Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Created by President Joe Biden and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program will expand high-speed internet access across the United States by providing funding for infrastructure deployment, planning, and adoption programs, aiming to connect underserved and unserved areas with reliable internet access. Delaware is set to receive $107 million from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
Due to changes required by the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on June 6, 2025, the Delaware Broadband Office reopened the bidding process for BEAD implementation contracts. Prequalification ran from June 25, 2025 to July 5, 2025. Prequalified applicants are able to submit specific bids on deploying high-speed internet infrastructure during the scoring phase which runs from July 8, 2025 to July 18, 2025.
On May 2, 2024 NTIA approved the Delaware Broadband Office’s (DBO’s) BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2. This authorizes the DBO to begin the subgrantee selection process. This is the process that will end with subgrant awards to qualified entities to build out high-speed internet infrastructure to bring service to every unserved and underserved address in Delaware.
There are two phases to the subgrantee selection process. First, prospective applicants were screened during the “Prequalification” phase. During this phase, prospective applicants submitted detailed information about their administrative, financial, organizational, and technical capabilities along with information about their workforce development plans.
The DBO reviewed the submissions to determine which prospective applicants were qualified to move to the next phase of the process: competitively scored bidding on project areas.
The second phase of the BEAD application process, the Scoring Phase, ran from August 28, 2024 through October 25, 2024. During this phase, applicants who were successful in the Prequalification Phase submitted specific bids on deploying high-speed internet infrastructure.
On August 29, 2024, the DBO hosted a webinar for Applicants who passed the Prequalification Phase.
Delaware BEAD Scoring Application Webinar
To support openness, fairness, and competition in its BEAD grant efforts, the DBO ran a formal process for applicants to submit questions about the substance of the Scoring Application. Applicants were able to submit questions from Thursday, August 28, 2024 (when the application was released) through 5:00 PM on Thursday, September 12, 2024. The questions were condensed and consolidated for clarity.
Applicants will submit their Scoring Application materials via Delaware’s Bonfire Procurement Portal. Links to the application will be sent by invitation to applicants that pass the Prequalification Phase. The deadline for submitting Scoring Applications was 5:00PM on Friday, October 25, 2024.
On May 14, 2024, the DBO conducted a webinar on the Prequalification Phase.
Prequalification Phase Webinar
To qualify for BEAD funding, the Delaware Broadband Office needs to put together a series of four plans for approval by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA):
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1
Five Year Action Plan
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2
Initial Proposal
Volume One -
3
Initial Proposal
Volume Two -
4
Final Plan
Once each plan is approved, Delaware will award funding to qualified internet service providers (ISPs) selected through a competitive process. The ISPs will then deploy high-speed internet infrastructure to homes and businesses across Delaware.
The Delaware Broadband Office is moving as quickly as possible to qualify for this funding and bring high-speed internet to all Delawareans. Delaware is one of the fastest moving states through this process, and Governor John Carney has set the goal of Delaware being the first state in the nation to be fully connected to high-speed internet.
BEAD Timeline
June 26, 2023
NTIA announced Delaware will receive $107 million from the BEAD program
July 5, 2023
Delaware submits Five Year Action Plan to NTIA
July 25, 2023
NTIA approves Delaware's Five Year Action Plan
August 2, 2023
Delaware posts Initial Proposal Volume One for public comment
October 10, 2023
Delaware submits Initial Proposal Volume One to NTIA
October 13, 2023
Delaware posts Initial Proposal Volume Two for public comment
November 28, 2023
Delaware submits Initial Proposal Volume Two to NTIA
December 28, 2023
NTIA approves Delaware's Initial Proposal Volume One
1st Quarter 2024
NTIA approves Initial Proposal Volume One
Delaware begins State Challenge Process
2nd Quarter 2024
Delaware releases Request for Applications for ISPs to bid on BEAD-funded high-speed internet infrastructure deployment
4th Quarter 2024
Delaware submits results of RFP to NTIA for approval (the "Final Plan")
State Challenge Process
Delaware accepted challenges from January 17, 2024 to February 16, 2024.
NTIA requires that all states receiving BEAD funding run a "State Challenge Process." Delaware ran this process from January 17 to February 16, 2024. This was an occasion for certain organizations to "challenge" Delaware's list of homes and businesses that do not have access to high-speed internet. Per federal rules, only ISPs, non-profit organizations, and local governments were allowed to submit challenges.
You can review the challenges submitted and the results in the .csv files in this zip file.
Search for BEAD-eligible addresses on this map.
