December 2025 BEAD Update: An Important Step Forward

The Town of Estes Park and Trailblazer Broadband are excited to share an important update on Colorado’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has officially approved Colorado’s BEAD Final Proposal—an announcement delivered last week by the Colorado Broadband Office (CBO). This statewide milestone is a key step toward releasing $420.6 million in federal Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding, which includes support for Trailblazer Broadband’s proposed expansion to eligible unserved and underserved areas in the Estes Valley. Final grant awards and contracts, however, have not yet been issued.

“This is an important step not only for Estes Park, but for communities across Colorado that have been working toward equitable access to reliable internet,” said Reuben Bergsten, Director of Utilities for the Town of Estes Park. “We remain cautiously optimistic about this opportunity. If Trailblazer is ultimately awarded BEAD funding, it will help us extend high-speed, fiber-based service to residents and businesses who currently lack adequate options. We also recognize that many of our Phase 4 residents have been waiting a long time, and we appreciate your patience as the local, state and federal processes move forward.”

Trailblazer Broadband, the community-owned fiber-optic service provider for the Town of Estes Park, has been engaged in the BEAD process for more than two years. Earlier in 2025, Trailblazer completed the reapplication process for the “Benefit of the Bargain” round of the BEAD program. Prior to that, Trailblazer had received a preliminary grant award through the State of Colorado’s BEAD program. Our proposed BEAD projects are included in the state’s plan, but funding is not guaranteed until the State of Colorado and Trailblazer execute a formal grant agreement. For Phase 4 areas not covered by BEAD eligibility rules, future expansion will continue to be driven by revenue and any additional funding opportunities.

According to the CBO, the BEAD program’s approval is the result of years of planning and coordination and represents a direct investment in the future of Colorado communities. Statewide, more than 96,000 Coloradans are expected to gain access to high-speed internet as a result of this historic funding.

Key elements of Colorado’s BEAD deployment include:

• 48% Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP): The fastest and most reliable broadband technology, prioritized where feasible. 
• 50% Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite: Essential for the most challenging and remote mountainous regions. 
• 2% Fixed Wireless: Supporting deployment in areas where fiber or satellite are less optimal. 

Trailblazer Broadband’s proposed BEAD project focuses exclusively on expanding fiber service to eligible unserved and underserved residents in the Estes Valley. With NTIA’s approval now secured, the next steps involve a 20-day review by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), followed by a 30-day state review and signature period. Only after those steps are complete can the CBO begin issuing grant agreements and releasing funds. At that time, Trailblazer must complete the contracting process, compliance coordination and assessing and adjusting detailed project area design plans before any construction timelines can be set.

“We created Trailblazer Broadband to serve our community first,” said Estes Park Power & Communications Customer Experience Manager, Kim Smith. “If our BEAD projects move forward to a final grant agreement, that funding will support critical expansion work. We want to be honest with our neighbors: there are still multiple approvals, agreements, and planning steps ahead before we can commit to construction dates, but this is a very encouraging step in the right direction.”

The Town of Estes Park extends its gratitude to the Colorado Broadband Office and Colorado’s congressional delegation—especially Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and Congressman Joe Neguse—for their leadership in securing this essential funding for rural and mountain communities.

As the state moves from planning to implementation, Trailblazer Broadband will continue working closely with the Colorado Broadband Office, local partners, and community stakeholders and provide updates as we move through each major milestone.

Residents can view Colorado’s full announcement, along with the BEAD Final Proposal Map showing broadband technology designations for each location, via the Colorado Broadband Office. The best way to stay informed about Trailblazer’s plans is to register your address at trailblazerbroadband.com so we can notify you directly when we have confirmed construction plans for your location.

For more detailed information on the BEAD funding process—and what it does and does not mean yet for Phase 4 neighborhoods—please visit our BEAD Grant Process & FAQs page, which will be updated as new information becomes available.

UPDATE – September 17, 2025: BEAD

Trailblazer Broadband completed the reapplication process for  “The Benefit of the Bargain” round of the BEAD program.

