THE BROADBAND EQUITY ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT (BEAD

THE BROADBAND EQUITY

ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT

(BEAD) PROGRAM

MAY 2022

PROGRAM DETAILS FOR APPLICANTS

Topics for

discussion

Eligible Entity application process

• Letter of Intent and planning funds application

• Five-Year Action Plan

• Initial Proposal

• Final Proposal

Eligible Entity and subgrantee obligations

Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Today's webinar will focus on BEAD – the largest of the four high-

speed Internet programs administered by NTIA

$42.45B

Broadband Equity, Access

& Deployment Program

A program to get all

Americans online by funding

partnerships between states

or territories, communities,

and stakeholders to build

infrastructure where we need

it and increase adoption of

high-speed internet.

BEAD

$2.75B

Digital Equity Act

Three programs that provide

funding to promote digital

inclusion and advance equity

for all. They aim to ensure

that all communities can

access and use affordable,

reliable high-speed internet

to meet their needs and

improve their lives.

DIGITAL

EQUITY

Tribal Connectivity

Technical Amendments

A program to help tribal

communities expand high-

speed internet access and

adoption on tribal lands.

$2.00B

TRIBAL

$1.00B

Enabling Middle Mile

Broadband Infrastructure

A program to expand

middle mile infrastructure,

to reduce the cost of

connecting unserved and

underserved areas.

MIDDLE

MILE

1. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

Note: Funding amounts inclusive of all administrative set-asides

Today's focus

BEAD Program will provide ~$42.45B for infrastructure planning

and implementation

Funding pool

$42.45B

Entities eligible to apply for this program include:

• All 50 States

• The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico

• Other Territories: U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Example eligible uses of funds include:

A program to get all Americans

online by funding partnerships

between states or territories,

communities, and stakeholders

to build infrastructure where we

need it and increase adoption of

high-speed internet.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Planning for

deployment

of Internet

Deploying or

upgrading

Internet

Installing

Internet in

multi-tenant

buildings

Implementing

adoption and

digital equity

programs

Workforce

and job

training

ESTIMATED TIMELINE

Timeline approximate unless exact date specified

Due

7/18

Due 270 days after planning

funds received

Due 180 days after new DATA maps

and notice of fundings amounts issued

Due 365 days after

initial proposal approval

live 5/13

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026+

5-year plan

Final proposal

LOI 4-year implementation

Initial proposal

NOFO

1. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), available here.

The BEAD Program is closely linked to the Digital Equity Act

States and territories should view the BEAD NOFO and State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program

NOFO holistically under a singular, unified objective of closing the digital divide

BEAD Initial and Final Proposals

are informed by and complementary,

sequenced, and integrated with

State Digital Equity Plans

Local coordination ensures overlap

between planning teams and form

communication pathways to reduce

the burden and confusion on

community stakeholders

BEAD links

to the

Digital

Equity Act

BEAD Five-Year Plans fully incorporate

State Digital Equity Plans

The BEAD Program helps deliver broadband access, affordability,

and adoption

Access

Adoption and

equity

Affordability

Increases access for unserved and underserved households to ensure that all

Americans have access to high-speed Internet

Ensures Americans have access to high-quality, broadband services to support

full participation in the 21st century economy and beyond

Enables investment in digital skills training to increase the number of

households adopting high-speed Internet and narrow adoption disparities

Makes investments to ensure Americans can participate in economy & society,

reducing inequities across sectors, including healthcare, workforce & education

Supports affordability of broadband services, esp. in low-income households

Fosters a system that promotes long-term, sustainable, affordable solutions

Funding is initially based on a minimum allocation with additional

funding allocations based on high-cost and unserved locations

The Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) will publish new

broadband coverage maps

(Broadband DATA Maps)

The Broadband DATA Maps will be

used to determine an Eligible

Entity's total funding allocation

Minimum allocations by entity:

•

$100M for each State, the

District of Columbia, and Puerto

Rico

• $25M for American Samoa,

Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands,

and the Commonwealth of the

Northern Mariana Islands

Additional allocation is based on the

number of unserved locations in

high-cost areas in the Eligible

Entity and the number of unserved

locations in the Eligible Entity

New FCC Broadband DATA

Maps will be utilized

Eligible Entities receive a

minimum allocation

Additional allocation based

on unserved locations

BEAD to prioritize complete coverage of unserved locations and

underserved locations (where funding permits)

Complete coverage of unserved locations (incl. by deploying Wi-Fi to

multi-family buildings)

Complete coverage of underserved locations (where funding permits)

NTIA urges use of remaining funds for Community Anchor

Institutions (CAIs) before other eligible uses

Note: If an Eligible Entity has a plan to deploy service to all unserved and underserved locations within its

jurisdiction, it may pursue non-deployment initiatives before or while deployment projects are underway

