Comcast to Be Bigger BEAD Player Than It Was RDOF: CFO

Comcast wasn't a big participant in the FCC's rural digital opportunity fund program, but it will likely try to be a bigger player in NTIA's broadband equity, access and deployment program, Chief Financial Officer Jason Armstrong said Monday during a Deutsche Bank Investor Conference. RDOF was more an "untested" program that didn't have "the best risk/reward," he said. BEAD funding to states is "a more seasoned process," he said. He said fiber overbuilding is picking up in Comcast's footprint but discounted the competitive threat. He said 45% of homes in Comcast's footprint also are passed by a fiber competitor, with that going to 60% within a few years. But fiber "is a costly upgrade" and cable is able to upgrade to multigig symmetrical speeds far more cheaply, he said. He said fixed wireless providers are "clearly having their moment" but won't be a long-term competitor.