HR6920-119

What This Bill Does

The SUCCESS for BEAD Act changes the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program so leftover funds after an eligible entity’s final proposal can be used to strengthen networks and workforce capacity. Congress finds that remaining BEAD funds should sustain approved broadband deployment, that high-capacity fiber, network interconnection, and targeted workforce training are important for artificial intelligence, and that hardened networks including 9-1-1 networks support public safety and national security. The bill defines emergency 9-1-1 requests, artificial intelligence, commonly accepted standards, eligible projects, network nodes, and related terms. It lets remaining funds support lit or dark wholesale fiber, conduit, manholes, in-line amplifier facilities, carrier-neutral internet exchange points, mobile wireless infrastructure, submarine cable systems and landing stations, public-safety connectivity on educational facilities including Tribal lands, workforce-development facilities and programs for telecommunications, cybersecurity, AI, and electrical distribution, Next Generation 9-1-1 planning, implementation, and maintenance, data collection, mapping, planning, personnel, systems, training, and technical assistance.

Who Benefits and How

States and territories administering BEAD funds benefit because unused money can be redirected into network resilience, AI-supportive infrastructure, public safety, and workforce gaps. Broadband providers and middle-mile operators benefit from potential subgrants for fiber, conduit, internet exchange points, wireless infrastructure, submarine cable systems, and network-node improvements. Emergency communications centers benefit from Next Generation 9-1-1 support. Telecommunications, cybersecurity, AI, and electrical-distribution workers benefit from targeted workforce programs. Tribal educational facilities and public-safety users benefit from mobile wireless infrastructure that improves coverage, capacity, resiliency, or security.

Who Bears the Burden and How

NTIA and Commerce broadband staff must interpret new eligible uses, review remaining-fund projects, verify standards, and monitor compliance. Eligible entities must manage leftover BEAD allocations, run subgrant competitions, document project eligibility, and ensure funds are tied to approved public-safety, workforce, AI-supportive, national-security, or telecommunications infrastructure uses. Broadband providers, workforce providers, emergency communications centers, and educational facilities receiving funds must satisfy reporting, technical, security, and procurement requirements. Federal taxpayers continue to underwrite the expanded eligible uses of BEAD funds.

Key Provisions

• Expands permissible uses of remaining BEAD funds after final proposal approval.
• Authorizes projects for wholesale fiber, conduit, internet exchange points, mobile wireless infrastructure, submarine cable systems, and landing stations.
• Authorizes workforce-development facilities and programs for telecommunications, cybersecurity, AI, and electrical-distribution shortages.
• Authorizes Next Generation 9-1-1 planning, implementation, maintenance, data collection, mapping, personnel, systems, training, and technical assistance.
• Ties broadband infrastructure to public safety, national security, and United States competition with China in AI and advanced networks.