Broadband Equity, Access, And Deployment (BEAD) Program
High-speed Internet access isn't a luxury. It is needed to fully engage in the economy, and it helps ensure public safety and the health of our nation. Unfortunately, too many in America lack access to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet.
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
This program funds projects that help expand high-speed Internet access and use. It supports infrastructure deployment, mapping, and adoption. This includes planning and capacity-building in state offices. We aim to expand Internet access to these priority areas:
- Unserved locations (No access to 25/3 Mbps)
- Underserved locations (No access to 100/20 Mbps)
Learn more about the BEAD Allocation Methodology here.
Award Synopsis
To date, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has allocated more than $42.45 billion across 56 states and territories as part of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program.
Public Resources related to BEAD Plans and Milestones
Eligible Uses of Funds
- Planning for the deployment of high-speed Internet, including conducting research, collecting data, outreach, and training
- Deploying or upgrading Internet in unserved or underserved areas or improving service to community anchor organizations
- Installing Internet and Wi-Fi in multi-unit residential buildings
- Broadband Adoption
- Workforce development programs and vocational training
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
You can find full details about this program in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Download the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Visit the BroadbandUSA website for the most up-to-date information about NTIA's broadband programs, including grant programs and technical assistance materials.
Ways to Get Involved
Eligible entities must conduct coordination with local governments, Tribes, community orgs, and individuals within their jurisdiction. Members of the public are encouraged to contact U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and territories to learn about more ways to get involved.
Contacts
For State/Territory points of contact, please visit the BroadbandUSA website and select the state for contact details.
Grantee Support: Grants.gov provides 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for.
Related content
Ramping Up the BEAD Workforce: 5 Things States, ISPs, and Construction Firms Can Be Doing Now
By: Will Arbuckle, Senior Policy Advisor, NTIA
The $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program aims to connect 25 million Americans currently without high-speed Internet access. Building these broadband networks on time and at scale across 56 states and territories will require tens of thousands of broadband construction workers: from network designers to pole surveyors, from locators to drill operators, from general laborers to fiber splicers.
Establishing partnerships as well as initiating and administrating education and training that prepares individuals to be effective across this spectrum of jobs can take between 9 months to 1 year. NTIA encourages grantees to act now to ensure workers are on board and trained so that BEAD deployment remains on track. NTIA will continue to support grantees as they move from planning to implementation.
Every state and territory’s BEAD Initial Proposal includes a workforce readiness plan. And so far, more than 30% intend to allocate nearly $350 million in BEAD funding to support broadband workforce development initiatives. For example:
Every State and Territory is Ready to Implement Internet for All
Biden-Harris Administration Approves Texas' “Internet for All” Initial Proposal
Texas Requested Access to BEAD Funds Totaling Over $3.3 Billion; All 56 States and Territories Now Approved
WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Texas' Initial Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative.