States must show substantial BEAD broadband construction progress or risk losing $42 billion in federal grants

States that received BEAD ($42.45B broadband) grants must demonstrate substantial construction progress by mid-2028 or risk fund recapture. The program targets all unserved locations — areas with no broadband at 25/3 Mbps speeds — and requires states to extend connection offers to those addresses. Rural and tribal communities in all 50 states are affected. The Trump administration tried to redirect some BEAD funds from fiber toward lower-cost wireless alternatives.