Incompas Broadland Releases BEAD 'Broadband Ready' Checklist

Incompas' Broadland released a "broadband ready city checklist" Thursday that offers best practices for cities preparing to administer NTIA's broadband, equity, access and deployment program. The checklist recommends a focus on "objectively reasonable costs," streamlining the review process for zoning or permitting applications, establishing transparent procedures, encouraging innovation, and "smart street restoration obligations." Preparing for infrastructure projects is "critical" and the checklist is "designed to promote public and private sector partnerships," said Incompas CEO Chip Pickering, who co-chairs Broadland. It "helps ensure that broadband money goes to broadband projects,” said Broadland co-chair Mignon Clyburn, former FCC commissioner.