NDIA affiliates and partners showed up en masse to the two listening sessions the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hosted on February 11, 2026, and February 18, 2026, to “gather input from stakeholders to inform NTIA’s future planning and policy development” for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program’s non-deployment funds. With 1,500 people registered, the first listening session was so oversubscribed that the agency hosted a second session. Attendees were granted two minutes to speak and encouraged to outline the guidance NTIA should provide to States and Territories, and offer suggestions for the funds that could ‘help accelerate the implementation of the remaining BEAD funding.’
By way of reminder, Congress specified five distinct ways that States and Territories could use BEAD funds, along with a sixth, open-ended category (See: 47 U.S.C. § 1702(f)(1-6)). States could competitively sub-grant funds to:
- Build broadband to unserved and underserved locations,
- Connect Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs),
- Invest in Data collection, broadband mapping, and planning;
- Install internet and Wi-Fi infrastructure or providing reduced-cost broadband within a multi-family residential building, and
- Invest in Broadband adoption, including programs to provide affordable internet-capable devices, and
- Any use determined necessary by the Assistant Secretary to facilitate the goals of the Program.
Of the 85 speakers across the two sessions, 38 percent were NDIA affiliates and partners (22 NDIA affiliates and 10 partner organizations). And more who were unable to join in person submitted written input.
The most frequent request, with over 43 verbal comments, was for NTIA to implement the law as designed, allowing states to leverage the funds to implement broadband adoption work. Broadband adoption proponents encouraged NTIA to enable states to address all the reasons households may not subscribe to a network, including broadband affordability support, devices, digital skills, digital navigation, and other programs that advance broadband adoption.
Notably, unlike broadband adoption, the remaining themes that emerged and the additional requests made would not fall under the existing uses outlined in the Act, but rather under the “Any use determined necessary by the Assistant Secretary to facilitate the goals of the Program” category. Workforce development, regional/local flexibility, permitting reform, middle-mile and AI infrastructure, and public safety/emergency response/911 all emerged as themes behind broadband adoption. Several contributors also expressed concerns about K-12’s use of technology in the classroom and a desire to ‘de-digitize’ K-12 schools. However, no concrete solutions for how this would be accomplished were provided, nor how the schools would continue preparing students for the 21st-century digital workforce without technology education in the classrooms, aside from a few comments suggesting that the funding should be ‘given to schools.’ A handful of people also mentioned returning the funds to the treasury, wireless infrastructure, mapping/data collection, Tribal broadband expansion, air traffic control, and radio technology.
NDIA’s policy director, Amy Huffman, spoke and said,
“Our request is simple: we urge NTIA to return the BEAD savings to the states and not only permit, but encourage states to invest their non-deployment dollars in ‘broadband adoption, including programs to provide affordable internet-capable devices.”
In addition, we submitted written input to NTIA outlining more specifics, including encouragement for NTIA to permit and encourage states to sub-grant non-deployment funds to trusted, community-based, local organizations that deliver digital skills programs, offer digital navigation services, provide devices, and support their communities in all the ways they might need to get and stay online. You can read our full, written submission here.
We gathered the input our community shared with NTIA and have shared some of their quotes below.
Comments from the NDIA Community
“An unemployed military veteran who had been out of the workforce for eight years when he attended our program. He enrolled in our training and was doing incredibly well—until his laptop broke and stopped attending classes. When we reached out to ask why he stopped coming to class, he told us he couldn’t continue because he no longer had a working computer. That moment inspired our first ever laptop loaner program… He completed the training and landed his first job, after eight years of unemployment, with a globally recognized technology company, earning nearly $50,000. I saw him four years later— and he gave me a hug and said – “Annmarie, I’m now making over $100,000 dollars.” … Upward economic mobility through digital skills training is real—and can change the entire trajectory of a person’s life.”
Annmarie Lanesey, Founder and CEO of Can Code Communities
“Affordability is the primary barrier for adoption, across all demographics, and the other $20B of BEAD funding will be entirely wasted if the newly connected cannot afford the connection. To that end, states and territories should be allowed to and encouraged to use these funds to develop statewide broadband affordability programs.”
Jason Inofuentes, Albemarle County Broadband Office
“Without a device and support for the use of that device, many unserved [and] under-served communities suffer getting their digital life started on the right foot. At Computer Reach our tagline is Digital Literacy for All. In Western Pennsylvania our low-income and marginalized citizens cannot afford computer consultations and expensive computers. These funds provide a great start for our working class constituents.”
Dave Sevick, Executive Director, Computer Reach
“I urge NTIA to act properly in its role as the designated administrator of BEAD, with an obligation to carry out the letter and spirit of the law, and to respect the authority and discretion which Congress deliberately gave to the states to carry it out, following the uses which Congress deemed appropriate to address all aspects of the nation’s digital divide.”
Bill Callahan, Connect Your Community
“In our years of experience, we have learned through working with our partners that barriers to digital inclusion exist in every sector of society, and at all levels… In NYS, the DOL conducts an annual survey of businesses and job seekers, and in the last two years, the results from both surveys – and for all occupations and in all parts of the state – lack of basic digital skills has been identified as the number one or close to number one barrier. We also know, people encounter opportunities for learning digital skills and adoption in many ways, depending on their needs and where the technology has been a barrier to satisfying those needs.”
Heidi Ziemer, Community Investment Specialist, Mission: Ignite
“Connect LA has done a remarkable deployment job to-date, however, their technical success will also require digital literacy and customized interfaces for the elderly & disabled. Additionally, new consumers of broadband services certainly will not be aware of their options for accessing social, medical and other public or private services with this expanding technology… Benefits of the Bargain funds should be used to teach computer and internet literacy to the elderly & disabled target population in our state plan.”