Federal Program Officers are the point of contact for Eligible Entities

during application and implementation processes

E.g., questions related to the program

or application process may be

submitted to Federal Program Officers

E.g., results of any audits conducted

of grantees and subgrantees shall be

reported to Federal Program Officers

E.g., requests for approval of uses of

funds not listed in the NOFO should be

made in writing to the Assistant

Secretary and submitted through the

appropriate Federal Program Officer

Eligible Entities can submit

questions through their

Federal Program Officers

Eligible Entities should submit

select materials to their

Federal Program Officers

Eligible Entities should submit

requests through their Federal

Program Officers

ELIGIBLE ENTITY

APPLICATION PROCESS

Each Eligible Entity will receive BEAD

grants and distribute funds to subgrantees

"Eligible Entity" refers to all 50 U.S. States, the District of

Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. Territories

(including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa,

and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands)

"Subgrantees" are entities that receive grant funds from

an Eligible Entity to carry out eligible activities – this

includes traditional and non-traditional providers (i.e.,

electric co-ops, nonprofit orgs, public-private partnerships,

public or private utilities, public utility districts, Tribal

entities, or local govts)

If an Eligible Entity fails to submit or gain approval for a "Covered

application" (LOI, initial proposal or final proposal) by the relevant

deadline, a political subdivision, or consortium of political

subdivisions of the entity, may submit a covered application

Eligible Entity application includes five key steps

FCC data maps

released

Once

approved, 20%

(or more) of

allocation

awarded

and

implementation

begins

Once

approved,

remaining

allocation

awarded

Request up to $5M of

Initial Planning Funds;

Initial Planning Funds

require a separate

application due 8/15

Submit a

Five-Year

Action Plan

due 270 days

after initial

planning

funds

received

Prepare and

submit Initial

Proposal due 180

days after notice

of available

amounts issued

Develop and

submit Final

Proposal due

12 months after

initial proposal

approval

Subgrant for

implementation

and monitor

progress

regularly

1. Required for entities that receive initial planning funds 2. Must be used for projects in areas with >80% unserved locations or high poverty areas

Note: funding amounts inclusive of all administrative set-asides

NOFO

Five-Year

Action Plan

Initial

Proposal

NTIA

approval

Implementation and monitoring

Letter of

Intent

Final

Proposal

NTIA

approval

NTIA

review

1 2

Feedback

provided

throughout

planning and

implementation,

including to

each plan that

is submitted

Submit a Letter of

Intent due 7/18

Legend | Eligible Entity activity NTIA activity

ELIGIBLE ENTITY

APPLICATION PROCESS

LETTER OF INTENT AND

PLANNING FUNDS APPLICATION

Letter of Intent | Eligible Entities must submit a Letter of Intent

by July 18, 2022, to participate in the BEAD Program

Letters of Intent must be received through

the NTIA Application Portal no later than

11:59 p.m. EDT on July 18, 2022

NTIA Application Portal

Please contact BEAD@ntia.gov with any

questions and ngphelpdesk@ntia.gov for

technical support with the portal

Letter of Intent requirements

• Statement that the Eligible Entity plans to participate

• Identification of the office that will receive and

administer any BEAD Program award funds and its

main point of contact

• Request up to $5M for initial planning funds (optional)

An Eligible Entity requesting initial planning funds will need

to submit their applications for initial planning funds and

required documentation through the NTIA Application Portal

by August 15, 2022

ELIGIBLE ENTITY

APPLICATION PROCESS

FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN

Five-Year Action Plan | Eligible Entities that receive Initial Planning

Funds must submit their Five-Year Action Plans

$5M

funding

available

An Eligible Entity may choose

to request ≤$5M Initial

Planning Funds

An Eligible Entity that receives

Initial Planning Funds must

submit a Five-Year Action

Example uses for Initial Planning Funds for planning and pre-

deployment activities

• Establishing capacity in office of Eligible Entity running program

• Research and data collection

• Development of a preliminary budget for pre-planning activities

• Publications, outreach & communication support

• Providing technical assistance to potential subgrantees

• Training for employees (e.g., Eligible Entity, stakeholders, etc.)

• Conducting surveys of unserved, underserved, and

underrepresented communities

• Local coordination, including capacity building

Five-Year Action Plan | Eligible Entities that receive planning

funds must submit a Five-Year Action Plan

Details of the existing broadband program, including its activities,

any previous entity-wide plans or goals for availability of broadband,

and any prior experience awarding broadband deployment grants

Available federal, Eligible Entity, or local broadband availability

and adoption data

Current funding available for broadband deployment or other

related activities and the sources of that funding, including

additional funds that may be pursued but are not yet in hand

Local broadband service needs and gaps, including un- or

underserved locations and CAIs without gigabit service, and/or

any plans to make determinations where availability is unclear

Existing efforts funded by the federal government or an Eligible

Entity within the jurisdiction of the Eligible Entity to deploy

broadband and close the digital divide.

