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Highlights | Meet NTIA's OICG Staff | Programmatic Updates
Highlights
NTIA Announces Two New Funding Opportunities to Expand Broadband on Tribal Lands
On June 17, NTIA announced two new notices of funding opportunity (NOFO): one for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Round 3 (TBCP 3) and one for the Native Entities Grant Program (NEGP), the native entity set-aside included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Together, these NOFOs will make approximately $790 million available to eligible entities to advance broadband connectivity on Tribal lands, promote infrastructure availability, and increase use and adoption of broadband technologies. The application window will close on September 17 and NTIA expects to make awards on a rolling basis beginning in Spring 2027.
Assistant Secretary Roth Speaks at the Women’s Tech and Telecom Partnership Summer Lunch and Learn
On June 23, Assistant Secretary Roth spoke at the Women’s Tech and Telecom Partnership Summer Lunch and Learn, where she discussed NTIA’s top priorities and discussed how states are helping avoid obstacles to speedy BEAD deployments, keep defaults to an absolute minimum, and avoid waste, fraud and abuse.
Assistant Secretary Roth with Cory Gardner, President & CEO of NCTA at the Women’s Tech and Telecom Partnership Summer Lunch and Learn.
Assistant Secretary Arielle Roth Attends Federal Communications Bar Association Events
On June 9, Assistant Secretary Roth attended the Federal Communications Bar Association’s (FCBA) Annual Meeting and Luncheon. She talked about recent BEAD connections in Nebraska and Louisiana as examples of what an efficient, technology-neutral broadband program can achieve.
She also spoke at FCBA’s Summer Reception on June 29, where Doug Kinkoph, Associate Administrator of NTIA’s Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, was recognized for being selected for the FCBA Excellence in Government Service Award. Kinkoph is responsible for the implementation and management of the BEAD Program as well as the Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure, Broadband Infrastructure, Tribal Broadband Connectivity, and Connecting Minority Communities Pilot programs.
Assistant Secretary Roth Joins 20th Anniversary Luncheon at the Free State Foundation
On June 4, Assistant Secretary Roth joined the Free State Foundation at their 20th Anniversary Luncheon. She reported on the success of the Benefit of the Bargain reforms, as nearly all states and territories have received NTIA approval of their BEAD Final Proposals and a significant number of them have also signed and returned their award agreement, making them eligible to access funds.
Assistant Secretary Roth discusses BEAD with former FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Free State Foundation.
Meet NTIA's Office of Internet Connectivity & Growth Staff
This month, we are featuring BEAD Federal Program Officers for the Northeast region. For more information on other BEAD Federal Program Officers, please visit our State and Territory Map.
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Brooke Barron | Stuart Freiman | Clay Purvis |
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Melinda Stanley | Nicole Ugarte | Jodia Vanel |
Programmatic Updates
BEAD Program Update
- Kansas: In April, the Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) took a step forward in operationalizing BEAD investments across the state by convening a day-long collaborative permitting roundtable workshop with BEAD subgrantees, key partners and permitting agencies critical to BEAD project success.
Participants spent the day engaged in presentations, panel discussions, and resource-sharing at the KOBD permitting roundtable workshop.
- New Hampshire: On June 3, the New Hampshire Office of Broadband Initiatives signed its fourth and final subgrantee agreement. With the signing of all subgrant agreements, the state moves from the planning phase to full execution of its BEAD Final Proposal. New Hampshire’s BEAD program is projected to connect over 5,000 unserved and underserved locations.
- Virginia: At the beginning of June, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development launched the BEAD Progress Hub, an interactive tool to track the state’s BEAD-funded projects in real time. These projects will provide access to the remaining unserved homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions in Virginia.
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Update
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community has officially broken ground on its TBCP Round 2 Project, marking a major step toward expanding high-speed internet access for Tribal households. Awarded in January 2025, the fiber‑to‑the‑home initiative advanced quickly through engineering, design, and environmental review, positioning the community to accelerate deployment.
The project will connect Tribal homes through a combination of aerial and buried fiber and will construct 32 miles of middle‑ and last‑mile infrastructure. Once complete, the network will deliver reliable, high‑speed fiber broadband offering up to 1 Gbps symmetric service—broadening access to educational resources, healthcare, and economic opportunities for Tribal members.
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Leadership breaks ground on the TBCP infrastructure project.