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Federal BEAD rule changes prompt Lake County to press for affordability, continue public Wi-Fi projects
Summary
Lake County officials described federal changes to the BEAD program that remove fiber-first and several scoring metrics; county staff said they will monitor state waves, press for restored measures, and continue local public Wi-Fi planning with Waukegan and North Chicago.
Lake County officials on Aug. 1 briefed the Technology Committee on recent federal changes to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and on local public Wi-Fi projects, and said they will press state and federal partners to restore program elements they consider important to long-term affordability and equity.
Kaye Crandall, the county's digital equity manager, summarized a June 6 National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) restructuring notice that moves BEAD to a technology-neutral standard. She said the federal guidance eliminates a fiber-first preference and removes several program scoring elements that previously rewarded climate resilience, workforce development and net neutrality. Under the…
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