BEAD GRANT FAQs

Trailblazer Broadband has received a preliminary award through the State of Colorado’s application for BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funding. Here’s what it means—and what comes next.

The Colorado Broadband Office has submitted its full BEAD application to the NTIA, which includes all proposed subgrantees like Trailblazer. The NTIA will:

• Review the application over several weeks/months

• Make any necessary adjustments

• Announce final approval and state-level funding allocations

At this time, this review process is currently underway and is expected to continue through late 2025.

If approved, funding will be distributed to the State and sub-grantees through a series of contractual agreements starting around mid-2026. Before funds can be drawn, Trailblazer will:

• Finalize contracts with the State of Colorado

• Complete compliance steps (federal, state, and local)

• Begin detailed construction planning

Assuming funding comes mid-2026, construction could begin as early as Fall 2026.

That depends on whether your address was included in the BEAD-eligible locations list.

Only locations classified by the FCC as “unserved” or “underserved” (having no access or only access to service with speeds below 100 Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload) were eligible for BEAD. If your area met those criteria and was included in our application, you’re likely part of the proposed buildout.

If your address already had access to qualifying speeds (even if service was unreliable or unaffordable), it may not have been eligible for connection with the BEAD funds.

We are working with the Colorado Broadband Office to verify location lists and will release more details when funding is finalized. There’s currently no easy way for residents to check BEAD eligibility by address—but once funding is finalized, Trailblazer and the Colorado Broadband Office will share a public map or tool to help you see if your location is included in the grant-supported buildout.

In the meantime, registering your address helps us keep you informed and shows interest in your neighborhood:
👉 Register Here

Build priority depends on:

• BEAD-eligible locations in our grant application

   

• Construction feasibility (e.g., terrain, permitting, seasonal accessibility, cost)
• Availability of crews and materials
• Engineering and environmental reviews
• Customer demand, density and neighborhood readiness

Even after funding is secured, schedules may shift as these factors evolve. We’ll update the public regularly.

No, unfortunately, BEAD funding only applies to locations classified as eligible by the FCC. While we may pass non-eligible addresses to reach funded ones (and connect them when feasible), many areas will still require future capital investment.

You’re still on our radar. Trailblazer will continue to expand its service using revenue from active customers to build available capital. As we grow our customer base, we can reinvest in new construction for the remaining areas.

Your interest helps. Registering your address lets us know where demand exists—even if it wasn’t part of the BEAD-funded zones.

We don’t have a precise timeline yet, but here’s a rough estimate:

• Late 2025: Final federal decisions
• Mid 2026: Funding agreements + preconstruction planning
• Late 2026 onward: Construction begins in phases

Yes. As part of BEAD compliance, Trailblazer will offer a low-cost broadband plan to qualifying households in funded areas. This plan will meet federal and state standards, including:

• Minimum speeds of 100 Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload

• A price target of $30/month
• No data caps or throttling
• Transparent terms and billing

We’ll publish full details ahead of launch, expected in 2026.

Between now and mid-2026, Trailblazer will:

• Work with the State to finalize grant contracts
• Comply with local, state, and federal permitting
• Align with the Colorado Digital Equity Plan
• Coordinate environmental, workforce, and engineering requirements
• Build out reporting and data systems for compliance
• Start the RFP Process for the Contracting bid process
• Begin phased construction planning for remaining areas
• Finalize and launch a Low-Cost Internet program compliant with BEAD requirements 

Your voice matters. Here’s how to support the effort:

• Register your address to show interest: trailblazerbroadband.com
• Follow us on Facebook and check our News page for updates
• Contact Congressman Joe Neguse to share your broadband experience and advocate for rural infrastructure