Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program is a federal initiative created by President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Delaware will receive $107 million from the BEAD program to close the digital divide and deploy high-speed internet infrastructure to every home and business that currently does not have access.
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 will be accepting challenges from January 17 to February 16, 2024.
NTIA requires that all states receiving BEAD funding run a "State Challenge Process." This is an occasion for certain organizations to "challenge" Delaware's list of homes and businesses that do not have access to high-speed internet. ISPs, non-profit organizations, and local governments can submit challenges in the Delaware Challenge Portal.
This process is Delaware's opportunity to perfect our list and ensure that BEAD funding is going where it is needed. After the challenge submission period concludes, Delaware will evaluate the challenges and release the final version of list of BEAD-eligible addresses on or around April 22, 2024.
