SPEED for BEAD Act

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Streamlining Program Efficiency and Expanding Deployment for BEAD Act or the SPEED for BEAD Act This bill makes certain changes to the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, including by expanding the broadband technologies that may qualify for funding and prohibiting states from regulating broadband rates in connection with the program.   (The BEAD Program is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and provides funding to eligible entities for broadband deployment, connectivity, mapping, and adoption projects. Eligible entities include U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia.)  Specifically, the bill establishes that projects using any broadband technology (e.g., satellite, fixed wireless, or fiber) may qualify for funding, provided the technology meets specified performance criteria. (Original BEAD rules established a preference for fiber projects.) The bill also explicitly prohibits eligible entities from regulating, setting, or otherwise mandating pursuant to the BEAD Program (1) rates charged for broadband service, or (2) methodologies used to calculate such rates. The prohibition in…