Illinois is the next state to release its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program application guidelines. The NTIA awarded Illinois $1.04 billion in federal BEAD Program funds to expand high-speed internet access to all homes and businesses. Connect Illinois Round 4 will use these funds to provide broadband to unserved and underserved locations and eligible community anchor institutions.
To ensure a fair and competitive subgrantee selection process, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s Office of Broadband is helping applicants understand the procedures and requirements for successful BEAD program applications. According to this office, 175,293 locations are eligible to be connected through BEAD.
The BEAD-funded Connect Illinois Round 4 has a 25% match requirement. The subgrantee application and selection process consists of up to three waves, starting with an initial focus on hard-to-serve Project Area Units.
In Wave 1, applications are open to all subgrantees regardless of technology or project area. The state will review only those with at least 10% hard-to-serve Project Area Units (as determined by the broadband office) and that are Priority Broadband Projects (such as end-to-end fiber).
Wave 2 will focus on all remaining locations. Project Area Units selected in Wave 1 will be excluded. All subgrantees can apply, but Non-Priority Reliable Broadband Service Projects will only be considered if no qualifying Priority projects fall below the Extremely High Cost Per Location Threshold (EHCPLT).
Wave 1 applicants exceeding the EHCPLT may amend their applications to reduce their BEAD outlay to be below the EHCPLT; otherwise, the state of Illinois may review alternative proposals.
Wave 3 is optional. If any Project Area Units remain after Wave 2, the state may open Wave 3 for all project types, including Priority, Non-priority, and Alternative Technology Projects (pending NTIA guidance).
The Illinois BEAD Program application window for Wave 1 opens January 23, 2025 and closes on February 26, 2025. The dates for Wave 2 and Wave 3 applications will be determined later.
The primary scoring criteria for the Illinois BEAD applications are as follows:
- Minimal BEAD outlay, non-state match (up to 20 points): Points will be awarded based on the degree to which the non-state match exceeds 30%. The higher the percentage of outlay, the greater the points.
- Minimal BEAD outlay, financial need (up to 30 points): Points will be awarded on the percentage of the amount requested versus the state’s published reference cost.
- Affordability (up to 15 points): Points will be awarded on a calculation to determine the difference in the commitment and the reference price of $100 for 1G/1G, Priority Broadband projects and $30 for Other Last-Mile Broadband Deployment projects.
- Fair Labor Practices (up to 15 points)
The secondary scoring criteria include speed of deployment (up to 3 points); network speed and latency (up to 4 points); open access and use of existing network (up to 3 points); local coordination — evidence of community support (up to 5 points); local coordination — verified financial commitment (up to 5 points).
Grants will be awarded after the two-wave process (or three waves, if optional Wave 3 is included) of the BEAD-funded Connect Illinois Round 4 program.
A list of pre-approved providers for the Illinois grants has not been announced. Eligible entities for Illinois BEAD Program applications include cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, private companies, public or private utilities, public utility districts, and local governments.
Additional information about Illinois broadband, including 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.
