September 8, 2026 — EA has been awarded two separate contracts to support projects to be completed under the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (opens in a new tab) (BEAD) grant program, which is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Focused on environmental and historic preservation compliance, the combined value of the agreements exceeds $6.6 million. Program support in Washington is performed through the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Broadband Office under a multi-year contract valued at more than $5.34 million. EA’s work in Guam is carried out under a $1.28 million multi-year contract with the Guam Office of Infrastructure Policy and Development.
“With long-established offices in Seattle and Guam, our local experience provides us with extensive knowledge of the logistical, cultural, and regulatory considerations required for initiatives of this size,” said Jen Martin Bouchard, Senior Vice President, and Director of EA’s Pacific Operations. “These contract awards demonstrate confidence in our team’s technical expertise, local knowledge, and successful history of collaboration on environmental compliance and regulatory documentation for similarly scaled telecommunications and infrastructure enhancement programs.”
Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the $42 billion BEAD grant program focuses on expanding access to high-speed internet for Americans throughout all 56 U.S. states and territories. The work performed under these contracts will involve providing technical expertise and staffing to support compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and other regulatory frameworks related to environmental, cultural, and historic resources. Tasks involve conducting necessary studies, working with federal and local agencies, developing materials and review processes for grant recipients to streamline compliance with regulations, and supporting oversight and providing direct technical assistance to grant recipients.
EA is recognized for expertise in the management of NEPA compliance. As part of the firm’s comprehensive infrastructure support capabilities, our professionals have prepared hundreds of NEPA compliance documents nationwide for infrastructure and telecommunications projects.
