Contributed Article/Courtesy Office of the Governor
$967 million investment furthers the Governor’s goal of connecting all Arizona households to high-speed internet
PHOENIX– Earlier this month, Governor Katie Hobbs announced a critical milestone in Arizona’s plan to invest $967 million to expand broadband infrastructure across the state. Arizona received final approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), paving the way for the project’s implementation.
Arizona’s Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment Program (BEAD) is the state’s largest-ever broadband investment, furthering Governor Hobbs’ goal of ensuring reliable, high-speed internet connection for all Arizonans by 2030 through her ConnectAllAZ initiative. Arizona’s BEAD plan leverages significant private investment and features a mix of technologies that reflect Arizona’s diverse geography.
“Opportunity for every Arizonan means access to fast, affordable, reliable internet, no matter your zip code,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “With this historic investment, we’re not just closing the digital divide, but also opening doors to economic opportunity in every corner of our state. I’m grateful to the ACA and everyone who has played a role in advancing this critical project. From education to health care to workforce development, broadband is key to Arizona’s present and future.”
Following extensive planning, community engagement, and stakeholder outreach efforts, the ACA submitted Arizona’s BEAD Final Proposal to NTIA on September 4, 2025. Arizona’s plan outlines 70 project areas, with roughly 160,000 eligible households (Broadband Serviceable Locations) and 1,256 Community Anchor Institutions, such as schools, libraries, and hospitals, that are currently not connected to quality, reliable high-speed internet. The total investment is $967 million, including $447 million in federal funding and $520 million in private-sector matching funds.
The plan enables the installation of more than 7,709 miles of fiber-optic infrastructure, supporting the creation of roughly 5,000 jobs and connecting hundreds of thousands of Arizonans to reliable, affordable high-speed internet.
| County | BEAD Subsidy | Provider Match | Total | BSLs | CAIs |
| Graham | $1,375,788 | $4,922,317 | $6,298,105 | 1,477 | 77 |
| County | BEAD Subsidy | Provider Match | Total | BSLs | CAIs |
| Greenlee | $1,182,395 | $9,267,184 | $10,449,579 | 1,316 | 62 |
“Congratulations to Arizona on the approval of their BEAD Final Proposal. Arizona’s plan leverages a strong mix of technologies, commits substantial matching funds, and identifies significant cost efficiencies,” said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth. “This thoughtful and strategic proposal reflects the principles of our Benefit of the Bargain reforms, ensuring every dollar delivers real value to Arizonans.”
“Every Arizonan, regardless of their zip code, deserves access to reliable, high-speed internet, and this final approval means many communities are one step closer to getting connected,” said Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
“I’m glad to see that the NTIA approved Arizona’s proposal for the BEAD program to expand broadband internet access to communities that need it most, like rural and Tribal areas. This program was something I fought to include in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I’m excited to see these funds get to work in Arizona,” said Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego.
To develop Arizona’s BEAD plan, the ACA facilitated more than 365 outreach engagements across the state, reaching more than 5,000 stakeholders. The process included an extensive effort to identify addresses not on the federal broadband map, resulting in the inclusion of an additional 60,000 Arizona households in the BEAD Program and an increase of $273 million in Arizona’s BEAD award. BEAD builds on existing state investments and federal partnerships, including the Arizona Statewide Middle Mile Network, Arizona Broadband Development Grant Program, and Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grant Program, representing more than $1 billion in total public investment in Arizona’s broadband infrastructure as part of Governor Hobbs’ ConnectAllAZ initiative.
Arizona’s approved BEAD Plan leverages existing infrastructure and prioritizes unserved and underserved households to improve connectivity, support economic growth, and enhance access to education and health care throughout Arizona.
To accelerate the deployment of broadband infrastructure, the ACA launched the Arizona Permit Finder, a first-of-its-kind interactive permitting map. The tool consolidates permitting requirements into a centralized source, ensuring Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and subgrant recipients have access to important agency and contact information.
With NTIA’s approval of Arizona’s BEAD Final Proposal, the submission moves to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for final review. Upon NIST’s approval, the ACA will receive a Notice of Award from NTIA, enabling Arizona to access BEAD funds for broadband deployment. The ACA continues to support subgrantees with environmental reviews, permitting, and deployment planning. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2026.
Read more about Arizona’s comprehensive broadband initiatives at ConnectAllAZ.com.
