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.