WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2025 – Three more states this week opened the door to applicants seeking funding under a federal program designed to close the digital divide in rural America.

That announcements by Arizona, Arkansas, and New Hampshire meant that at least 20 states have reached the same application milestone under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 set aside $42.5 billion for getting broadband to every home and business in the country, with states and territories getting individual allocations to dole out themselves. Arkansas began taking applications for funding Tuesday, with Arizona and New Hampshire getting started on Monday.

Arkansas and Arizona received $1.02 billion and $993 million respectively, while New Hampshire, with a relatively smaller and less remote unserved population, took home $196 million. The eligible location count is 84,000 in Arkansas, 184,298 in Arizona, and 9,527 in New Hampshire, according to data from the states’ challenge processes. States had to accept and adjudicate challenges to government broadband data before funding projects under the program.

Arkansas and Arizona are both planning on multiple rounds of applications in an effort to ensure universal coverage. States can also negotiate directly with providers.

At least three states have put forward their preliminary awards under the program, spending plans that will have to be approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration before projects get underway. NTIA chief Alan Davidson is stepping down Jan. 20, and it’s not clear who will head the agency under the incoming Trump administration. 

Republicans have strongly criticized the program, in part because of its preference for fiber broadband. That and satellite ISP-owner Elon Musk becoming a close advisor to Trump have sparked speculation that rules might be changed going forward but states have been moving ahead under the current project selection rules. 

States can fund non-fiber projects when fiber exceeds a cost threshold they decide on, or if no fiber providers show interest in a given area. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, has promised to “review” the fiber preference and other spending provisions in his new role.

In the states that have made tentative awards—Louisiana, Nevada, and Delaware—fiber has been the go-to technology, covering at least 80 percent of eligible locations in each state. Louisiana and Nevada did award money to satellite providers, with Nevada tapping Amazon’s nascent Project Kuiper service. Louisiana was still hammering out the terms of the deal when it released its draft spending plan and hasn’t said which satellite provider it’s going with.

Massachusetts is set to open its application window Wednesday, with Michigan following Thursday.

The season is young, but there can be little debate about which team deserves to be at the top of New Hampshire’s girls basketball Top 10 rankings.

In a match-up between programs that each won a state championship last season, Bedford beat Bishop Feehan of Attleboro, Mass., to win the Londonderry Holiday Classic. Bedford then improved its Division I record to 4-0 by beating Walpole, Mass., 54-27 Saturday. 

So the top storyline entering the 2025 portion of the season is this: Can anyone beat the Bulldogs?

Records are through games played Jan. 4.

Previous rank: 1

The Bulldogs have plenty of scoring, but they also have a great defense. Bedford hasn’t allowed more than 32 points in any of its four Division I wins.

Previous rank: 2

We’ll get a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup when Pinkerton plays at Bedford on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs beat the Astros in last year’s Division I championship game.

Previous rank: 3

If you had to select one NHIAA player to build a team around, Londonderry’s Sammie Sullivan might be the pick.

Previous rank: 4

The Blue Devils will face their stiffest challenge when they play Londonderry on Friday.

Previous rank: 10

The Jaguars are unbeaten, but have feasted on a soft schedule. Windham has yet to play a team with a record over the .500 mark.

Previous rank: 9

Alvirne’s only loss came against second-ranked Pinkerton.

Previous rank: 8

Macy Swormstedt scored the 1,000th point of her high school career last season and is a Player of the Year candidate in Division II. The Sachems are the highest-ranked team not in Division I.

Previous rank: 6

The Kingsmen are seeking their fourth title in four seasons, all in different divisions.

Previous rank: Not ranked

Derryfield and Bow are two of the four unbeaten teams remaining in Division II. Those teams will meet in Derryfield on Tuesday night.

Previous rank: Not ranked

St. Thomas is the only Division III team in this week’s Top 10.