A comprehensive, high-level plan for providing universal,

reliable, affordable, high-speed broadband service throughout

the jurisdiction

Current employees who will assist in implementing and

administering the BEAD Program and their duties, as well as any

existing contracted support, and any planned expansion

Digital equity and inclusion needs, goals, and strategies,

including ways it plans to utilize BEAD funding, Digital Equity

Act funding and/or other funding in concert

Known or potential obstacles or barriers to implementation and

corresponding plans to address them.

Alignment of the Five-Year Action Plan with other existing and

planned priorities, incl. economic development, telehealth,

workforce development, related connectivity priorities

An asset inventory that catalogues broadband adoption,

affordability, equity, access, and deployment activities and provides

details regarding any relevant partners

Technical assistance and additional capacity needed for

successful implementation of the BEAD Program

Details of its external engagement process, demonstrating

collaboration with local, regional, and Tribal / Native entities

The Assistant Secretary will publish

an online template for submission of

the Five-Year Action Plan

The use of this template is optional

If an Eligible Entity does not use the

online template., it must also provide

an index, crosswalk, or similar

document to allow the reader to

quickly and efficiently locate content

An Eligible Entity may submit an

existing plan and supplemental

materials to fulfill requirements

Existing plans must have been

completed within 1 year of receipt of

Initial Planning Funds

An Eligible Entity may not use BEAD

funds to previously incurred costs

Five-Year Action

Plan | Eligible

Entities may use

template or an

existing plan

Templates will be published

on grants.ntia.gov

Eligible entities may use

existing plans

ELIGIBLE ENTITY

APPLICATION PROCESS

INITIAL PROPOSAL

Initial Proposal | Initial Proposals are due within 180 days of the

release of the Notice of Available Amounts

Once the Notice of Available

Amounts is issued, the

Assistant Secretary will

invite Eligible Entities to

submit Initial Proposals

Each Eligible Entity will have

180 days to submit its Initial

Proposal

Initial Proposal is the first

draft of an Eligible Entity's

Final Proposal for funding

Draft should explain how the

Eligible Entity plans to

ensure access to a reliable,

affordable, high-speed

broadband connection

Draft should describe

challenge process for

stakeholders to challenge

whether a location is eligible

for funds and process for

selecting subgrantees

Prior to submission, each

political subdivision and

Tribal / Native entities must

have opportunity to submit a

plan for consideration and

comment on the proposal

Assistant Secretary will then

begin the iterative review

process in the order Initial

Proposals are submitted

Assistant Secretary decides

if proposed use of funds:

1. Complies with statute

2. Is in the public interest

3. Effectuates the purposes

of the statute

When the Assistant

Secretary approves of the

Initial Proposal, the Eligible

Entity may receive 20% of

its total allocation for

expenditures specifically

approved in the initial

proposal

Timing

Content Review Approval

Initial Proposal | Initial Proposals include 19 components

Outline of long-term objectives

List of existing efforts to deploy broadband

Detailed plan to conduct challenge process

Identification of un- and underserved locations

Support of local, Tribal, and regional broadband

planning efforts

Certification that local coordination was conducted

Detailed plan to award subgrants, including Extremely

High Cost per Location Threshold

Description of how definition of CAI

was applied

Detail use of strong labor standards and plan for labor-

related subgrantee selection criteria

Support of minority- and women-owned businesses

Description of intended use of 20% funding

Assessment of climate threats and mitigation methods

Detail plan to achieve a diverse and highly-skilled

workforce

Steps to reduce costs and barriers to deployment

Disclosures around plans to waive laws that restrict public

sector participation

Description of low-cost plans to be offered

Legend | References to a completed Five-Year Action Plan satisfies this requirement

1. Community Anchor Institution

Explanation of preferences for non-deployment eligible

activities

Description of initiatives Eligible Entity will implement

without subgrant

Certification of intent to comply with requirements

Minimum

allocation

$100M for each State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico

$25M for American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands,

the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Remaining

funds allocation

Remaining

funds

# unserved locations in the Eligible Entity

# unserved locations in the US

High-cost

allocation

# unserved locations in high-cost areas

in the Eligible Entity

# unserved locations in high-cost areas

in the US

$4.245B

Initial Proposal | Funding allocation includes three components

and is based on new FCC maps

1. $41.6B – minimum initial allocation – high-cost allocation 2. The Assistant Secretary will, in coordination with the Commission, choose a date certain upon which

the Broadband DATA Maps will be utilized to identify unserved locations (the “Allocation Date”)

New FCC Broadband DATA

Maps will be utilized to

identify unserved locations

Eligible Entities shall develop

a challenge process for

stakeholders to challenge

whether a location or CAI

is served, unserved, or

underserved

At least 60 days before

allocating funds, Eligible

Entities must document the

final list of unserved

locations, underserved

locations, and eligible

community anchor institutions

Eligible Entities are invited to submit Initial and Final Proposal after the Assistant

Secretary issues the Notice of Available Amounts to Eligible Entities, including:

Note: Eligible Entities can use no more than 2% for administrative purposes

Initial Proposal | If the Initial Proposal is approved, NTIA will

release at least 20% of total allocation for select purposes

Assistant Secretary will

review Initial Proposals to

determine if the proposed

use of funds:

