CostQuest Associates

The U.S. fixed broadband market is entering a new era of competition – and the battle for subscribers is heating up.🔌 Key #FixedBroadband Insights: 🔵 Approximately 28% of new fiber is now being built to homes already served by both fiber and cable providers, signaling intensifying competition in urban markets. 🔵 Smaller providers are becoming aggressive overbuilders, with ~40% of their new builds targeting second-fiber markets – up from 18% in 2022. 🔵 Large cable operators maintain national penetration rates above 50%, yet are experiencing subscriber losses despite continued network expansion. 🔵 Licensed fixed wireless remains a credible alternative in suburban and rural markets, while unlicensed fixed wireless shrinks where wireline overbuilds occur. As BEAD funding rolls out and fiber pushes deeper into legacy territories, the key question is no longer just where service exists – but where competitive pressure and ROI will shift next. Explore the latest Broadband in America: Fixed Broadband Competition Focus report to understand how America's broadband landscape is transforming. ⬇️ costquest.com/resources/arti… #BroadbandinAmerica #broadband #fiber #broadbandcompetition

The 60-day clock is ticking. For State Broadband Offices, an estimated $21 billion in remaining #BEAD funds is about to come into focus, and preparation starts now. Here's the reality: NTIA's forthcoming policy notice will outline how states can access remaining BEAD funding, and how state AI laws may affect eligibility. SBOs already have plenty on their plates – Final Proposal approvals, award negotiations, project kickoffs, EHP compliance – but the magnitude of these funds demands attention today. The difference between states that are ready and those that scramble? Asking the right questions early. Questions like: 🔷 Is my state eligible? Identify existing AI-related statutes, regulations, and pending bills now, clarifying legislative intent early can prevent innocuous laws from being misidentified as "onerous." 🔷 Do our priorities align with federal goals? Stress test non-deployment priorities through two lenses: advancing US AI leadership and delivering clear, non-duplicative value to taxpayers. 🔷 Can we move quickly when the window opens? Think through what an "Initial Proposal Volume III-type" submission would require: needs assessment, partner buy-in, budget development, permitting acceleration concepts. Remaining BEAD funds don't have to catch your state off guard. With deliberate planning now, your program can be positioned to respond quickly and credibly. The CQI Team – CostQuest, #QuadraPartners and @itgcomm – brings funding strategy, program design, data, and policy experience to help states navigate what comes next. Learn more about preparing for the remaining BEAD funding opportunity in this featured CQI blog written by Brian Mitchell, Principal Consultant at ITG, with contributions from CQI Team members: costquest.info/bead-early-con…

One point of friction State Broadband Offices (SBOs) often encounter in the post-award grant oversight process: widespread evidence gaps in subgrantee milestone submissions. This is usually a shared understanding issue where there is misalignment on what a “complete” milestone submission package includes. Gaps in submissions often present themselves when SBOs receive: 🔹 Evidence photos with missing geotags 🔹 Unlabeled test results 🔹 Or as-built drawings that don’t reconcile with the BSL list The best way to prevent gaps is to make submission standards visible early: 🔹 Provide a “perfect milestone submission package” + examples 🔹 Host a how-to submission clinic (with a first-round grace period) 🔹 Share the top 2 recurring issues and solutions across the reporting lifecycle Clear standards and preventive support upfront = fewer rejections, faster payments, and less rework and delay Head to the latest CQI Team blog for insights on preventing common post-award compliance challenges and delays before they happen: bit.ly/bsl-mismatches

🎉 As we celebrate 25 years of CostQuest, we’re excited to share the next chapter in our growth. What began as four consultants working together to solve complex challenges for commercial telecommunications companies has now grown into a team of more than 65 employee-owners. This last year, our team turned ambition into momentum – and momentum into outcomes. We expanded how customers and partners access our data – by launching new products, strengthening APIs, and advancing platforms like TrueVerra.io. We’ve supported evolving federal use cases, from HUBB and Universal Service Fund filings to BEAD award selection, and delivered intuitive dashboards that bring broadband availability and market trends into sharper focus. 🌟To scale this impact into the next quarter century, we’re proud to announce the newest members of our executive team: Dan Gordon, Chief Product Officer Cher Rowland Henton, Chief Revenue Officer Elizabeth Meiszer, Chief Operating Officer Richard Rousselot, Chief Technology Officer Robb Stohlman, Chief Information Officer This next generation of executives brings deep operational, technical, and commercial expertise, positioning us to accelerate innovation, strengthen customer outcomes, and be good stewards that solve real complex challenges and make a meaningful difference across communities. We’re grateful to our employees, partners, and customers for the trust and collaboration that make this next step possible – and we’re energized for what’s ahead in 2026 and beyond. Read a note from our CEO and co-founder, Jim Stegeman, to learn more about the next generation of CostQuest leadership: costquest.info/49LQri8

