The state of California is opening its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program application window, beginning today for prequalification and application submissions and ending on October 2 for submission of the final proposal to the National Telecommunications Information and Administration (NTIA), which administers the program federally.
The BEAD Program has allocated $1.86 billion to California for bringing high-speed internet to unserved and underserved residents. Applicants must meet a 25% match requirement on proposals.
Eligible projects include last-mile broadband infrastructure to unserved locations (defined as those with access to less than 25/3 Mbps service) and underserved locations (those having between 25/3 and 100/20 Mbps). In addition, priority will be given to projects consisting solely of end-to-end fiber.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is managing the process for California. To help applicants identify eligible areas, CPUC is offering a mapping tool that shows all broadband serviceable locations in the state, labeled by their performance rank.
Applicants will define a project area by choosing one or more connected project area units (PAUs) using the interactive map. Each application must outline a proposal to serve 100% of the unserved and underserved locations within their chosen project area.
According to an NRTC funding alert, California will score its BEAD applications on the following criteria, with a maximum of 100 points:
- Affordability: Up to 35 points (involves commitment to offer symmetrical 1 Gbps service at $55 per month, inclusive of taxes and fees)
- Fair labor practices: Up to 20 points (includes history of compliance with federal and state labor laws, commitments to future compliance with federal labor laws, and the quality and contents of labor practice-related items)
- Minimum BEAD outlay: Up to 20 points (for matching funds equal to 65% or more, 1 point will be deducted for every 2 fewer percentage points of match offered)
- Speed to deployment: Up to 5 points (for completion within two years of receiving funds)
- Equity: Up to 10 points
- Resilience: Up to 10 points
Dates of importance for the California BEAD Program process are:
- March 25: BEAD portal opens for prequalification and application submissions
- April 9: Prequalification application deadline
- April 23: Grant application window closes
- August 19: Subgrantee selection and preparation of final proposal
- August 20: Public comment on final proposal opens
- September 15: Public comment on final proposal closes
- September 18: Resolution considered by commission
- October 2: Submission of Final proposal to NTIA
NRTC’s funding alert describes a wide variety of eligible costs, including but not limited to the construction, improvement, and/or acquisition of facilities and telecommunications equipment, including infrastructure for backhaul, middle and last-mile networks, and MDUs.
Additional information about California broadband, including state funding resources, BEAD coverage, awards made, and state-specific coverage, may be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
NRTC owns Pivot Group, which publishes Telecompetitor.