• Complies with

applicable Program

guidelines

• Is in the public

interest

• Effectuates the

purposes of the

Infrastructure Act

If the Initial Proposal is

approved, NTIA will

release at least 20% of

total allocation (or more

at the sole discretion of

the Assistant Secretary)

If the Initial Proposal is

not approved, the

Assistant Secretary shall

notify the Eligible Entity

and provide them with an

opportunity to resubmit

Each Eligible Entity shall

develop a process in

which stakeholders can

challenge whether a

particular location or CAI

is eligible for grant funds

after the Initial Proposal

is submitted and before

implementation

Stakeholders that may

challenge determination

include local

governments, nonprofit

organizations, or

broadband providers

The Eligible Entity must

use the 20% of total

allocation for projects

with:

• ≥80% unserved

locations

• Percentage of

individuals with a

household income

≤150% of the poverty

line greater than the

national average

This funding can be used

for non-deployment if

there is a plan to serve

all un- and underserved

Each Eligible Entity must

establish a fair and

competitive processes for

selecting subgrantees

where Eligible Entity is

not selecting to self-

administer programs

NTIA recognizes Eligible

Entities might use a

variety of competitive

processes to select

subgrantees and does

not mandate any specific

approach

Initial Proposal

review

Initial Proposal

approval

Challenge

process

Use of at least

20% funds

Subgrantee

selection

1. Community Anchor Institution

First, each Eligible Entity must develop and describe in the Initial Proposal, a process to

challenge its determination of whether a particular location or CAI

is eligible for grant funds

Second, the Eligible Entity shall conduct the challenge process (once approved by the

Assistant Secretary) before allocating grant funds received from BEAD for the deployment of

broadband networks

Third, after resolving each challenge and at least 60 days before allocating funds for

deployment, an Eligible Entity must provide public notice of the final classification of each

unserved location, underserved location, or eligible community anchor institution

Fourth, NTIA has discretionary authority to reverse the determination of an Eligible Entity with

respect to the eligibility of a particular location or community anchor institution

Initial Proposal | The eligible entity must conduct a process for

stakeholders to challenge if a location is eligible for funds

1. Community Anchor Institution

Initial Proposal | Eligible Entities must use first 20% of total funds

for select purposes except in case of waiver

If the Initial Proposal is approved, NTIA will

release at least 20% of total allocation (or

more at the sole discretion of the Assistant

Secretary)

This funding can be used for non-

deployment if there is a plan to serve all

un- and underserved

Upon completion of the challenge process

and the subgrantee selection process, an

Eligible Entity may use this at least 20% of

total allocation for projects that:

1. Consist of at least 80 percent

unserved locations; and

2. Are in a location in which the

percentage of individuals with a

household income at or below 150

percent of the poverty line applicable

to a family of the size involved that is

higher than the national percentage of

such individuals

An Eligible Entity may use this at least

20% of total allocation for other eligible

uses only if the Eligible Entity is able to

demonstrate to the Assistant Secretary

that the Eligible Entity has a plan to its the

unserved and underserved locations in the

Eligible Entity’s Final Proposal

In this case, the Assistant Secretary may

waive, in whole or in part, limitations on the

use of at least 20% of total allocation

If Initial Proposal is approved,

NITA will release at least 20% of

total allocation

Eligible Entity may use funds for

select purposes after challenge

process and subgrantee selection

Assistant Secretary may waive

limitations on the use of this at

least 20% of total allocation

Initial Proposal | Eligible Entities must establish fair, open, and

competitive processes for selecting subgrantees

Principles for the Eligible Entity's subgrantee selection process:

• May fund an unserved or underserved project area as small as a single location

• May include Middle Mile Infrastructure in or through any area required to reach interconnection points or otherwise

required to serve an unserved location, underserved location, or eligible Community Anchor Institution

• May not fund a project already subject to a federal or State commitment for broadband deployment unless Eligible Entity

demonstrates to the Assistant Secretary that it is necessary to achieve the goals of the program and receives a waiver

• Must maximize the public benefits by maximizing match and reducing costs to consumers

• May seek bids for unserved locations, underserved locations, and CAIs collectively or separately

• May not exclude different types of subgrantees from eligibility (e.g., cooperatives, nonprofits, public-private partnerships,

private companies, public or private utilities, public utility districts, or local governments)

• May solicit proposals from prospective subgrantees at the geographic level of its choosing (e.g., per-location, per-

census block, etc.) or ask prospective subgrantees to define their own proposed project areas

• Must include the level of BEAD subsidy required to serve a specific location

• May encourage providers to expand their existing/proposed service areas and may consider inducements (e.g., use

State funds for match) if the Eligible Entity has received no proposals to serve a location that is unserved or underserved

• Must submit proof of the Tribal Government’s consent to deployment to Unserved Service Projects or Underserved

Service Projects that include any locations on Tribal Lands

• May decline to select a proposal that exceeds the extremely high cost per location threshold

