What State Broadband Offices Are Focused on Now: BEAD Initial Proposals and More

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced how much Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding each of the 50 states would be allocated. The answer varies from state to state, but one thing they all have in common is that Volume 1 and Volume 2 of their initial proposals are due December 27, 2023. Once NTIA approves the proposal, the state will get 20 percent of its BEAD funding. Volume 1 must include: Existing broadband funding, Unserved and underserved locations, Community anchor institutions, Challenge process plans. Volume 2 must include: Local tribal and regional planning coordination, How initial 20 percent of BEAD funds will be used, Low-cost options & affordability plans, Labor standards and readiness, Minority & women-owned business inclusion, Climate assessment, Other details.

Some states also are working on BEAD five-year plans. Rules call for states to file these within 270 days of when their BEAD planning funds were released. The BEAD Five-Year Plan must include:

• Existing broadband program information,
• State broadband funding currently available and where it came from,
• Existing federal funding, including Universal Service Fund (USF),
• Employees to be involved in BEAD,
• Known or potential BEAD implementation barriers,
• “Asset inventory” about broadband activities and partners such as community anchor institutions, community organizations,
• External engagement process description,
• Data available such as Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) enrollment, NTIA internet use survey, American Community Survey, NTIA Indications of Broadband Needs Map,
• Local and regional broadband service needs and gaps, including unserved and underserved locations and community anchor institutions without 1 Gbps connectivity,
• Digital equity and inclusion needs, goals and strategies,
• Alignment of plan with other economic development, telehealth, workforce development plans,
• Technical assistance and additional capacity needed,
• High-level planning.

The latter planning must include:

• estimated timeline and cost for universal service,
• planned utilization of federal, state and local funding,
• priority of areas for federal support,
• any consideration about public-private partnerships or cooperatives,
• strategies to address affordability issues,
• strategies to ensure skilled workforce and labor standards plans.