BEAD PROGRAM NEWS

What's Happening in BEAD

Awards announced, agreements executed, milestones reached — monitored daily across all 56 state and territory programs, AI-verified against official sources.

All states Arkansas Colorado Illinois Kentucky Louisiana Maine New York Oregon Texas Vermont

All categories BEAD Update Provisional Award Program Milestone New Awardees Award Executed

Program MilestoneLouisianaJune 3, 2026

ConnectLA Launches Device and Digital Skills Program (ÉTOUFFÉE) — Apply by July 15

Louisiana's broadband office, ConnectLA, launched the ÉTOUFFÉE grant program to help community organizations provide free devices, upgraded equipment, and digital skills training to residents, complementing the state's BEAD/GUMBO infrastructure buildout. Eligible applicants include veterans service organizations, rural public health agencies, municipalities, state agencies, and qualifying post-secondary institutions, with applications open through July 15, 2026.

Source

Program MilestoneLouisianaMay 13, 2026

Nextlink Activates First BEAD-Funded Tower in the U.S., Connecting Rural Louisiana

On May 1, 2026, Nextlink Internet activated a fixed-wireless tower in southern Bienville Parish, Louisiana, bringing gigabit-speed service to 104 BEAD locations in Bossier Parish — the first time households anywhere in the U.S. had service available via BEAD-funded infrastructure. The tower is part of an $18.5 million Louisiana BEAD subgrant to Nextlink to serve 7,460 unserved/underserved locations, awarded through ConnectLA's GUMBO 2.0 program, and was announced via a ConnectLA press release on May 13, 2026.

Providers: Nextlink Source

Never miss a BEAD announcement

Weekly digest of verified news — awards, executed agreements, and milestones across every state program.