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Commerce highlights broadband investments, BEAD timeline and workforce priorities
Summary
The Department of Commerce presented its FY 2026 request and described state and federal broadband funding—including a $35 million state broadband fund, about $120 million in ARPA capital projects and the $580 million BEAD program—while the department emphasized workforce, housing and childcare as barriers to business growth.
Brooke Dupree of the Legislative Services Office reviewed the Department of Commerce’s FY 2026 budget materials and the departmental reorganization that created a standalone broadband office. Director Tom Keeley and members of his leadership team described how state and federal broadband dollars are being deployed alongside Commerce priorities for workforce, housing and industry recruitment.
Ramon Sanchez, the Commerce broadband manager (identified in the hearing as Ramon Jabe Sanchez), walked the committee through the state broadband fund and the federal timelines. “26 and a half million of that is already obligated, so there's about 8.5, 8.7 remaining,” he said of the $35 million Idaho Broadband Fund. He added that the $120 million capital projects fund is contracted across 18 projects to connect roughly 35,000 homes and businesses, and that the BEAD program (referred to by its federal acronym) is a roughly $580 million federal program for which Idaho is completing prequalification and will open funding…
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