Brian Carroll

As the U.S. Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program winds down, some states are still working to close the digital divide in hard-to-serve areas with cost, terrain, or permitting challenges. Taara Lightbridge helps providers connect these last pockets more quickly, cost-effectively, and without compromise on performance - delivering fiber-like speeds and capacity whether for BEAD-funded builds or other broadband initiatives. We’ve put together an overview originally developed for BEAD applicants, but relevant to any project needing a fast, reliable, and scalable middle-mile solution: https://lnkd.in/gkSQVmgF If you’re working to get projects across the finish line - BEAD or beyond - please reach out. We’re happy to help deliver the highest capacity, at lower cost, to support your last-mile fiber or next-gen wireless backhaul.

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The BEAD process is not standing still. You cleared the first deadline on July 6 but now comes the next critical step. On July 20, states finalize their scoring frameworks. If your proposal does not align with those new rubrics, your chances of winning funding will drop fast. Many broadband providers and municipalities are asking: 
• Can we adjust our strategy in time to meet the scoring criteria? 
• Will our proposal stand out under tech-neutral evaluation? This is where Essentia steps in to help you: 
• Clarify what the scoring frameworks mean for your plan 
• Adjust your designs and financial models for tech neutrality and cost-effectiveness 
• Strengthen your proposal before states re-evaluate You are leading the effort to bring broadband access to your communities. July 20 is almost here. Don’t wait to prepare for what comes next. Let’s get started: solutions@essentia-inc.com Essentia, Inc. Consulting | Design | Engineering | Construction #BEAD #BroadbandFunding #BEADProgram #RuralConnectivity #DigitalDivide #DigitalEquity #FutureReady #TechEnabled #Connectivity #BroadbandSolutions #BroadbandDeployment

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The Freestate Middle Mile Network ultimately will deploy 682 miles of fiber with funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. A goal is for Kansas to be among the top 10 states for broadband access by 2030. https://bit.ly/3HLoRpG

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Future-Proofing Our Connections💪 We're teaming up with the BOREAS Network to make our fiber network even stronger by adding a crucial layer of strength to our statewide fiber network. Through this partnership, we will achieve: ✅ More network redundancy ✅ Access to major content providers ✅ Supporting research across the Midwest This collaboration is a win-win, also providing BOREAS with access to our extensive Iowa fiber for educational research. Check out the full story to see how we're upgrading our network for a better, more reliable experience: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g3z9aTq9 #ICN #Internet #FiberOptic #BOREAS #broadband #Connections

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Great piece today by Tamara Chuang of the The Colorado Sun on the shift in broadband internet for all projects and how wireless is now a legitimate solution set in the deployment ecosystem. #BEAD https://lnkd.in/g-r8gPgs

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Expanding rural broadband remains essential for economic growth, digital inclusion, and community resilience. In this interview, NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield reflects on the evolving role of rural broadband providers, highlighting the importance of community-focused connectivity, workforce development, and sustainable funding models. As technologies evolve, the mission remains the same: ensuring reliable, high-quality connectivity reaches every community. https://hubs.ly/Q046xttZ0

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🌐⚡Broadband expansion = economic opportunity for rural Kansas⚡🌐 The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Kansas’ proposal for $166.6M in federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding to expand broadband service to more than 26,000 homes and businesses in rural and hard-to-reach communities. This investment marks a major step toward closing the digital divide and strengthening local economies in #ruralKS communities. Just like electricity, reliable broadband is essential infrastructure. It supports business attraction and retention, workforce development, telehealth, education, and modern agriculture, creating new opportunities for communities to grow and compete. With a mix of fixed wireless, fiber, and satellite technologies, this plan ensures connectivity solutions that work for rural Kansas. At Sunflower Electric Economic Development, we know strong infrastructure powers strong communities. Expanding broadband access helps ensure rural Kansas remains connected, competitive, and ready for the future. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4529LFo

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Communities cannot benefit from broadband infrastructure they cannot access, afford, or use. Restore the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act grants! #SaveBEAD #SaveDigitalEquity #DigitalAccess

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A healthier economy starts with reliable connectivity. The new Broadband Charter blog highlights how Minnesota agencies are working together to accelerate broadband expansion statewide. Read here: https://bit.ly/4cQJlLq