Further guidance will be provided in subsequent webinars

Initial Proposal | Complete coverage of unserved locations and

underserved locations (where funding permits)

First, Eligible Entities must serve all unserved locations (incl. serving multi-tenant buildings)

• Unserved locations without reliable internet and with download speeds <25 Mbps, upload speeds <3 Mbps,

and latency <100ms

Second, Eligible Entities must serve all underserved locations

• Underserved locations without reliable internet and with download speeds <100 Mbps, upload speeds <20

Mbps, and latency <100 ms

Next, NTIA strongly urges Eligible Entities serve Eligible Community Anchor Institutions

• Eligible Community Anchor Institutions are entities (e.g., school, library, hospital) that facilitate greater use

of high-speed Internet service by vulnerable populations and have download speed <1 Gbps

• Other eligible uses include affordability programs, cybersecurity training, workforce development, etc.

• If an Eligible Entity wants to use funds for other eligible uses instead of eligible Community Anchor Institutions,

then it must provide a strong rationale

Note: If an Eligible Entity has a plan to deploy service to all unserved and underserved locations within its

jurisdiction, it may pursue non-deployment initiatives before or while deployment projects are underway

Initial Proposal | When selecting among proposals, Eligible Entities

must use an approved process with certain criteria

Non-priority projects

If there is only one project

proposal for an area, that proposal

is the default winner unless a

waiver granted

If there is more than one proposal,

run competition, affording benefits

to the following factors:

• Minimal BEAD Program outlay

• Affordability

• Fair labor practices

• Speed to deployment

• Speed and tech capabilities

• Workforce development

• Open access

• Local and Tribal coordination

Priority Broadband Projects

If there is only one priority project

proposal for an area, that proposal

is the default winner unless a

waiver granted

If there is more than one priority

proposal, run competition, affording

benefits to the following factors:

• Minimal BEAD Program outlay

• Affordability

• Fair labor practices

• Speed to deployment

• Workforce development

• Open access

• Local and Tribal coordination

Legend | Primary criteria Secondary criteria Additional Factors

Process must first assess which

locations have one or more

proposals that meet two criteria:

1. Satisfy subgrantee requirements

2. Priority Broadband Projects

Priority Broadband Projects are

projects that will rely entirely on

fiber-optic technology to reach end-

user premises

Except that

an Eligible Entity may

disqualify any project that surpasses

the Extremely High Cost Per

Location Threshold

Primary criteria must account

for ≥75% of the total selection

criteria available in choosing

between proposals

Initial Proposal | Eligible Entity must identify "Extremely High

Cost per Location Threshold"

The Extremely High Cost per Location Threshold is a

BEAD subsidy cost per location above which an Eligible

Entity may decline to select a proposal if an alternative

technology meeting would be less expensive

In the Initial Proposal, Eligible Entities must identify or

detail a process for identifying an Extremely High Cost

Per Location Threshold

NTIA expects Eligible Entities to set the Extremely High

Cost Per Location Threshold as high as possible to help

ensure that end-to-end fiber projects are deployed

wherever feasible

An Eligible Entity may decline a proposal that requires a

BEAD subsidy that exceeds the threshold if an alternative

technology meeting the program’s technical requirements

is less expensive

If no technology meeting the program’s requirements is

deployable for a subsidy less than the threshold, an

Eligible Entity is authorized to select a proposal involving

a less costly technology that does not satisfy the

program’s baseline technical requirements

Eligible Entities must identify Extremely High

Cost per Location Threshold in Initial Proposal

Eligible Entities use Extremely High Cost per

Location Threshold in subgrantee selection

Initial Proposal | Subgrantees must meet general and specific

qualification requirements

Eligible Entities shall ensure that any

prospective subgrantee is capable of

carrying out activities funded by the

subgrant in a competent manner and in

compliance with all applicable laws

Financial capability: Certification of financial qualifications, letter of

credit, audited financial Statements, and project pro forma analyses

Managerial capability: Resumes for key personnel, org charts, and

narrative describing qualifications

Technical capability: Network design, diagram, project cost, buildout

timeline and milestones, and capital investment schedule

Compliance with laws: Permit worker-led health and safety committees

that management will meet with upon reasonable request

Operational capability: Certification of operational capability and

certification for experience (e.g., for broadband service experience)

Ownership: Provide ownership info, including name address and

citizenship of any party with >10% stock in applicant

Other public funding: Disclose any applications for broadband service

projects using public funds

General qualifications Seven specific qualifications:

1. Consistent with requirements set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 1.2112(a)(1)-(7)

Initial Proposal | Matching funds ≥25% of project costs are required

for deploying broadband service projects

Requirement

Match waivers

Federal funds

-kind matches

Preference for

minimum subsidy

Matching funds ≥25% of project costs provided by subgrantee, an Eligible Entity,

local government, a utility, a cooperative, a nonprofit, a for-profit company,

regional planning or governmental organization, or any combination thereof

Eligible Entities are required to incentivize matches >25% to reduce the federal

share of projects and extend the reach of BEAD Program funding

Federal funds may not be used as matching funds, except as expressly provided

to deploy broadband service under four acts

Matching funds may be cash or in-kind contributions consistent with the Uniform

Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for

Federal Awards set forth at 2 C.F.R. Part 200

The Assistant Secretary will grant match waivers only in extraordinary

circumstances to serve the public interest and effectuate the purposes of the

BEAD Program (e.g., projects in designated “high-cost areas”)

1. (1) The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116-127; 134 Stat. 178), (2) the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136; 134 Stat. 281), (3) the

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat. 1182), and (4) the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2; 135 Stat. 4)

ELIGIBLE ENTITY

APPLICATION PROCESS

FINAL PROPOSAL

Final Proposal | Final Proposals are due within a year of the Initial

Proposal's approval

Once an Eligible Entity's

Initial Proposal is approved,

it will have 12 months to

submit a Final Proposal

Before submitting the Final

Proposal, an Eligible Entity

must complete the challenge

process and the subgrantee

selection process

The NOFO describes

minimum requirements for

the Final Proposal, and NTIA

will provide an online

template for submission

Prior to submission, each

political subdivision and

Tribal / Native entities must

have opportunity to submit a

plan for consideration and

comment on the proposal

Assistant Secretary will

review in the order Final

Proposals are submitted

Assistant Secretary will

decide whether the

proposed use of funds

complies with the statute

When the AS approves of

the Final Proposal, the

Eligible Entity will receive

remaining BEAD Program

funds

Timing

Content Review Approval

Final Proposal | Final Proposals include 15 components

Legend | References to a related requirement in the Initial Proposal

Plan that specifies the outcome of the subgrantee

selection process

Processes for oversight and accountability

Description of the results of the challenge process

Timeline for implementation

Certification that local coordination was conducted

Certification that it will serve all unserved locations, if

seeking to fund underserved, CAI, or other projects

Specific commitments made by subgrantees to warrant

benefits in selection (e.g., primary criteria)

Environmental documentation and plan to comply w/

environment and national historic preservation reqs

Specific commitments made by selected subgrantees to

warrant a Priority Broadband Project

Implementation status of plans described in the Initial

Proposal – additional details on next slide

Description of all planned uses of funding that are not

broadband infrastructure deployment

Plans to deploy to Un-/Underserved Service Projects

and Resolution of Consent for projects on Tribal Lands

Means by which subgrantees were selected for non-

deployment eligible activities

Description of unsuccessful applications that were

affected by laws of the Eligible Entity

Description of efforts to support participation of non-

traditional providers

Final Proposal |

Implementation

status of plans

detailed in Initial

Proposal includes

five components

Steps to streamline permitting processes and provide

cost-effective access to poles, conduits, ROW

, etc.

Labor and workforce activities, including how the

Eligible Entity implemented and applied the labor-related

subgrantee selection criterion required herein;

Climate change and resiliency

Utilization of

minority businesses, women-owned

business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms

Low-cost plan requirements

1. Right-of-way

Final Proposal | Final Proposal approval results in remaining 80%

of funding released

1. See more specific examples on next page

80%

funding

available

Example eligible uses of general funds

• Deployment projects in un- and underserved areas

• Connecting eligible community anchor institutions

• Data collection, broadband mapping & planning

• Installing internet in multi-family residential buildings

• Infrastructure, facilities, and broadband deployment

• Broadband adoption

• Training and workforce development

• Digital Equity programs

Once the Final Proposal is

approved, the remaining Program

funds (80% of total allocation) will

be available to the Eligible Entity

Eligible uses for these general

funds are categorized into last-mile

deployment-related uses and non-

last-mile-related uses

Final Proposal | NOFO provides specific examples of eligible

uses of funds

• Construction, improvement, and/or acquisition of

facilities and telecom equipment

• Long-term leases of facilities required to provide

qualifying broadband service

• Deployment of internet and Wi-Fi infrastructure in an

eligible multi-family residential building

• Engineering design, permitting, and work for

environmental reviews

• Personnel costs for BEAD implementation

• Network software upgrades, including, but not limited to,

cybersecurity solutions.

• Training for cybersecurity professionals who will be

working on BEAD-funded networks.

• Workforce development

• User training with respect to cybersecurity, privacy, etc.

• Remote learning or telehealth services/facilities

• Digital literacy/upskilling and computer science, coding

and cybersecurity education programs

• Implementation of Eligible Entity digital equity plans

• Broadband sign-up assistance and tech support

• Multi-lingual outreach to support adoption

• Prisoner education to promote pre-release digital

literacy, job skills, online job-acquisition skills, etc.

