After engaging in a public outreach campaign, NTIA then sought letters of intent from states and territories on May 13, 2022.

Work began in 2022 when NTIA issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity that provided information and a framework for the states and territories on the requirements of BEAD-related grant programs. Federal and State CollaborationĬongress directed the Department of Commerce through NTIA to distribute the $42.45 billion in allocated funding. The BEAD Program prioritizes areas that have no internet access or that only have access to speeds less than 25/3 Mbps ('unserved locations') and areas that only have access to speeds less than 100/20 Mbps ('underserved locations'). Established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this federal grant program is focused on providing all Americans with access to broadband by funding partnerships between states or territories, communities, and stakeholders to build infrastructure and increase high-speed internet adoption. The BEAD Program was designed to expand high-speed internet access by funding broadband infrastructure deployment and adoption programs and planning in all states and territories. Entities seeking broadband funding through this Program should begin to prepare for this unique opportunity and should monitor developments in the jurisdictions where they are interested in providing service to ensure they can prepare for funding procedures that may be decided in each state's planning and implementation process. States and territories must submit their Initial Proposals to NTIA by December 1, 2023, and, once approved, will allow each jurisdiction to access up to 20 percent of their allocated BEAD funds. This announcement begins a process for states and territories to finalize their proposed plans for issuing funding to subgrantees ('Initial Proposals') following an application, challenge, and public comment period. These dollars will be used by each state to issue broadband funding awards to subgrantees – including commercial ISPs, government-owned network operators, and nonprofits – to deploy broadband to unserved and underserved areas. The Biden Administration recently released its plans for allocating more than $42.45 billion in broadband funding to all 50 states through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment ('BEAD') Program. Billions in grants available in each state and territory for broadband infrastructure deployment in unserved and underserved areas

Custom they are billions map