Oklahoma’s application window for its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Pool 1 funding, which is exclusively for fiber, opened yesterday and extends until May 26.
In a funding alert, NRTC shared information about the state’s plans beyond Pool 1. Pool 2 applications, which are for non-fiber technologies, can be submitted from April 28 to May 26. Pool 3 applications, which are for fiber in remaining areas, can be submitted from May 5 to May 26. Pool 4, which is for other reliable technologies in remaining areas, can be submitted from May 12 to May 26, which is the close of the prequalification window.
The scoring consists of criteria and secondary categories totaling 160 points. The primary criteria for the Oklahoma BEAD applications, which totals 140 points, is separated into three categories: Outlay per location after match (up to 65 points); affordability (up to 44 points) and fair labor practices (up to 11 points).
The outlay per location criterion after match:
- $0 – $999.99: 65 points
- $1,000 – $1,999.99: 58.5 points
- $2,000 – $2,999.99: 52 points
- $3,000 – $3,999.99: 45.5 points
- $4,000 – 4,999.99: 39 points
- $5,000 – 5,999.99: 32.5 points
- $6,000 – 6,999.99: 26 points
- $7,000 – 7,999.99: 19.5 points
- $8,000 – 8,999.99: 13 points
- $9,000 – $9,999.99: 6.5 points
- $10,000 – $14,999.99: 0 points
- $15,000 or more: 32.5 points
Affordability:
- Less than $30: 44 points
- $30.01 – $40.00: 40 points
- $40.01 – $50.00: 35 points
- $50.01 – $60.00: 30 points
- $60.01 – $70.00: 25 points
- $70.01 – $80.00: 20 points
- $80.01 – $90.00: 10 points
- $90.01 – $100.00: 5 points
- More than $100.01: 0 points
Fair labor practices:
- Certification of compliance for past five years and provision of strong commitment to compliance: 11 points
- Workforce plan does not address federal compliance or reveals substantial recent violations: 0 points
The secondary criteria for the Oklahoma BEAD applications total 40 points and consist of speed deployment (up to 8 points), sustainability (up to 10 points), local and Tribal coordination (up to 6 points), low-cost service option (up to 7 points), and speed and latency (up to 9 points).
Eligible entities for Oklahoma BEAD projects include (but are not limited to) cooperatives, nonprofits, public-private partnerships, private companies, public or private utilities, public utility districts, and local governments.
Last September, more than $148 million in broadband expansion projects was approved the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board. The 45 awarded projects are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Project Funds.
Additional information about Oklahoma broadband, including state funding resources, BEAD news, awards made, state-specific coverage, and more can be found on the Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
NRTC owns Pivot Group, which publishes Telecompetitor.
