Arizona has set January 6 to February 5 as the Round 1 application window in their Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program deployment process. The state has been allotted $993.1 million in the program.
Arizona’s BEAD Program will be administered by the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). The selection criteria are divided into primary and secondary categories.
The primary selection criterion are minimal BEAD outlay (the amount beyond the mandatory 25% outlay), cost reasonableness, resiliency, affordability, and fair labor practice.
The secondary criteria are speed to deployment, technical requirements, open access for priority projects, local and Tribal coordination, and workforce development.
Non-priority broadband projects have their own criteria. They included minimal BEAD outlay; cost reasonableness; resiliency; affordability; fair labor practices; technological requirements; open access for priority projects; local and Tribal coordination; community anchor institutions and workforce development.
According to a funding alert from NRTC, additional dates of importance include:
- The application review (February 6-March 8)
- Post-Round 1 negations for stranded broadband service location (BSL) determination (March 9-April 7)
- Deferred applications and stranded BSL determination (March 24-April 7)
- The Round 2 application window (April 12-May 2)
- Round 2 application review (May 2-May 22)
- Post-Round 2 negations for stranded BSL determination (May 23-June 21)
- Deferred application and stranded BSL determination (July 7-July 31)
Several states have provided information on their rules late last year.
New Mexico set February as the Round 1 deadline for its BEAD applications. Applications in Hawaii must be received by The University of Hawaii Broadband Office (UHBO) by January 31. Applications for Washington’s $1.2 billion in BEAD funds also are due on the last day of this month.
More than 40 providers are eligible for funding in North Carolina. The state has about $282 million available. Interested organizations must meet two deadlines — January 21 and February 17 — for submissions of various forms.
Additional information about Arizona broadband, including BEAD Program progress, links to state funding resources, previous awards made, state specific Telecompetitor coverage and more, can be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
NRTC owns Pivot Group, which publishes Telecompetitor.
