The state of Pennsylvania has begun accepting applications for the BEAD rural broadband funding program. The state has more than $1.1 billion in BEAD funding to award to cover some of the costs of deployments to unserved and underserved areas of the state.
Eligible parties have until January 21 to apply. The state plans to do a second funding round later next year.
The extremely high-cost location threshold will be determined after applications for funding in the first round have been received. That threshold will determine where applicants can deploy technology other than fiber broadband, such as fixed wireless or satellite broadband.
Telecompetitor reviewed the rules for the Pennsylvania program, which will be administered by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority.
Pennsylvania BEAD Applications
The criteria that Pennsylvania will use in evaluating BEAD applications are similar to those that we have seen from other states, including Colorado and Washington.
Like those states, Pennsylvania plans to use two different sets of criteria in evaluating applications — one set for fiber broadband projects (known as priority broadband projects) and one for non-fiber projects.
In both cases, applicants will be able to score up to 100 points.
Fiber Project Criteria
Points for fiber projects will be awarded as follows:
- Program outlay (up to 40 points, based on two elements)
Up to 25 points based on cost per location
Up to 15 points based on matching funds
(5 points for the minimum 25% match, 10 points for a match exceeding 25%) - Affordability (up to 25 points)
Based on whether the applicant’s price for symmetrical gigabit service is above or below the average for all applications - Fair labor practices (up to 15 points)
- Speed to deployment (up to 1 point)
One point awarded for projects that will be completed in three years or less - Equitable workforce development and job quality (up to 10 points)
- Local government coordination (4 points)
4 points for complying with requirement to coordinate with local municipalities - Open access (5 points)
5 points for providing open access wholesale last mile service
Non-Fiber Project Criteria
Points for non-fiber projects will be awarded as follows:
- Program outlay (up to 40 points based on three elements)
Up to 25 points based on cost per location
Up to 10 points based on scalability (from 1 point for 100/20 Mbps speeds to 10 points for 1 Gbps/200 Mbps)
Up to 5 points based on matching funds (1 point for 25%-50% of project costs, 2.5 points for 50%-75% of project costs, 5 points for 75% or more) - Affordability (up to 20 points)
Based on whether the applicant’s price for 100/20 Mbps service is above or below the average for all applications - Fair labor practices (up to 15 points)
- Speed to deployment (up to 1 point)
One point awarded for projects that will be completed in three years or less - Speed of network and other technical capabilities (up to 5 points)
- Equitable workforce development and job quality (up to 10 points)
- Local government coordination (4 points)
4 points for complying with requirement to coordinate with local municipalities - Open access (5 points)
5 points for providing open access wholesale last mile service
Additional details about the Pennsylvania BEAD applications can be found in this press release and in the program guidelines at this link.
Additional information about Pennsylvania broadband, including links to state funding resources and state specific Telecompetitor coverage, can be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
