The federal government is making $42 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funds available to states based on the data on the FCC National Broadband Map . States apply for funding starting May 13.
Residents and businesses have until Friday, January 13 to challenge data on the FCC map. Challenges may be to property locations and to the availability of internet access services including upload and download speeds.
MuniNetworks.org offers assistance to those who are struggling with the challenge process. The org provides written and video presentations of the ways to navigate the FCC challenge process.
Want the background on broadband, inequity, and more? Read the Cardinal News' story The FCC wants to map broadband coverage. You have until Friday to make sure it has yours right. Want to know more about BEAD?
The BEAD Program includes $42B for high-speed Internet access
Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, BEAD is a federal grant program that aims to get all Americans online by funding partnerships between states or territories, communities, and stakeholders to build infrastructure where we need it to and increase adoption of high-speed internet. BEAD prioritizes unserved locations that have no internet access or that only have access under 25/3 Mbps and underserved locations only have access under 100/20 Mbps. (BEAD info sheet)