Avoiding post-award compliance pitfalls starts well before anything goes wrong. One of the biggest post-award challenges for BEAD will be tracking and keeping Broadband Serviceable Location (BSL) data from the #Fabric in sync as projects progress during the multi-year network build-out period. Even when every location has a location_id, things can drift over time: 🔷 Fabric is updated biannually, and versions evolve – location_ids added, retired or reclassified 🔷 Field conditions change 🔷 Evidence references addresses or internal work order numbers instead of location IDs 🔷 Reviewers and subgrantees work from different Fabric versions (snapshots in time) 🔷 New construction, long driveways, etc. The solution is better alignment: automated Fabric feeds help capture BSL changes early, flag impacts to active projects, and keep SBOs, reviewers, and subgrantees working from the same source of truth. Head to the latest CQI blog to learn which issues show up post-award and how simple data practices can prevent compliance friction before it turns into delay. cqiteam.com/blog/red-flags… #BEAD #Broadband

New year, renewed focus. Looking forward to continuing the work and partnerships that move progress forward.

Not all broadband mapping data is created equally! The difference isn’t just resolution: it’s the type of information available. Here’s how the two views compare: ➡️ Hex-level data summarizes an area ➡️ Location-level data describes individual structures At the hex level, you typically see: 🔹 A geographic boundary 🔹 An aggregated count of locations 🔹 High-level coverage or eligibility indicators What’s missing? Hex-level views don’t show where individual structures are located, what type of buildings they are, or how many units exist at each location. Every structure inside the hex is reduced to a single summary statistic. Location-level data fills in those gaps. With location-level mapping from the Broadband Fabric, each Broadband Serviceable Location (BSL) is represented as its own record, complete with precise coordinates and structure attributes. What you gain at the location level: ✅ Exact latitude and longitude for each structure ✅ Precise rooftop placement ✅ Individual addresses tied to Location IDs ✅ Building type and land use classification ✅ Unit counts per structure Click here to easily capture coordinate-level location data: costquest.info/4p13xws

**Planning to a general area on a map vs. planning to an actual building?** There can be a big cost and time differential when planning networks to general areas versus the exact coordinates of location structures. Here's what we commonly see: ➡️ A network planner draws up the network design ➡️ The finance team approves the build cost ➡️ Construction starts ➡️ Reality hits: the planned drop point ends up 40 yards from the actual building Why? When network designs rely on incorrect coordinates of location structures, planned network drop points often land along road centerlines or parcel centroids instead of the actual customer structure. The fix? Use a validated database of exact structure coordinates. The results: ✅ Your network plans reflect real drop distances ✅ More accurate build plans and cost models ✅ Fewer construction change orders and field corrections ✅ Change orders drop dramatically ✅ Faster, more predictable service delivery Click here to easily capture coordinate-level location data from the Broadband Fabric: trueverra.io/broadband-fabr…

‼️For the first time in a federal broadband grant program, compliance liability sits squarely with State Broadband Offices! The #BEAD program shifts extraordinary new compliance liability and complexity to State Broadband Offices. That's not just a policy shift – it changes how states must think about deploying and managing BEAD funding. In addition to managing new and existing subgrantees, ensuring the financial sustainability of dozens of projects, states are now responsible for tracking and reporting progress across tens or hundreds of thousands of locations. All this while ensuring stakeholders are informed and brought along for the journey. 👉 CostQuest's GrantLight system is purpose-built to bridge that gap. It's the only compliance platform with a Fabric-native data architecture, designed to help SBOs: - Identify risks before they become problems - Streamline milestone tracking and fund disbursement - Simplify NTIA reporting with validated, audit-ready data - Communicate progress to stakeholders with real-time dashboards - Focus on outcomes—not paperwork - Built by the team that knows this terrain 🌐Developed by CostQuest Associates (architects of the FCC's Location Fabric and Connect America Cost Models), alongside our expert partners #Quadra Partners and #ITG, as well as direct input from state broadband office leaders. Learn more at: costquest.info/45egTOP

