BEAD Supplemental Deployment Policy Notice

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provided new guidance to Eligible Entities (States, Territories, and the District of Columbia) regarding the next step in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program implementation. In furtherance of the BEAD program’s core statutory mission—to ensure universal broadband availability throughout America—NTIA will allow Eligible Entities to access additional BEAD funding to address locations that may remain unserved due to defaults in other federal and/or state programs, misreporting by providers, and other changes to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) broadband DATA maps since the completion of Final Proposals. This Supplemental Deployment Policy Notice modifies and replaces certain requirements outlined in the BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Each Eligible Entity must comply with this Supplemental Deployment Policy Notice to access additional BEAD funds. The core statutory objective of the BEAD Program is to ensure broadband availability for all Americans. Since NTIA’s approval of Final Proposals, external factors may have resulted in additional unserved locations qualifying for BEAD funding. NTIA will conduct a final “true-up” review of the Fabric to identify any remaining locations that may be unserved and provide this Supplemental BEAD Eligible Location List to each Eligible Entity. NTIA will review and approve the final Supplemental BEAD Eligible Location Lists and authorize Eligible Entities to proceed with a second Benefit of the Bargain round to serve these locations.