The BEAD Program and the BEAD Program Surety Bond Information Kit

In June of this year, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Restructuring Policy Notice (RPN) for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to remove regulatory burdens and implement critical reforms to lower costs and to speed up deployment. The states and other Eligible Entities had until Sept. 4, 2025 to comply with the RPN. As of today, 53 of the 56 states and territories have submitted their final proposals. Total savings for American taxpayers, according to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, is now estimated to be at least $21 billion, with that number expected to increase with the submission of the remaining final proposals.

As a reminder, as states and territories begin to consider the deployment of BEAD construction contracts, the surety industry created the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Surety Bond Information Kit, including bond forms and model contract language. The kit addresses the announcement by the NTIA to allow surety bonds as an alternative form of security to letters of credit (LOC) for the BEAD Program.

Bonding Requirements for Projects Funded by WIFIA a Priority for 2026 Federal Legislative Fly-in

Securing bonds for the construction of broadband and requiring bonds for projects funded by the Water infrastructure Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA), as described in H. R. 1285/S.570 will be an issue 2026 Federal Legislative Fly-in attendees will raise during their meetings on Capitol Hill during the February 24-25, 2026 Federal Legislative Fly-in. The 2025 Fly-in had 33 states represented. The NASBP leadership plans to contact NASBP members from those remaining 17 states that were not represented at the 2025 Fly-in and to ask them to consider attending the 2026 Fly-in.

If you haven’t already, be sure to read the recent Surety Bond Quarterly articles featuring NASBP members talking about their experiences attending the Fly-in. Robin Amstutz shares how she made it a family experience by taking her daughter to her appointments with members of Congress, and Tyler Turnbull describes what surprised him and why he suggests all members should plan to attend the 2026 Fly-in.

If you have not already done so, please consider attending the 2026 Fly-in. Register here.