Strategic Insights for Broadband Deployment
with Ashley Travers, KGPCo, and Brendan O’Boyle, Preformed Line Products (PLP)
September 23, 2025
The BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program is finally gaining momentum after years of revisions, delays, and uncertainty. With $42.5 billion in funding designed to close the digital divide, states are now submitting final proposals, and approvals are expected later this year. But as KGPCo’s Ashley Travers and PLP’s Brendan O’Boyle discussed in a recent webinar, the road ahead is filled with both opportunities and challenges.
Compliance Takes Center Stage
The Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act has shifted from a perceived formality to a real compliance requirement. Service providers and manufacturers alike are being asked to document and certify their supply chains. PLP, for example, has invested heavily in U.S.-based facilities to ensure compliance, yet the logistics of labeling, inventory management, and part number tracking remain complex. As O’Boyle explained:
“It’s not enough to make it in the U.S.—you have to prove it. Even though we manufacture here, we still have to spend a lot to demonstrate compliance, and operators are taking that seriously.”
Supply Chain Pressures Are Coming
While COVID-era shortages taught the industry hard lessons, the coming BEAD-driven demand surge could create similar strains. Fiber is already in short supply, and with all 56 states and territories poised to begin projects nearly simultaneously, lead times and prices are expected to climb. Both speakers urged operators to act early, secure materials in advance, even if it’s in smaller increments, and validate supplier readiness for BABA-compliant components.
Travers emphasized the urgency:
“We’re not in a place of plenty right now with fiber, and BEAD hasn’t even kicked off. Ordering early—even in bite-sized pieces—is one of the best things providers can do to prepare.”
Balancing Speed, Cost, and Quality
A troubling trend is emerging: some ISPs are cutting corners to save costs and accelerate builds, opting for cheaper, less durable solutions. While this may meet short-term deployment goals, it risks creating fragile networks that will require costly rebuilding in the future. As O’Boyle warned:
“We’re seeing money poured into the market and networks slapped together just to get light to the end user. That’s not a good look—and it could mean we’ll be funding rebuilds down the line.”
Travers added that deployment success is not just about construction:
“BEAD isn’t just about building networks—it’s about ensuring communities can actually use them. Education, adoption, and digital literacy are just as important as fiber in the ground.”
Looking Ahead
The message is clear: success under BEAD will require proactive planning, early supply chain engagement, and a commitment to quality. There will be winners and losers in this historic program, but with the right strategy and partners, providers can position themselves for long-term success.
KGPCo is here to help you navigate BEAD—from sourcing compliant products to building resilient networks that last.
Whether you’re scaling to cover a re-awarded footprint or needing integration and supply chain support for an accelerated deployment, KGPCo is your strategic partner. From BABA-compliant materials to end-to-end integration and logistics, we help ensure your projects are built right, built fast, and built to last.
Ready to Move Forward? Let’s Talk.
[[email protected]] | [www.kgpco.com] | [+1 (800) 328-5142]
Let’s build the future of connectivity—together.
