BEAD Unpacked – Part 2
James J. Dimmer III
| Telecom • Broadband • OSP • Cloud Voice | Federal Contracting | Open to Teaming
Southeast Timelines & the “Benefit of the Bargain”
In Part 1 of this series, we looked at how the NTIA’s June 6th policy notice reshuffled the BEAD deck. Nowhere is the impact more evident than in the Southeast U.S. — where Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi are under pressure to adjust timelines and prepare for another round of bidding.
Why Timelines Matter in the Southeast
The NTIA has given states just 90 days to re-submit Final Proposals. That means broadband offices in Montgomery, Atlanta, Tallahassee, and Jackson are racing to update guidance and re-engage ISPs. These states hold over $5B in BEAD allocations, making the next 90 days critical for rural broadband development.
The “Benefit of the Bargain” Round
This new requirement means states must weigh the lowest-cost technology option when awarding funds.
Florida – $1.16B allocation; balancing municipal fiber expansions with rural wireless bids.
Alabama – $1.4B allocation; electric co-ops are leading the charge on middle-mile and last-mile fiber.
Georgia – $1.3B allocation; Tier 3 ISPs and co-ops are jockeying with regional carriers.
Mississippi – $1.2B allocation; pole-attachment delays and workforce shortages already slowing the process.
Fiber remains the long-term standard, but the door is wider than ever for fixed wireless and satellite players.
What to Watch in the Southeast
Provider engagement – Reports show wide disparities: some states (e.g., Arkansas) saw bids cover 96% of locations, while others lag near 50%. Will the Southeast attract full participation? (Broadband Breakfast)
Workforce availability – Florida alone estimates needing 20,000+ workers to meet BEAD demand.
Technology trade-offs – Expect competitive wireless and satellite bids, but Southeast utilities and municipalities are still betting on fiber for long-term ROI.
The Bottom Line
The Southeast is the bellwether. If Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi can hit the NTIA’s deadlines, scale their workforce, and balance technology trade-offs, they’ll prove BEAD can deliver. If not, delays here will ripple nationwide.
🔗 References
NTIA Policy Notice (June 6, 2025)
Carol Mattey: The Sky is Falling… Or Maybe Not
Telecompetitor: Starlink Shows Gains in Speed Test Report
Broadband Breakfast: State-by-State BEAD Bids Reveal Varying Degrees of ISP Participation
✍️ About the Author James J. Dimmer III is a Sales and Business Development Executive with 20+ years in broadband infrastructure, federal funding programs, and telecom sales. A former U.S. Army Signal Corps officer, he helps ISPs, co-ops, and municipalities across the Southeast build next-generation networks.
📩 Connect here on LinkedIn or email jamesdimmer3@gmail.com
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