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🚜 What BEAD funding does not cover, but operators must still manage BEAD funding is accelerating broadband buildout across underserved regions. It supports planning, construction, and deployment, helping networks reach more communities faster. But once sites are live, a different responsibility begins. BEAD funding does not cover day-to-day operations. Power systems, environmental conditions, site access, alarms, and ongoing maintenance all remain the operator’s responsibility long after construction is complete. Without an operational layer in place, these demands can quickly increase costs and strain teams. Asentria addresses this gap with the SiteBoss® Site Controller, designed to support the operational phase of BEAD-funded networks. SiteBoss provides remote visibility and control at the site level, helping operators manage infrastructure efficiently after the buildout ends. Operational readiness beyond funding means: ✅ Continuous visibility into remote site conditions ✅ Faster issue resolution without excessive site visits ✅ Scalable operations as networks expand Long-term success depends not only on building networks, but on operating them reliably every day. 📍 Read more about how Asentria supports operations beyond BEAD-funded buildouts in our blog: https://lnkd.in/d9wVe2wq #Asentria #SiteBoss #BEAD #BroadbandDeployment

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ICYMI: Brightspeed has secured more than half a billion dollars worth of BEAD funding, helping us bring fiber broadband to ~183,000 new locations across rural and underserved communities. This milestone is about more than funding — it’s about closing the digital divide and creating opportunity for families, students, and small businesses who’ve been left offline for too long. With BEAD support, we’ll accelerate construction in states like Missouri, Illinois, Alabama, Ohio, and Michigan, strengthening local economies and building the infrastructure that powers connection. Every mile of fiber we build brings us closer to a more connected future.💡 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4q0hzAc #Brightspeed #BEAD #FiberInternetForAll #DigitalEquity

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$23 million in funding is available to improve broadband infrastructure through the Broadband Acceleration Grant (BAG) program. Grants will be awarded to offset the expenses providers need to deploy service in underserved areas of Kansas, ensuring that every Kansan has access to high-speed internet — enhancing economic mobility and community growth. To learn more or submit an application visit here: https://bit.ly/4gP5jhH

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Is your broadband project stuck before it even starts? Many utilities and broadband providers are facing a frustrating roadblock: slow, complex pole attachment processes that threaten to delay critical expansion projects. This new Pew article explains why these bottlenecks matter and what’s at stake for communities waiting on better connectivity. If you’re feeling the pressure of outdated workflows and manual data collection, you’re not alone. The good news? There are ways forward. At D8Acapture, we believe it shouldn’t be this hard to deliver broadband. We help teams streamline pole data collection and accelerate approvals, so you can keep your projects and your communities moving. Curious how state processes could impact your next deployment? 🔗 Read the full article here: https://hubs.la/Q03zSHFn0 Ready to modernize your pole management? Watch our demo: https://hubs.la/Q03zSHty0 The Pew Charitable Trusts #utlitynews #Utilities #Broadband #PoleAttachments #FiberDeployment #Infrastructure #DigitalDivide #D8Acapture

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Globetom is Partnering with the Colorado Statewide Internet Portal Authority: We are thrilled to now be partnering with the Colorado Statewide Internet Portal Authority ("SIPA") as we continue to drive forward State and Local Smart Government Digital Transformation Technologies. SIPA's mission is "To provide efficient and effective services for residents through modern business practices and innovative technology solutions." Our RAPTOR City as a Platform solution suite is a key enabler for local governments to achieve transformative goals, and we're excited to work with SIPA to provide an even more simplified path for Colorado governments to accelerate that journey! https://sipa.colorado.gov/ Globetom Colorado Smart Cities Alliance Statewide Internet Portal Authority | SIPA Smart Cities Council

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Hot off the press...OBUSPA integrated with prpl and RDK 📢 There has been a revolutionary shift in how quickly broadband service providers using prpl Foundation and RDK platforms can deploy new services, from months and years to a matter of weeks. Two of the most widely used carrier-grade open source platforms for home broadband management, prpl Foundation’s prplWare and RDK’s RDK-B software, have integrated the Broadband Forum's Open Broadband USP Agent (OBUSPA) project’s releases with their middleware stacks. “One of the biggest hurdles for service providers in both differentiating their offerings and maintaining end user satisfaction has been the slow, complex process of delivering new applications and services to customer devices,” said John Blackford, Connected User Work Area Co-Director and Chairman of the Board at Broadband Forum. “This adoption highlights the momentum of open source in CPE and the adoption of Broadband Forum’s USP as the foundation to building an improved user experience.” Read the full news announcement here: https://lnkd.in/esja-Zbf

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