Oklahoma Fiber-Only BEAD Pool Application Window Opens

Oklahoma’s application window for its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program Pool 1 funding, which is exclusively for fiber, opened April 21 and extends until May 26. In a funding alert, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative shared information about the state’s plans beyond Pool 1. Pool 2 applications, which are for non-fiber technologies, can be submitted from April 28 to May 26. Pool 3 applications, which are for fiber in remaining areas, can be submitted from May 5 to May 26. Pool 4, which is for other reliable technologies in the remaining areas, can be submitted from May 12 to May 26, which is the close of the prequalification window.  The scoring consists of criteria and secondary categories totaling 160 points. The primary criteria for the Oklahoma BEAD applications, which totals 140 points, is separated into three categories: Outlay per location after match (up to 65 points); affordability (up to 44 points), and fair labor practices (up to 11 points).