John R. Schweitzer
“A large percentage of this audience agrees that digital inclusion is essential in the work we do… Our digital equity coalition had the opportunity to work on and help the Ohio Broadband team plan and develop Ohio’s broadband plan. Our plan was approved by NTIA. Therefore, I’m asking NTIA to allow the states to use the nondeployment funds to implement the approved Ohio Broadband plan, which included digital inclusion initiatives in Ohio.”
Wanda Davis, Executive Director, Ashbury Senior Computer Community Center
“In the 15-county area we serve 6 counties are still underserved (under 75%), and even where there is connectivity, it is not dependable. A student in Lamesa, Texas, had to drive an hour for her testing, since her connectivity wouldn’t support her online test… I [also] know a senior who pays $300/month for her bundle and we need to ensure monopolies on broadband do not exist.”
Larisa Elliott, Instructional and Curriculum Designer, Howard College Adult Education & Literacy
“If we fail to pair deployment with adoption, we limit the return on federal investment. If we act, workforce participation rises, telehealth reduces missed workdays, and earnings increase. In Westchester County, an independent economic analysis showed a 4-to-1 return on investment for digital navigator programs — through higher earnings, healthcare savings, and reduced household costs because people can shop online for prescriptions, appliances and more.”
Margaret Kaufer, Chief Visionary Officer, The STEM Alliance
“One of our clients, first came to Kramden through El Refugio, a local organization that helps immigrants complete English and citizenship preparedness classes. They needed a computer to complete their classes. Now, they work for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and support more than 500 students and 108 adults with resources including devices from Kramden. They said, “having access to tools like a computer provides a sense of pride and dignity. Not having to depend on favors or public resources every time a child needs to study reinforces family autonomy.””
Cynthia Yu-Robinson, Executive Director, Kramden Institute
“Digital navigators help my 80-year old parents in rural Maine and West Virginia troubleshoot internet connections, avoid online scams, access healthcare, apply for services, and understand AI tools. They help job seekers apply for work, help residents use emergency services, help young people access their homework, and help small businesses adopt digital tools. Digital navigators are the workforce infrastructure that can truly make BEAD more successful with your investment through state non-deployment funding in every state across the country.”
Kathy Bisbee, Director, Massachusetts Digital Navigators Alliance; Alliance of Western Massachusetts
“For Western North Carolina, investment in AI workforce development is directly tied to long-term job creation and regional economic vitality… For rural and small-town communities in Western North Carolina, this is particularly critical: AI literacy can help small businesses increase productivity, expand into new markets, and operate more efficiently without relocating.”
Sara Nichols, Blue Ridge Broadband Alliance
“One hundred years ago, telephone networks were the latest technology. The goal was providing telephone service to every American household. But, connecting a telephone to the home of a deaf person was of no use to them… This “technology gap” remained for another 50 years, before Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) became available. With modern phones, this is just another app. Today, assistive technology already exists and this mistake can be avoided! BEAD Non-deployment resources can be used to provide Digital Navigators who can train people to use assistive technology.”
James E. Mitchell, Ph.D., Blind User of Assistive Technology, Information Technology Professional
“NTIA should encourage states to invest not just in broadband access, but also in digital skills training, especially training delivered through trusted community-based digital navigation partners. We must recognize that connectivity alone does not translate into meaningful use or outcomes. The underserved population also needs devices and training to use those devices.”
Richard Hicks, CEO, & President, Inspiredu
“I know it’s almost impossible to believe that there are adults across the nation who do not have basic computer skills to use broadband infrastructure once it is in place. Situations like receiving and returning email or multi-factor authentication can confound many adults and keep them from participating in public life, including paying taxes, accessing public safety and more.”
Donna Walker James, Executive Director of Computer CORE
“If Arkansas is going to compete — not just statewide or nationally, but globally — we must ensure our residents have the infrastructure, devices, and skills to participate fully in a digital economy.
So here is our ask:
- Accelerated and accountable broadband infrastructure deployment in rural communities.
- Device access programs for low-income students, adult learners, and workforce participants.
- Sustained investment in digital skills and capacity-building programs, especially through community-based organizations, colleges of technology, and rural workforce hubs.
- Clear coordination between broadband deployment and workforce development strategy so that infrastructure investment translates directly into economic mobility.”
Tomekia Moore, Executive Director of Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association
“Broadband adoption depends on three things working together. Affordable and reliable service. A device that meets the user’s needs. Trusted, trained support that helps people build skills and confidence in a digital environment that changes constantly.
As an example, at one of our Hives, an adult came in with a new broadband connection available at their apartment complex, but they could not activate service, could not set up their device, and did not trust the online process after repeated scam calls. They were one missed step away from giving up entirely. With Digital Navigator support, they completed setup, learned how to recognize scam patterns, created secure passwords, and successfully accessed both their healthcare portal and a benefits application. This is what non-deployment funding makes possible. Networks do not change lives if people cannot use them safely and consistently.”
Erin Carr-Jordan, Ph.D., President and CEO, IDIA
“Our digital navigation services began as a Rural LISC pilot in 2021 serving just 60 participants… As demand grew, we added a second. Today:
- We serve 171 individuals annually.
- We provide more than 500 one-on-one digital skills sessions each year.
- We have distributed more than 250 devices.
That growth reflects sustained need.
Much of that demand comes from older adults… Seniors are navigating Medicare portals, Social Security accounts, online banking, and telehealth appointments – often without ever having received formal computer training. They are not resistant to technology. They were simply never taught.”
Jamie Huber, Director of Community Services, Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission