BEAD Program Impact Assessment for Wyoming

This technical report provides an assessment of the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program's impact on broadband availability in Wyoming. It outlines the number of unserved and underserved locations eligible for BEAD funding, indicating that 23% of Wyoming locations lack high-speed broadband access as of June 2023, which is significantly higher than the state/territory average of 9%. The report details the estimated funding allocated to Wyoming, which totals $348 million, and discusses the potential deployment scenarios for broadband service, including the use of fiber and fixed wireless technologies. It also presents the estimated total capital available, which is $488 million, combining BEAD funding and estimated provider match. The report concludes with key findings regarding the trade-offs between maximizing fiber coverage and retaining funds for other eligible programs, emphasizing the need for Wyoming to determine its approach to deploying broadband infrastructure effectively.