Reconsidering Hybrid Networks: Facing Post-BEAD Realities
When the revised guidelines for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program were released on June 6, 2025, the broadband landscape underwent a fundamental shift. What began as a fiber-first mandate has evolved into an approach that recognizes the realities of serving the United States’ hardest-to-reach
locations. The question is no longer whether technologies like fixed wireless access (FWA) will play a role in broadband expansion, but how providers can consider hybrid networks that incorporate fiber and FWA technology while maintaining quality and long-term viability.
This white paper looks at the new post-BEAD realities, how hybrid networks can meet current broadband needs and are scalable to meet future broadband needs, and some benefits and challenges of hybrid networks.