How do you build a truly national picture of where broadband can (and should) go? The Fabric’s origin story starts with a national need for clarity. Before Congress enacted the Broadband Data Act, broadband availability was reported at geographic levels that inadvertently masked gaps in service. The Act required the FCC to carry out three main steps to improve coverage reporting, and one was to obtain a “common dataset of all locations in the US where fixed broadband internet access service can be installed,” leading to the creation of the FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric. CostQuest’s approach aggregates and standardizes hundreds of data sources – parcels, building footprints, tax attributes, addresses, road networks, satellite imagery – and applies advanced models plus managed visual verification to pinpoint FCC-defined broadband‑serviceable buildings. With each version, the Fabric improves: better parcel boundaries, refined footprints, enhanced address logic, and expert reviews of hundreds of thousands of locations per release. Today, the #Fabric underpins the FCC’s National Broadband Map and guides federal and state broadband funding decisions and enables private-sector providers to plan and deploy networks, ensuring investments reach the locations that need #broadband connectivity most. You can learn more about the Fabric’s origin story here: costquest.com/resources/arti…

Mobile connectivity is reshaping how Americans live, work, and stay connected – but the real story lies in how coverage quality and competition are evolving across the country. 📶 Key #Mobility Insights: 🔵 Mobile networks now cover 70% of U.S. land area and 92% of road miles, with 97% of BSL-containing hex cells showing available service 🔵 Yet less than 20% of U.S. land benefits from high signal strength, highlighting a persistent rural–urban quality divide 🔵 61% of covered areas have three or more providers, reflecting strong competitive overlap among Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile Emerging partnerships, fixed wireless growth, and the early stages of satellite integration are beginning to reshape reach, affordability and performance, while 5G densification sets the stage for future 6G innovation. Explore the latest Broadband in America: Mobility Market Focus report to dive deeper into how America’s mobile landscape is transforming. ⬇️ costquest.com/wp-content/upl… #BroadbandinAmerica #BBIA #broadband

CostQuest, #Quadra Partners, and ITG Communications, LLC (formerly Tilson) - collectively “CQI” - are announcing a partnership and the GrantLight Compliance Reporting System to support State Broadband Offices (SBOs) through the unprecedented #BEAD post-award oversight process. ➡️ Here's what's different: Unlike past programs, BEAD post-award requirements shift compliance liability to states, with SBOs ultimately responsible for fulfilling the obligations under BEAD grant agreements. BEAD is also the first program that requires reporting at the location level, utilizing the foundational National Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (Fabric) Location ID. ➡️ What this means for SBOs: SBOs need to design reporting, monitoring, and auditing processes to track millions of location-level records across the multi-year post-BEAD-award lifecycle. States must be prepared to respond to federal monitoring, strictly formatted semi-annual reports, location-level hashtag#Fabric version updates, and exact Location ID matching. ➡️ Solution - three teams in the foxhole with you: technical, advisory, and field CQI uniquely supports SBOs with end-to-end compliance and reporting solutions that alleviate the complexity of new, location-level grant oversight requirements and effectively manage all aspects of the monitoring, reporting, and auditing compliance lifecycle. BEAD success isn’t just about building networks; it’s about sustaining transparent, effective, and compliant administration that protects public dollars while accelerating reliable hashtag#broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities. Learn more and connect with our team at CQITeam.com to start building a secure post-award oversight plan: bit.ly/44PKQoc Read the full release here: bit.ly/3KO3zcW

