BEAD Waiver Notice

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program rules require states to submit a Final Proposal no later than twelve months after the date upon which the Assistant Secretary approves the Eligible Entity’s Initial Proposal. The rules also allow the Assistant Secretary may grant a waiver for Final Proposal deadlines in extraordinary circumstances. A comprehensive review of the BEAD Program is underway, and a Policy Notice will be issued to improve and streamline the program, necessitating additional time for Eligible Entities to submit their Final Proposal to NTIA. The Assistant Secretary has determined that states will need additional time to implement the forthcoming programmatic improvements. Therefore, the extraordinary circumstances exist that justify a programmatic waiver to extend each state’s Final Proposal deadline, an action that is also in the best interest of the Federal Government. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration hereby waives the BEAD Program’s requirement that an Eligible Entity submit a Final Proposal no later than 365 days after the date upon which the prior Assistant Secretary approved that state’s Initial Proposal. Accordingly, NTIA grants a 90-day extension to each state’s Final Proposal deadline.