Broadband Deployment:
Agencies Should Take Steps to Better Target Underserved Areas and Consider Sustainability
U.S. Government Accountability Office | August 31, 2026
What GAO Found
Since 2020, four federal agencies administered the bulk of federal funding for
broadband deployment through the nine programs GAO reviewed. These were
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (NTIA), and Departments of Agriculture and the
Treasury. For example, NTIA oversees the over $42-billion Broadband Equity,
Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which provides grants to states and
territories that select providers to deploy broadband networks to underserved
areas. As of February 2026, all nine programs had begun distributing funding.
Federal agencies target funding to underserved areas using FCC mapping data
showing which locations do and do not have broadband access, as reported by
providers. To improve data accuracy, FCC accepts challenges from the public
and makes updates if needed. Some program participants and stakeholders said
this challenge process was burdensome and unclear. For example, challenging a
large number of locations in an area could be difficult for smaller communities
and providers with limited resources. Without targeted outreach to smaller
communities and providers to address such difficulties, FCC may not be able to
obtain the most accurate information about broadband availability and therefore
may not be able to effectively identify and target funding to underserved areas.
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