Congratulations to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (@PSCWisconsin) on reaching a major broadband milestone: NTIA approval of its BEAD Final Proposal. This approval is a big step forward in the process of accessing their BEAD funding to connect unserved and underserved communities with high-speed internet. CostQuest is grateful for the opportunity to support Wisconsin through the BEAD process by providing Fabric data and supporting services, network cost models, and a custom-built grant award system to guide decision-making and support an accountable and transparent funding program. Wisconsin’s custom #BEAD Grant Award Management System built around ~4,000 project areas and state-specific scoring, which allowed for: 🔵 Unlocking over $696M in federal BEAD funding plus $397M in private investment 🔵 Targeting 175,464 homes and businesses for new or improved service 🔵 Supporting technology-neutral awards: 76% fiber, 14% LEO satellite, 10% fixed wireless 🔵 Achieving applications for 98% of BEAD-eligible locations across two earlier rounds CostQuest is proud to have supported Wisconsin in their efforts to expand internet access and digital opportunities for communities across Wisconsin. #broadband

🎥 Ready for our closeup! This week CostQuest team members filmed a segment for the series @AllAccessGarcia at their studio in Boca Raton, Florida. We’re excited to share an inside look at the work we do and showcase the staff driving innovation. In the segment, we’ll highlight how our location intelligence and broadband mapping data support federal, state, and industry partners in expanding high-speed internet to the homes and businesses needing it the most. A special thank you to Derrick Owens for joining us in studio and to the All Access team for making us feel right at home. Check out some behind-the-scenes moments from filming day, and stay tuned for details on when our segment will air! 🌟 #AllAccessWithAndyGarcia #AllAccess #Broadband

Sincere congratulations to the 18 states that have now received approval of their #BEAD Final Proposals! This achievement reflects years of dedication, collaboration, and determination from teams across the country. It is inspiring to see so many states reach this milestone on the road to expanding reliable broadband services for every community. CostQuest is honored to be able to support federal, state, and industry stakeholders’ efforts through the #Fabric location data, mapping, and modeling that helped inform effective BEAD allocation and network deployment decisions. Each state’s approval marks another step towards expanding much needed internet access, and CostQuest is ready to help turn these plans into real connections for real people to thrive in today’s digital world.

Wishing everyone a safe and fang-tastic #Halloween from our team and the pets who take dressing up very seriously! 🐾🎃

Following the conclusion of our first ever user conference, #FabricForward, the entire CostQuest team gathered on the Seattle waterfront for an All Team Meeting. We were able to connect across departments, share updates, and align on how we continue to deliver broadband, data and SaaS solutions that move the #broadband industry forward. The week ended with a team outing at Art Marble 21 where we could recharge before getting back to work. Collaboration drives innovation, and great things happen when the whole CostQuest team comes together! 🙌

From the conference sessions and networking to the ‘Data on the Rocks’ waterfront reception (with special guests: Mt. Rainier, the Olympic Mountains and a Seattle sunset), it was a fantastic first day of #FabricForward! Thank you to all of our speakers and panelists for sharing their expertise and supporting our attendees in making smarter #broadband decisions. We’re excited for another day of interactive discussions, real world case studies, and strategy sessions that allow for new insights and connections.

It’s day one of Fabric Forward conference sessions! We’re looking forward to exploring how location-level intelligence, data-driven decisions, and evolving #broadband programs are shaping what’s next in the industry. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our welcome reception yesterday and shared a ‘Location Level Lime’ or a ‘Fabric Fashion’ with fellow telecommunications colleagues. And thank you for allowing our Seattle-based team members to experience the highs and lows of ALCS game seven and the conclusion of the Mariners’ historic season. #FabricForward

Post-BEAD funding, are investors coming to buy your ISP, finance it, or compete in your footprint? At #FabricForward, explore how investors, lenders and competitors are reshaping the broadband landscape in the wake of #BEAD and other public and private funding. 🔵 Will dollars keep flowing, where, and who will they go to? 🔵 How will this impact your network business value? No one has a crystal ball to know the answers, but understanding the investment market outlook is key for business sustainability and positioning your organization for growth. 📊 “The Effect of New Infrastructure Investments on Network Value – From M&A to Financing” session topics: 🔵 M&A: How investors are approaching telecom acquisitions 🔵 Expansion: Balancing ROI of new builds versus acquiring existing networks 🔵 Competition: Responding to new entrants and assessing how economics shift 🔵 Financing: Lending, debt, and interest rate considerations for future growth 🔵 Valuation: Network appraisals and ensuring fair value of infrastructure 🎤 Speaker: Thomas Coffey, ASA, CostQuest – AVP of Valuation Systems We’re looking forward to this discussion and hope to see you there! Submit your questions in advance: forms.office.com/Pages/Response…