The good news is that Trailblazer has received a preliminary grant award through the State of Colorado’s BEAD program, which may help fund service in certain eligible areas, as early as Q4 2026. However, only addresses that meet federal eligibility rules were included, and we won’t know final funding decisions until later this year.

If your area isn’t covered by BEAD, we still plan to reach you over time using revenue from expansion—but we don’t have a set timeline yet.

The best way to stay informed is to register your address at trailblazerbroadband.com. We’ll notify you directly as soon as we have construction plans for your location.

For more detailed information on the BEAD funding process, check out our FAQs page. 

UPDATE – June 23, 2025: BEAD Program Changes May Limit Funding for Estes Valley

Since this blog was originally published, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has released further updates to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program that could impact our region’s eligibility for funding.

The NTIA has restructured the program under a new approach referred to as “The Benefit of the Bargain,” which emphasizes cost-efficiency over infrastructure type. These changes have triggered a full reset of the grant process, including the following key developments:

1. All Preliminary Awards Rescinded

The State of Colorado must now reopen the subgrantee selection process. This includes rescinding all preliminary awards, including the one Trailblazer Broadband had been conditionally approved for earlier this year. All potential applicants are watching for updated guidance from the Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) regarding next steps and location eligibility.

2. Technology Neutrality Introduced

BEAD funding will no longer prioritize fiber-optic networks. Instead, any broadband technology capable of delivering the FCC-mandated minimum speeds may be selected, including fixed wireless and hybrid systems.

While these technologies can offer faster deployment and lower up-front costs, they can be more expensive to scale over time and may face challenges in areas like the Estes Valley, where terrain, vegetation, and seasonal weather impact signal quality and network reliability. Fiber infrastructure, while more costly to build initially, remains the most consistent and scalable solution over time.

3. New Provider Challenge Process

Under the updated rules, broadband providers across the state will be allowed to resubmit data showing existing service coverage that meets the 100/30 standard. If accepted, these coverage claims may render certain locations ineligible for BEAD funding—even if residents in those areas still experience inconsistent service or lack reliable connectivity.

What This Means for Trailblazer & Estes Valley

These changes will likely reduce the number of areas eligible for support in our mountain community, where broadband construction is inherently more expensive. It also means cost, not durability or long-term performance, will likely guide funding decisions.

Trailblazer Broadband remains committed to advocating for solutions that meet our community’s needs—not just today, but well into the future. We will continue to work with the CBO and other partners to explore all available opportunities for support and will keep our community informed as more information becomes available.

Original Post – June 17, 2025

As many of you know, Trailblazer Broadband has already invested nearly $30 million to bring high-speed fiber internet to our community. We’re proud to be among the many “shovel-ready” broadband projects nationwide—fully engineered, permitted, and ready to build the final miles.

Unfortunately, recent federal developments have added a new layer of uncertainty. On June 6, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced sweeping changes to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Among the most impactful:

• States must now conduct at least one more competitive funding round—even if they’ve already selected awardees.
• The former preference for fiber-optic technology has been removed. Now, any solution that meets minimum speed and latency requirements is considered a “priority” project.
• States will be required to re-submit their BEAD proposals, with a new emphasis on selecting the lowest cost-per-premise

While Colorado has been proactive—submitting letters to Secretary Lutnick and continuing to advocate for BEAD deployment—we don’t yet know how these new federal mandates will affect preliminary awards like ours. At a minimum, we anticipate that the application process will be extended and that previously planned allocations may be reevaluated under this new framework.

We’re sympathetic to the growing frustration these delays and changes create—not just for communities still waiting for service, but for small local teams like ours who are balancing day-to-day operations and navigating the increasing complexity of federal grant compliance. These changes could mean more competition for limited dollars and a higher cost-efficiency bar to clear—despite the fact that we’re ready to build today.

Still, we remain committed to seeing this through. Trailblazer Broadband will continue advocating for Estes Park, Glen Haven, Allenspark, and the entire Estes Valley—because reliable, high-speed internet isn’t a luxury. It’s fast becoming a utility, and a necessity.

We’ll keep you posted as we learn more from the State of Colorado in the coming weeks. In the meantime, thank you—as always—for your patience and support.