States Push to Redirect BEAD Excess Funds Toward Public Safety Gaps

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2026 – Some state broadband officials want the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program’s $21 million excess funds to go to public safety, emergency management, closing the digital divide and building resilient networks.

One of the biggest challenges facing Virginia and Delaware has been dead zones that prevent public safety and emergency communications. Virginia Office of Broadband Associate Director Chandler Vaughan said there are 40,000 homes and 10,000 miles of roads that don’t have any connectivity, which has been a large concern when it comes to accessing emergency services.

“We’re building these broadband networks through a wide variety of technologies, but what good are they when you walk out your front door and you can’t make a phone call to 911? There’s a public safety aspect we’ve got a real opportunity to address here with BEAD nondeployment dollars,” Vaughan said.

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