The Office of the Governor of Guam announced a milestone in the island’s efforts to improve broadband access. The Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment challenge process has officially concluded, setting the stage for expanded, high-speed internet coverage across Guam, according to a press release from Adelup.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero emphasized the significance of this development for the future of the island. “The successful completion of the broadband challenge process reflects our commitment to ensuring every resident – from Yigo in the north to Inalåhan in the south – has access to affordable, high-speed internet,” she said, noting that this effort will bring opportunities for education, health care and economic development.
According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the BEAD challenge process allows local governments, community groups and internet companies to question whether the government agency in charge of distributing BEAD funds has correctly identified areas that need better internet service. This is important because it ensures that the money goes to the places where it’s most needed.
The BEAD program, administered by the NTIA, awarded Guam more than $156 million to strengthen its broadband infrastructure.
A total of 43 challenges were submitted, covering 22,800 service locations, most of which involved discrepancies about areas marked as served but lacking actual high-speed internet or served but based on planned future expansion rather than current availability. After a detailed review, about 60% of the challenged locations were approved.
“This milestone is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our government agencies, private partners and community members,” Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio said in the release. “The validated data we’ve gathered provides a solid foundation for the implementation phase.”
The Guam Daily Post reached out to Melissa Bettis at the Office of Infrastructure Policy and Development, who said the $156 million investment will fund the construction of new fiber optic and wireless networks to reach underserved and remote areas. Existing networks will also be upgraded to meet modern speed and performance standards. Service providers will receive grants to support the expansion of affordable broadband services, while community programs will help boost digital literacy, ensuring residents are equipped to take full advantage of improved connectivity.
Bettis also emphasized the importance of the investment in covering costs for training and education of a skilled local workforce to build and maintain an advanced broadband infrastructure.
“This comprehensive approach aims to bridge the digital divide by ensuring that all Guam residents, regardless of location, can access reliable, high-speed internet for education, health care, business and personal use,” said Bettis.
Guam faces unique challenges in broadband deployment, including geographic limitations and outdated maps. The challenge process helped address these issues by correcting misclassifications and updating coverage maps to more accurately represent service availability.
“Accurate mapping is crucial for effective planning and allocation of resources to areas that need them most,” said Bettis.
Tenorio said, “The validated data we’ve gathered provides a solid foundation for the implementation phase, allowing us to allocate resources effectively.”
Looking ahead, the next step involves submitting the challenge results to NTIA for further validation, expected within two weeks. Once officially validated, the findings will be made publicly available. Following this, a public notice will outline the final classifications of service areas, and work will begin on infrastructure development.
Guam residents can expect to see broadband improvements in the next 12 to 24 months. The Office of Infrastructure Policy and Development is focused on accelerating the expansion of high-speed internet access to all targeted regions within two years, with ongoing updates provided to the public about project milestones.
“While exact timelines may vary based on factors like construction challenges and supply chains, the office aims to expedite the process to deliver tangible benefits to the people of Guam as soon as possible,” said Bettis.
For more information on Guam’s broadband initiatives, visit the Office of Infrastructure Policy and Development website at broadband.guam.gov or email the office at broadband@guam.gov.
