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HR 6920

SUCCESS for BEAD Act

119th Congress Introduced by Andy Barr and 1 co-sponsor

Uses leftover BEAD funds for competitive subgrants to boost public safety, national security, AI-ready broadband, workforce development, and interoperable emergency networks.

Introduced in House
2
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 6920

Summary: H.R. 6920 — SUCCESS for BEAD Act

What this bill aims to do

  • Official title: Supporting U.S. Critical Connectivity and Economic Strategy and Security for BEAD Act (the “SUCCESS for BEAD Act”).
  • Purpose: To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to authorize the use of remaining funds under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program for competitive subgrants, with a focus on advancing the success of broadband deployment projects and enhancing national security, public safety, workforce development, and AI-supportive telecommunications infrastructure.

Key provisions and changes

Section 1: Short title

  • Establishes the act as the SUCCESS for BEAD Act.

Section 2: Findings

  • Argues that any BEAD funds remaining after an eligible entity’s final proposal approval should be used to enhance and sustain BEAD-funded broadband deployment projects.
  • Highlights broader objectives:
    • Strengthening U.S. telecommunications infrastructure (high-capacity fiber, network interconnection).
    • Developing a targeted workforce to deploy and scale AI technologies.
    • Modernizing and hardening networks (including 9–1–1 systems) for public safety and national security.
    • Framing competition with geopolitical considerations, notably referencing China’s investments in AI and infrastructure.

Section 3: BEAD subgrants for public safety, national security, workforce development, and meaningful use of AI-supportive telecommunications infrastructure

  • Amends Section 60102 of IIJA to reorganize and expand eligible subgrant activities, with emphasis on:
    • Creating new definitions for key terms (e.g., 9–1–1 request for emergency assistance, Artificial Intelligence as defined by the National AI Initiative Act, ARDS standards, Emergency Communications Center, Interoperability, Internet Exchange Point).
    • Establishing emergency communications and interoperability standards to ensure cross-jurisdictional, open, and publicly accessible standards processes.
    • Defining an Emergency Communications Center’s functions (processing 9–1–1 requests, dispatching, data exchange with other centers, incident command support, etc.).
    • Promoting interoperability and open, non-proprietary interfaces to facilitate data sharing among emergency response networks and providers.
    • Clarifying the role of Internet Exchange Points as critical infrastructure enabling direct interconnection among ISPs, networks, and AI systems.

Note: The text provided includes substantial definitional insertions and organizational changes intended to align BEAD-related investments with public safety, national security, workforce development, and the interoperable deployment of AI-capable infrastructure.

Who would be affected

  • Eligible BEAD program entities (state, local, tribal authorities, or other BEAD-eligible recipients) administering BEAD funds.
  • Emergency communications centers (911 centers) and related public safety answering points.
  • Telecommunications providers, network operators, and AI-related infrastructure developers involved in BEAD-funded projects.
  • Workforce development partners and institutions involved in training for AI-enabled telecommunications deployment.
  • General public safety and national security stakeholders reliant on robust, interoperable broadband networks.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on December 23, 2025.
  • Sponsored by Rep. Barr (and Rep. Rogers of Kentucky) and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  • The bill would amend existing IIJA authorities; specific implementation timelines would depend on subsequent legislative action (committee revisions, floor consideration, and potentialSenate passage).

Bottom line

H.R. 6920 seeks to maximize the impact of BEAD investments by using any remaining funds for competitive subgrants aimed at ensuring successful deployment, with a strong emphasis on public safety, AI-enabled infrastructure, workforce development, and interoperable emergency communications. It adds detailed definitions and standards to support a more integrated, secure, and AI-ready broadband ecosystem.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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