Carrier-Neutral Infrastructure

Carrier-neutral infrastructure is broadband infrastructure—such as fiber networks, conduit, towers, data centers, and interconnection facilities—that is owned or operated independently of any single service provider and made available on equal, nondiscriminatory terms to multiple carriers and service providers. This model promotes competition, resiliency, and efficient use of shared physical assets.

In the BEAD context, carrier-neutral infrastructure enables states to extend the impact of federal broadband investments by lowering barriers to market entry, reducing duplicative construction, and supporting multiple last-mile and wireless providers from a common high-capacity backbone. Carrier-neutral fiber and interconnection facilities strengthen middle-mile connectivity, support 5G and successor wireless deployments, and improve network redundancy—positioning BEAD-funded infrastructure as durable, future-ready assets that serve public, economic, and national security objectives.