Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
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 will be screened during the “Prequalification” phase. During this phase, prospective applicants will submit detailed information about their administrative, financial, organizational, and technical capabilities along with information about their workforce development plans. The DBO will review the submissions to determine which prospective applicants are qualified to move to the next phase of the process: competitively scored bidding on project areas.
Prospective applicants should carefully review the Prequalification Phase Guide as well as the final version of the Initial Proposal Volume 2.
To support openness, fairness, and competition in its BEAD grant efforts, DTI ran a formal process for prospective applicants to submit questions about the substance of the Prequalification Application. Applicants were able to submit questions from Tuesday, May 14 (when the application was released) through 5:00 PM on Friday, May 31. Questions were condensed and consolidated for clarity, answers may be viewed below.
Substantive questions about the application received after the May 31 deadline will not be considered except in extraordinary circumstances (substantive errors in application materials, conflict between application materials and Initial Proposal Volume 2 or the BEAD NOFO).
Applicants will submit their Prequalification Application materials via Delaware's Bonfire procurement portal starting on Thursday, June 13, 2024. The deadline for submitting Prequalification materials is 5:00 PM on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
On May 14, 2024, DTI 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 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.
