publishing each state’s approved final proposal data so the American people can see how each state applied our rules to its specific on-the-ground circumstances. That data can be viewed here.
Read the Assistant Secretary’s Full Remarks here.
Assistant Secretary Roth showcases the Benefit of the Bargain’s BEAD results at the Free State Foundation’s Luncheon.
Assistant Secretary Arielle Roth Discusses BEAD at NTCA’s Telecom Executive Policy Summit
On November 18th, Assistant Secretary Arielle Roth participated in a fireside chat during NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association’s Telecom Executive Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. During her remarks, she underscored that the partnership with NTCA and their members will lead to BEAD success. She clarified for the group that NTIA’s recently finalized terms and conditions for the BEAD program included limitations on providers applying for future federal deployment subsidies to serve BEAD-funded locations—not applying more broadly to all Universal Service Fund programs in all areas or impacting deployment funds already specifically committed to a BEAD subgrantee.
Assistant Secretary Roth also stated that while BEAD is a major undertaking, NTIA continues to provide monitoring and technical assistance to ensure that all projects can be deployed on time, under budget, and deliver fast and reliable broadband across the nation. Some of what NTIA is undertaking to meet these goals includes expediting permitting and expanding the number of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) categorical exclusions available for broadband from 11 to 47. Up to 95% of BEAD projects will qualify for this expedited review.
Assistant Secretary Roth discusses BEAD with Michael Romano, Executive Vice President, NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association at the NTCA’s Telecom Executive Policy Summit.
NTIA Announces Approval of 32 BEAD Final Proposals
As of December 5, 2025, NTIA has approved 32 Eligible Entities’ Final Proposals to deliver universal broadband access through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Thanks to the Trump Administration’s Benefit of the Bargain reforms, these states saw a surge in participation, competition, and private sector matching contributions—driving down costs, increasing skin in the game, and advancing innovative solutions for consumers. This progress can be viewed via the BEAD Progress Dashboard. Combined, NTIA estimates the Benefit of the Bargain savings will ultimately reach $21 billion.
NTIA Announces Tribal Broadband Program Reforms to Maximize Tribal Connectivity and Reduce Red Tape
November was National Native American Heritage Month and NTIA continued to celebrate and honor the lasting contributions Native people have made to our communities that continue to shape our nation’s story. In keeping that commitment, on November 12th NTIA announced that it would be working on reforms across its Tribal broadband programs to reduce red tape for Tribal governments, promote flexibility, and align NTIA’s grant opportunities to better serve Tribal connectivity. Specifically, these reforms will streamline the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) and the native entity set-aside from the Digital Equity Act through a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support Tribal broadband access.
Meet NTIA's Office of Internet Connectivity & Growth Staff
Christopher “Chris” Holt, Director, Enabling Middle-Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program
Chris Holt joined NTIA in May 2010 as a Broadband Program Specialist with NTIA's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). More recently, he served as a Federal Program Officer in NTIA’s Middle-Mile Grant Program prior to being named as the Director. As a valued and experienced NTIA employee, Chris continues to lend his knowledge and expertise to all members of the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth team.
Before joining NTIA, Chris worked in the private telecommunications sector for 15+ years as a project manager leading complex initiatives for wireless carriers and a wireless consulting firm. Chris also managed an FCC initiative at a telecom, non-profit for cost-sharing of spectrum relocations in the PCS band.
Margaret Gutierrez, Division Chief, Tribal Broadband Connectivity and Nation-to-Nation Coordination
Margaret Gutierrez serves as the Division Chief for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity and Nation-to-Nation Coordination Division within NTIA’s Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth. In this role, Margaret provides leadership and oversight for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP), including program strategy, Tribal engagement, policy coordination, awards management, reporting, and interagency collaboration. She leads efforts to strengthen government-to-government relationships and supports Tribal Nations in expanding high-speed internet access and broadband infrastructure development.
Prior to serving as Division Chief, Margaret served as the Tribal Liaison for NTIA and FirstNet, where she was the principal point of contact for Tribal Nations across FEMA Regions I–VIII, supporting broadband and public safety communications.
Programmatic Updates
Enabling Middle-Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program (Middle Mile)
The Middle Mile Grant Program provides funding for the expansion and extension of middle mile infrastructure across U.S. states and territories. The term “middle mile infrastructure” is defined as any broadband infrastructure that does not connect directly to an end-user location. NTIA designed the program to reduce the cost of bringing internet service to unserved and underserved communities and not duplicate existing infrastructure where sufficient service already exists.
In total, the program allocated $980 million to fund projects for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of middle mile infrastructure covering more than 370 counties across 40 states and Puerto Rico. As of the end of the bi-annual reporting period on September 30, 2025, the program had 33 active awards and 2 awards in the administrative closeout phase after completing the approved scope of their awards. Of these awards, there are 26 projects in the construction phase, 3 projects with partial environmental clearance planning to start construction soon, and 4 projects awaiting environmental clearance.
Middle Mile grant recipients reported passing over 2,000 anchor institutions and deploying 11 towers and nearly 6,000 miles of new, leased, and upgraded fiber. In addition, approximately 700 interconnection points have been placed along the network to enable last mile connectivity to unserved and underserved areas and anchor institutions. Recipients have signed 21 agreements with broadband wholesalers and last mile providers to provide broadband service in the proposed areas.
You can view Middle Mile’s webpage for the most up-to-date information here.
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP)
The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is a $3 billion program directed to Tribal Governments, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Tribal Organizations and Native Corporations, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to be used for broadband deployment on tribal lands, as well as for telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability, and adoption. TBCP awards have been made under two separate Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs).
Under TBCP NOFO 1, 16,444 devices have been distributed, 5,817 Tribal households have new access through pre-payment of service, and 2,206 households in or past construction have a first-time connection. Under TBCP NOFO 2, which continues to make Equitable Distribution Awards, dozens of projects empower Tribal residents through internet connectivity, digital skills training, and initiatives leading to greater economic opportunity. Through TBCP’s first NOFO, NTIA awarded more than $1.87 billion in funds through 226 projects impacting more than 400 Tribes. NTIA’s second TBCP NOFO has awarded $360 million in funds across 48 projects. NTIA is continuing to make Equitable Distribution awards under the second NOFO. NTIA is not rescinding any obligated awards.
You can view TBCP’s webpage for the most up-to-date information here.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, December 18, 3:00 pm ET: Integrating LEO Satellite Broadband into BEAD-Era Broadband Plans – NTIA is hosting this webinar which will discuss why LEO satellite technology is emerging as a key option for rural deployment and how States? are structuring their plans to provide universal broadband access to accommodate technologies like LEO. Presenters will discuss what models of LEO adoption are emerging, deployment opportunities, and lessons learned that have surfaced so far, as well as performance metrics.