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Delaware’s Final Proposal for BEAD deployment funds has been approved. Click to see if your address is eligible for a new or improved connection through BEAD.

Delaware Broadband Office

Roll of fiber optic cable on the ground

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program

Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) of 2021, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program will connect underserved and unserved areas to reliable, high-speed internet. Delaware’s share of this funding is $107 million.

After a robust outreach and planning process, Delaware’s Final Proposal received the first of two required federal approvals in January 2025 and anticipated beginning construction in spring of 2025. However, on June 6, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) rescinded all states’ prior approvals and directed significant program changes and contract re-bidding on a sharply abbreviated timeline. Delaware submitted a revised Final Proposal in keeping with these changes in September 2025 and received approval in March 2026.

To qualify for BEAD funding, the Delaware Broadband Office was required to put together a series of four plans for approval by NTIA:

The Delaware Broadband Office is moving as quickly as possible to implement the Final Proposal and bring high-speed internet to all Delawareans. At this time, NTIA has not said when states will receive permission and revised guidelines to use their nondeployment funds, leaving Delaware’s planned community internet projects on hold.

BEAD Timeline

Q1 2023

Delaware Broadband Offices begins stakeholder and community outreach in preparation for BEAD award.

Q2 2023

NTIA announces Delaware will receive $107 million from the BEAD program.

Q3 2023

Delaware submits and NTIA approves Delaware's Five Year Action Plan.

Delaware posts Initial Proposal Volume One for public comment.

Q4 2023

Delaware submits Initial Proposal Volume One to NTIA and receives approval.

After posting for the public comment period, Delaware submits Initial Proposal Volume Two to NTIA

Q1 2024

NTIA approves Initial Proposal Volume One.

Delaware begins State Challenge Process.

Q2 2024

NTIA approves Initial Proposal Volume 2.

Delaware releases Request for Applications for ISPs to demonstrate their ability to comply with BEAD requirements if invited to bid for high-speed internet installation contracts.

Q3 2024

Prequalified applicants are invited to submit bids, including a match of private investment, for 8 project areas of eligible addresses in the Scoring Phase.

Q4 2024

After review and a 14-day public comment period, Delaware submits selected bids from Verizon Delaware LLC and Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC to NTIA for approval (the "Final Plan").

Q1 2025

Delaware receives approval of Final Plan with selected ISPs from NTIA on January 14. All approvals are then paused during new administration’s program review.

Q2 2025

NTIA rescinds all states’ prior approvals and institutes new program guidelines, giving them 90 days to revise their residential connection programs.

Q3 2025

Delaware revises Initial Proposal via letter, conducts new bidding round as required, and submits a revised Final Proposal in September.

Q1 2026

Delaware’s revised Final Proposal was approved in March 2026. The selected subgrantees are Verizon Delaware LLC and Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC.

BEAD Informational Resources

2025 BEAD Final Proposal Documents

2024 BEAD Challenges





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