• Digital navigators

• Direct subsidies for use toward broadband subscription

• Costs associated with stakeholder engagement,

including travel, capacity building, or contract support

Last-mile deployment-related uses Non-last-mile-related uses

Non-exhaustive

ELIGIBLE ENTITY

APPLICATION PROCESS

IMPLEMENTATION

AND MONITORING

Implementation and monitoring | Both Eligible Entities and

subgrantees must comply with reporting requirements

Initial report (within 90 days after receiving any grant funds):

• Planned and actual use of funds

• Planned and actual subgrant process

• Mechanisms to ensure subgrantees comply with eligible uses

Semiannual report (no later than 1 year after receiving grant funds,

then semi-annually):

• Use of grant funds

• Service provided with the grant funds and the status of projects

• Locations at which broadband service was made available or will

be made available or utilized, and the comparative demographics

of those served

• Certification of compliance with additional reporting requirements

Final report (no later than 1 year after all grant funds expended):

• Service provided with the grant funds and the status of projects

• Locations at which broadband service was made or will be made,

locations at which broadband service was utilized, and the

comparative demographics of those served

• Each report from subgrantees

• Certification of compliance with additional reporting requirements

Semiannual reports describe type of project and/or other eligible

activities and duration of the subgrant, including at a minimum:

• List of addresses that will be served and each project status

• New locations served within each project area at the relevant

reporting intervals, and service taken (if applicable)

• Whether each address or location is residential, commercial, or

a community anchor institution

• Types of facilities that have been constructed and installed;

• Peak and off-peak actual speeds of services

• Maximum advertised speed of services

• Non-promotional prices, including fees for different tiers

• All interconnection agreements requested and current status

• Number and award amount of contracts and subcontracts

awarded that are minority or women owned business entities

• Include any other data needed to comply with data and

mapping standards for broadband infrastructure projects

• Federal Financial Report (SF-425)

• Additional reporting for projects >$5M

• Comply with Eligible Entity's other reasonable requirements

Reporting requirements for eligible entities Reporting requirements for subgrantees

ELIGIBLE ENTITY AND

SUBGRANTEE

OBLIGATIONS

Eligible Entity obligations | Eligible Entities must meet eight

programmatic requirements

Local coordination

Must coordinate with political subdivisions and local,

Tribal, and community-based orgs

Civil rights and nondiscrimination laws

Must require subgrantees to agree to abide by the

non-discrimination requirements

c g

Equitable and nondiscriminatory

distribution of funds

Must distribute funds and ensure subgrantee uses

funds in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner

Climate resiliency

Must demonstrate that they have sufficiently

accounted for current and future weather- and

climate-related risks

d h

Consider all provider types

May not exclude co-ops, nonprofits, public-private

partnerships, private companies, utilities, public utility

districts, or local government from eligibility

Fair labor practices

Must give preferential weight to projects based on the

strength of their fair labor practices

a e

Ensure subgrantee accountability

Must include sufficient accountability procedures to

ensure subgrantee compliance with Program reqs

Highly skilled workforce

Must make appropriate investments to develop a

highly-skilled, diverse workforce

b f

Select details on next slides

Local coordination | Eligible Entities to detail ongoing local

coordination efforts and plan to fulfill future requirements

Coordination must incl.

Tribal, rural, suburban,

and urban areas

Each political subdivision

and Tribal / Native entity

must be given:

• Opportunity to submit

a plan for Eligible

Entity consideration

• Opportunity to

comment on Eligible

Entity proposals

Coordination must include

a diversity of stakeholders

Eligible Entities must

ensure Tribal / Native

entities are involved in

developing plans (incl. via

a formal Tribal

consultation process)

Example stakeholders

include State agencies,

CAIs, non-profits, etc.

Coordination must include

multiple mechanisms to

ensure broad awareness

and participation

Example mechanisms

include listening sessions,

public meetings, websites,

social media, etc.

Coordination must include

clear procedures to

ensure transparency

Examples include

websites, periodic reports,

in-person meetings, etc.

Coordination must target

un-/underserved, and

underrepresented

communities that have

historically faced barriers

in participating in federal

programs

Examples include an

advisory board with

representatives, surveys

to better understand

needs, etc.

Geographic coverage Diverse stakeholders

Outreach

mechanisms Transparency

Un-/underserved and

under-represented

communities

Fair labor practices and highly skilled workforce | Entities must

also consider fair labor practices and plan for a highly skilled workforce

Highly Skilled Workforce

Fair Labor Practices

Eligible Entities are required to give preferential weight to projects based

on the strength of the showing in their application on fair labor practices

Initial and Final Proposals must have descriptions of how subgrantees will:

• Demonstrate their compliance with federal labor and employment laws

• Ensure compliance in their own labor and employment practices, as

well as those of their contractors and subcontractors

Eligible Entities and subgrantees should invest in developing a highly-skilled,

diverse workforce for the new jobs that need to be filled

Initial and Final Proposals must include descriptions of how the EE will:

