What Happened?

Federal programs have received billions of dollars in recent years to build broadband networks in remote and underserved areas, but a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report raises concerns about whether communities can afford to keep those networks running once federal money runs out. ​

The GAO, the independent agency that audits how the federal government spends money, examined nine federal broadband programs run by four agencies since 2020. The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program alone carries over $42 billion in funding, with grants going to states and territories that pick providers to build networks in underserved areas. Some of those networks are not expected to be finished until 2030 or later, and as of February 2026, all nine programs had begun distributing funding.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

If you live in a rural or underserved area, the GAO report raises questions about whether service will remain affordable once federal support ends.

In October 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the federal agency that oversees BEAD, announced a rule requiring providers to certify they will not accept other federal funding for broadband deployment or operating costs at BEAD-funded locations for at least 10 years.

The GAO found that NTIA had not spelled out when it would ask providers for financial data, leaving a gap in how states and territories can monitor whether providers stay healthy enough to keep offering affordable service.

Both Sides, Now

The GAO has previously reported on financial sustainability problems that providers face in high-cost areas. Opponents argue that federal buildout can leave communities with networks they cannot sustain and affordable service they cannot keep once public support ends.

The GAO also notes that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) challenge process, which lets the public dispute inaccurate broadband coverage maps, has become a burden for small communities and providers with limited resources. Both the FCC and NTIA agreed with the GAO's recommendations, but both agencies' recommendations carry an open status, meaning actions have not yet been taken or are still being planned.

Congress directed the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review federal broadband programs through House Report 118-124, which accompanies H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2024.

What Happens Next?

Several programs, including BEAD, expect to finish building networks in 2030 or later, and keeping those networks affordable once federal money ends is a challenge.

NTIA must define the conditions under which it will collect financial data from BEAD providers, so states and territories can monitor whether those providers can keep offering affordable service through the full 10-year commitment period, according to the GAO report.

Will NTIA act before the first networks go live, or will communities only find out their provider is struggling after the federal money is already gone?

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