Broadband expansion in the U.S. is entering a pivotal phase — one where funding alone won’t guarantee success. As billions flow through federal and state programs, two themes are coming into sharper focus: the need for continuous performance monitoring and the expanding role of non-terrestrial networks in closing coverage gaps.

Ookla’s Bryan Darr warns that the next challenge isn’t simply building networks, but ensuring they work as promised. States will need regular, verifiable performance testing to validate that BEAD-funded deployments deliver the speeds, reliability, and quality of experience they’ve committed to. Without ongoing measurement, he argues, policymakers risk missing early signs of service degradation or underperformance, issues that become increasingly difficult and costly to correct after deployment.

At the same time, satellite broadband is emerging as a serious contender within BEAD. Policymakers are reconsidering how low-Earth orbit constellations and other non-terrestrial networks could complement fiber and fixed wireless, particularly in remote or topographically challenging regions where traditional builds remain prohibitively expensive or slow. If adopted at scale, satellites could reshape BEAD’s funding priorities and accelerate rural connectivity timelines.

Broadband in the U.S. success will depend not only on new infrastructure, but on how consistently — and how creatively — we evaluate and extend it.