The state of Oregon has opened its application window for broadband service providers (BSPs) and other entities applying for grants under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
The program is being administered in the state by the Oregon Broadband Office (OBO).
Oregon has $689 million to award for eligible projects, defined as qualifying last-mile broadband infrastructure to unserved (25/3 Mbps or less) and underserved (between 25/3 and 100/20 Mbps) locations. A 25% match is required of projects.
The application cycle will close on May 22 at 5 p.m.
Eligible applicants include cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, private companies, public or private utilities, public utility districts, and local governments.
According to a funding alert from NRTC, Oregon will score its BEAD applications on the following criteria, with a maximum of 100 points.
Primary criteria:
- Minimal BEAD outlay: Up to 40 points, based on how much funding is requested
- Affordability: Up to 20 points, based on 1 Gbps service to BEAD-funded locations in Oregon that will not exceed a monthly cost of $84.94
- Fair labor practices: Up to 15 points
- Speed of deployment: Up to 2 points
- Community/local government/Tribal government support: Up to 10 points, and support must be provided from 50% or more of the units of government in the District Grant Area to gain full points
- Connecting community anchor institutions: Up to 13 points
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.
Additional information about Oregon broadband, including state funding resources, BEAD news, awards made, state-specific coverage, and more may be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
NRTC owns Pivot Group, which publishes Telecompetitor.
