Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Grant Program Benefit of the Bargain Round

Background
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has implemented substantial changes to the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program through a Restructuring Policy Notice released on June 6, 2025. This solicitation is part of the Benefit of the Bargain grant round that requires each state to comply with updated BEAD Program requirements. The goal of the BEAD program in Massachusetts is to achieve universal broadband access, serving all unserved and underserved broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) with reliable technology at speeds of at least 100 Mbps for downloads and 20 Mbps for uploads.

Work Details
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), under the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED), is managing the BEAD funding totaling $147 million allocated to Massachusetts. The program aims to provide funding for projects that expand high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved locations. Applicants must commit to serve 100% of eligible BSLs in their proposed Project Service Areas (PSAs). Eligible costs include design and engineering, permitting, network equipment, construction, customer installation costs, and administrative expenses. Applicants must also provide a narrative on their network design demonstrating compliance with performance requirements.

Projects may include Priority Broadband Projects that provide internet services at speeds of 1 Gbps/500 Mbps or Non-Priority Broadband Projects meeting minimum speeds of 100/20 Mbps.

Period of Performance
The solicitation opens on July 11, 2025, and closes on July 25, 2025. The period of performance for awarded projects will be defined in the Funding Agreement but typically spans several years following project initiation.

Place of Performance
The geographic location for performance will be within municipalities in Massachusetts as specified in the applicants' Project Service Areas.

Bidder Requirements
Eligible applicants include private companies, local governmental entities, tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, cooperatives, public utility districts, and public-private partnerships. Applicants must provide non-federal matching funds of at least 25% of total project costs. Additionally, they must have completed MBI’s Pre-Qualification Process or previous BEAD Deployment Round solicitations to be eligible for funding.