Arizona gets approved for $447M to help bring broadband internet to rural, tribal areas

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved Arizona’s request for an infusion of $447 million in federal funding to expand broadband access on Tuesday.

The program will be concentrated in tribal communities and rural counties.

Along with funding from the private sector, that money will expand high-speed internet access to about 160,000 households and hundreds of other buildings, including schools and libraries.

The funding is from the Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment federal grant program — known as BEAD — which was established in 2021.

Arizona is one of nine states that received approvals on Tuesday.

Arizona was originally allocated $993 million in federal dollars, but the Trump administration significantly altered the program, and less funding was granted. But with the investment of private money, the state can accomplish the project without more federal funding.

According to Arizona Commerce Authority Broadband Director Nick Capozzi, the program is projected to reach just as many households as originally planned.

The total allocation Arizona will spend on broadband is $967 million.

“The BEAD funding will help finance broadband installation at approximately 400 sites on the Nation,” Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Verlon Jose said in a statement. “We greatly appreciate the support from NTIA and the Arizona Commerce Authority as we continue to build a 21st Century infrastructure for our people.”

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs said in a statement that the funding is a “historic investment” that will open the “doors to economic opportunity.”

Still, Hobbs and other leaders still hope for more federal funding.

“We had to go back and redo our application because the incoming administration made changes to the program and how they want to administer it. The fact that we were so efficient and able to save half of the amount is good,” Hobbs said. “I think it speaks to our stewardship of dollars, but we are still advocating for the reset of those dollars to come to Arizona as part of our broadband infrastructure.”

Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego also issued a statement calling for Arizona to get its original allocation.

“Every Arizonan, regardless of their ZIP code, deserves access to reliable, high-speed internet, and this final approval means many communities are one step closer to getting connected,” said Kelly. “But the job isn’t done. The administration needs to make all of Arizona’s broadband funding available, just as Congress intended.”

“The Trump administration’s illegal and arbitrary changes to the BEAD program mean that Arizona won’t be able to use all of the funds Congress set aside for our state,” Gallego wrote.

Arizona’s submission will now be reviewed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is expected to grant the Commerce Authority a notice of award, allowing Arizona to start spending the money.

Capozzi said construction is expected to start next year.