Things You Should Know About the BEAD Program
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), provides federal funding to all 50 states and U.S. territories for grants to utilize for high speed Internet deployment, mapping, and adoption projects. It includes strict cybersecurity requirements that must be met by any entity applying for BEAD Program funding.
Are you ready to meet the demands of this section of the BEAD Program grant application? Download our Guide to BEAD Program Grants, which includes:
- The reasons behind the cybersecurity requirements
- The four primary cybersecurity requirements of BEAD program grants
- Highlights of the areas a cybersecurity plan must address
Frequently Asked Questions
The information, details, and requirements can be quite confusing. CHR put together the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the BEAD Program. This page will be updated frequently as more questions are asked and answers are found.
To discuss how CHR can help you in your broadband venture, submit the form and we'll be in touch. You can also contact BEAD@ntia.gov for more details.
Last updated: February 3, 2023
Who is in charge of administering the BEAD Program?
The Federal agency in administering the BEAD Program is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Executive Summary can be found here: https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/BEAD%20NOFO.pdf
What is the aim of the BEAD Program?
To lay critical groundwork for widespread access and affordability of broadband; grow economic opportunities, including jobs for local workers; improve educational opportunities; and quality of life across the country.
Upward of $42 billion will be used to construct broadband networks, subsidize the cost of internet service for lower-income households, and develop programs to provide end users with the devices and training they need to use the new and upgraded networks.
How much funding is available?
Each state is eligible to receive a minimum allotment of $100,000,000. They may request up to $5,000,000 of this allocation for Initial Planning Funds.
U.S. Territories are eligible to receive a minimum of $100,000,000 and may request up to $1,250,000 for Initial Planning Funds.
What are the minimum requirements to apply?
- Develop cybersecurity and supply chain risk management plans to ensure that critical infrastructure is protected from threats such as hacking.
- Deliver internet service without data caps and has reliable speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps and low enough latency to prevent delay, choppiness and buffering in the user experience during real-time applications such as videoconferencing.
- Build and operate networks with combined average outages that do not exceed 48 hours a year (natural disasters being excepted.)
- Deliver broadband service to end users within four years of receiving funds, administer public awareness campaigns, and make connections available to any customer within the service area covered by the funding award.
- Participate in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides a $30-a-month discount to eligible households and offers, at a minimum, one low-cost broadband service option.
What broadband projects are being prioritized?
Projects designed to deliver fiber connection to the end user in unserved or underserved areas (i.e., those without broadband service at all or with speeds lower 100 Mbps downstream/20 Mbps upstream).
What are the new cybersecurity requirements to qualify for funding?
NTIA has introduced unprecedented cybersecurity requirements for subgrantees to be eligible for BEAD funding, to be evaluated by respective states and territories. Specifics for those requirements can be found in:
- The Cybersecurity: NIST Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity: https://www.nist.gov/publications/nist-cybersecurity-framework-csf-20
- Cybersecurity: Standards and controls set forth in U.S. Executive Order 14028: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/05/17/2021-10460/improving-the-nations-cybersecurity
What are the baseline Supply Chain Risk Management requirements?
NTIA has introduced Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) requirements for subgrantees to be eligible for BEAD funding, to be evaluated by respective states and territories. Specifics for these can be found:
- NIST publication NISTR 8276, Key Practices in Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management Observations from Industry: https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/nistir/8276/final
- ST 800-161, Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management Practices for Systems and Organizations and specifies the supply chain risk management controls being implemented https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-161/rev-1/final
Where do you apply?
You must prepare and complete Letters of Intent, Requests for Initial Planning Funds, Five-Year Action Plans, Initial Proposals, and Final Proposals. Details can be found here: https://grants.ntia.gov/grantsPortal/s/funding-program/a0g3d00000018ObAAI/broadband-equity-access-and-deployment-bead-program