The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a Restructuring Policy Notice for the federal Broadband Equity Access and Development (BEAD) Program on June 6, 2025. The Policy Notice made several key changes to the BEAD program, including adopting a “technology-neutral” approach and eliminating the technology preference for fiber. The guidance also rescinds several regulations in the program, like labor and prevailing wage requirements, climate change requirements, and certain affordability plans. For cooperatives utilizing the BEAD program to deploy broadband, it is fortunate that some of the onerous requirements in the program look to be eliminated. However, the technology-neutral approach may not be ideal for some regions of rural Indiana, as we want to see broadband deployment done in a way that is beneficial now and well into the future. Fiber is the technology that can provide that assurance from now on. IEC has raised this perspective with our Congressional delegation through multiple meetings and communications. We will continue with that message as things progress and more information becomes available.