This CLE course will cover legal considerations regarding BEAD infrastructure deployment to close the broadband divide. The BEAD program, created pursuant to the 2021 IIJA, is a once in a generation opportunity to utilize federal funds for broadband infrastructure for underserved locations. It is a complex process with a range of legal issues from state funding allocation to contracting service providers for the actual work.

We will touch upon the following:

• Legal traps of technology preference (e.g. fiber bias)
• NTIA Prevailing Wage and DEI Parameters to Meet a new White House
• Environmental and Land Use Considerations
• Right-of-Way Access
• Unserved, Underserved and Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs): What does it all mean?
• Net Neutrality Considerations
• Mapping and Accuracy of Coverage Data
• Public Private Partnerships