Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program

Background
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issues this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to describe the requirements under which it will award grants in connection with the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program (Program), authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The BEAD Program provides federal funding for grants to Eligible Entities for broadband planning, deployment, mapping, equity, and adoption activities. The program aims to ensure access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet for all Americans, regardless of their age, race, or income, irrespective of where they live.

Grant Details
The BEAD Program provides new federal funding for NTIA to grant to all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (States), as well as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands (Territories), and in certain circumstances political subdivisions of these States and Territories. Funding is distributed primarily based on the relative number of 'unserved' locations in each State and Territory. Each State is eligible to receive a minimum of $100,000,000 and each Territory is eligible to receive a minimum of $25,000,000. The program prioritizes projects designed to provide fiber connectivity directly to the end user and requires all projects to provide a low-cost option to eligible subscribers. Eligible Entities must provide matching funds of not less than 25 percent of project costs.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible Entities authorized to apply for grants under the BEAD Program are any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for grants issued pursuant to this NOFO will be determined based on various stages including submission deadlines for letters of intent and proposals as well as ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements.

Grant Value
Each State may request up to $5,000,000 of its minimum allocation in Initial Planning Funds.