The state of New York has begun accepting applications for $664 million in the BEAD rural broadband funding program. Applications are due February 7.
The New York program, known as ConnectALL, is administered by the state agency known as Empire State Development (ESD).
Previously, ESD estimated that funding would be sufficient, and a business case would exist, to bring fiber to 90% or more of eligible locations in the state. Like some other states, New York plans to establish the extremely high-cost threshold after applications are received. That threshold will determine where an applicant can use a technology other than fiber.
ESD also will wait until receiving the applications to determine whether to do a second or even a third funding round. The additional rounds would be done if some eligible locations do not receive bids in the first round.
New York BEAD Applications
Individual states are establishing their own rules for how to award BEAD funds but must follow guidelines set by the NTIA, ESD explained in previous NTIA filings. Those rules establish three primary criteria that must account for 75% of total points. States have more flexibility in how to award the other 25% of points.
The three NTIA-specified primary criteria are “minimal BEAD outlay,” affordability, and fair labor practices. NTIA guidelines also call for two different sets of criteria — one for fiber projects (known as “priority projects”) and one for non-fiber projects (known as “other last-mile projects”).
New York’s scoring criteria for fiber projects are as follows:
Primary Criteria
- Minimal BEAD program outlay (up to 30 points)
- Affordability: lowest price gigabit service (up to 15 points)
- Fair labor practices (up to 30 points)
Secondary Criteria
- Speed to deployment (up to 1 point)
- Local and Tribal coordination (up to 10 points)
- Connecting community anchor institutions (up to 14 points)
New York’s scoring criteria for non-fiber projects are:
Primary Criteria
- Minimal BEAD program outlay (up to 30 points)
- Affordability: lowest price 100/20 Mbps service (up to 15 points)
- Fair labor practices (up to 30 points)
Secondary Criteria
- Speed to deployment (up to 1 point)
- Local and Tribal coordination (up to 10 points)
- Speed of network and other technical capabilities (up to 14 points)
Additional information about New York broadband, including links to state funding resources, state-specific Telecompetitor coverage and more, can be found on Telecompetitor’s Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