•

Ensure subgrantees use a highly trained workforce able to carry out

work safely and effectively

• Develop and promote sector-based partnerships

• Create equitable on-ramps into broadband-related jobs

• Ensure that the new jobs are available to a diverse pool of workers

e f

Climate resiliency | Applicants must account for current and future

weather- and climate-related risks

Identify geographic

areas for an initial

hazard screening and

time scales for such

screenings

Identify the most

important weather

and climate hazards

in these areas

Characterize risks to

new infrastructure

funded by BEAD for

20 years following

deployment

Identify how the

proposed plan will

avoid or mitigate

the risks identified

Detail the applicant’s

plans for periodically

repeating this

process over the life

of the project

Subgrantee obligations | Subgrantees must meet three

programmatic requirements

Speed: ≥100/20 Mbps or 1/1 Gbps

for CAIs

Latency: 95% of measurements

below 100 ms round-trip time

Outages: <48 hrs over any 365-day

period except in the case of natural

disasters or force majeure

Deadlines: Deploy and begin

service not later than four years

after subgrant received (with

possible one year extension)

Milestones: Meet milestones

established by Eligible Entities

Conduit access points: Include

interspersed conduit access points

at regular and short intervals for

interconnection

Low-cost plan: Offer a low-cost

option for all eligible subscribers

Consumer protections: Do not

impose data usage caps

Access to service: Reasonable

and non-discriminatory terms and

conditions

Public notice: Conduct awareness

campaigns to increase adoption

Interconnection and wholesale

access: Permit interconnection for

MM infrastructure receiving funding

Cybersecurity and supply chain:

Adhere to baseline requirements

Network capabilities Deployment requirements Service obligations

iiii

Service obligations | Subgrantees must offer at least one low-

cost broadband service option for all eligible subscribers

Eligible Entities shall submit a proposed definition to the

Assistant Secretary for approval in their Final Proposal

In determining whether to approve a definition, the

Assistant Secretary will consider, among other factors:

• Cost to an Eligible Subscriber

after subsidies (both

monthly and non-recurring charges)

• Plan's basic service characteristics

• Ability to apply Affordable Connectivity Benefit subsidy

• Ability to upgrade to any new low-cost service plans

offering with better technical specifications

The "low-cost broadband service option" is in addition to

requirement to submit a middle-class affordability plan

to ensure that all consumers have access to affordable

high-speed internet access

Speed: ≥100/20 Mbps or FCC performance benchmark

Upgrades: Permits eligible subscribers with one low-cost

broadband service option to upgrade to another low-cost

broadband service option with higher speeds at no costs

Latency: ≤100 ms

Data caps, surcharges, etc.: Not subject to data caps,

surcharges, or usage-based throttling; subject only to the

same acceptable use policies as other broadband plans

Subsidies: Subgrantees required to participate in ACP;

eligible subscribers that are eligible for a subsidy can

apply the subsidy to the option

Cost: ≤$30 incl. taxes and fees for at least one option

Eligible Entities to propose "low-cost broadband

service option" definition for approval

Example definition for option that the Assistant

Secretary is likely to approve

1. Any household seeking to subscribe to broadband Internet access service that qualifies for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) or any successor program 2. The

performance benchmark for fixed terrestrial broadband service established by the FCC pursuant to Section 706(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended

iii

NEXT STEPS

This webinar focuses on info for BEAD applicants, but every

stakeholder is invited to be involved in the BEAD program

Tribal government

•Coordinate, consult, and

partner with states during

BEAD planning

Local government

• Collaborate with states during

BEAD planning

Telecom provider

• Apply to be a BEAD

subgrantee

• Note: Telecom providers may

include government owned

entities

Community anchor

institution

• Benefit from BEAD funding for

faster Internet

• Advocate for community

interests across programs

Community orgs

• Coordinate on planning and

execution

• Advocate for community

interests across programs

Individual

• Participate in digital skill and

literacy courses funded by

programs

• Contact local reps for more

information

Illustrative, non-exhaustive

Next steps for

applicants

related to the

BEAD Program

Identify your State or Territory's Federal Program

Officers (i.e., your BEAD point of contact)

Organize and conduct outreach via your State or local

broadband office

Submit questions to BEAD@ntia.gov

Attend future NTIA webinars and engage with NTIA

Submit a Letter of Intent for the BEAD Program by

July 18, 2022

Decide whether to request up to $5M for Initial

Planning funds by August 15, 2022

For specific inquiries, please contact the appropriate office

Evan Feinman

BEAD Director

Office of Internet Connectivity and

Growth

National Telecommunications and

Information Administration

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20230

Phone: (202) 482-2048

Email: BEAD@ntia.gov

Scott McNichol

NIST Grants Officer

Grants Management Division

National Institute of Standards

and Technology

325 Broadway

Boulder, CO 80305

Phone: (303) 497-3444

Email: scott.mcnichol@nist.gov

Stephen F. Yusko

Public Affairs Specialist

Office of Public Affairs

National Telecommunications and

Information Administration

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue NW,

Room 4897

Washington, DC 20230

Phone: (202) 482-7002

Email: press@ntia.doc.gov

Media inquiriesProgrammatic inquiries Grant management inquiries