Wyoming moves forward with $198M in BEAD last-mile awards

The Wyoming Broadband Office signed the NIST Notice of Award Amendment on Jan. 9, 2026, formally launching the next phase of the state's BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program. The action cleared the way for the state to move from planning into contracts and project rollout after being allocated about $348 million in federal funds.

Under the amendment, the WBO awarded roughly $198 million in last‑mile deployment projects to 13 subgrantees covering 65 projects statewide. WBO and the Wyoming Business Council described the awards as a major step toward connecting nearly 39,000 unserved and underserved locations across Wyoming, and said the planned work reflects savings of more than $100 million compared with earlier cost estimates.

For Albany County residents and businesses, the announcement signals that federal and state resources are now positioned to fund concrete buildouts. The immediate next steps listed by the state include contract negotiations with subgrantees, publication of subgrantee agreements, and technical‑assistance webinars for recipients and local stakeholders. Those actions will determine which providers begin construction in specific towns and rural stretches that remain without reliable internet service.

Broadband expansion in the county could affect everyday life here: improved last‑mile service would expand access for students, telehealth users, remote workers and agricultural operations that increasingly rely on digital tools. For the University of Wyoming and local employers, better connectivity also strengthens ties to national and global markets and supports remote collaboration that has become a fixture of the modern economy.

State officials emphasize the efficiency of the current awards, noting the program now expects to connect nearly 39,000 locations at a lower projected cost than earlier estimates. Federal BEAD dollars are part of a national push to close the digital divide; for Wyoming, the funds must now translate into contracts, permitting, pole agreements and on‑the‑ground construction before residents see service changes.

Albany County leaders, municipal staff and local internet providers should monitor the WBO and Wyoming Business Council announcements as subgrantee agreements are published and webinars are scheduled. Those public postings will show which providers have been awarded projects in specific areas and outline timelines for deployment.

The signing of the NIST amendment clears the bureaucratic hurdle; the coming months will test whether awarded projects move quickly from paper to poles and fiber. For residents, the practical measure will be new, reliable connections where they are needed most and clearer timelines from awarded providers on when those connections will arrive.