Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Introduction
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The lack of fast, reliable, and affordable broadband is a major problem in rural, suburban, and even urban America. Issues of digital inclusion and accessibility have exacerbated the digital divide, leaving millions of Americans unable to use technology to improve their lives.
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The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will provide Maine with a $272 million grant that will bring critical resources to fund broadband infrastructure and digital equity for the entire state. The BEAD program prioritizes Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) that are unserved (less than 25/3 Mbps) and underserved (less than 100/20 Mbps).
MCA Contact
​Brian Allenby
Sr. Director, Program Operations
ballenby@maineconnectivity.org
(207) 200-5824
BEAD Timeline
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The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) expects BEAD implementation to take roughly 6 years from start to finish. In September 2023, MCA submitted Maine's Broadband Action Plan and Digital Equity Plan to the NTIA for review. In December, 2023, MCA submitted BEAD Initial Proposals, Volume 1 & 2. Volume 1 and Volume 2 have now been accepted.
Click the image to the left to zoom in on the timeline.
Next in BEAD: Project Application phase
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Phase 1: Prospective Applicant Pre-Qualification Evaluation
(September 18 - October 18, 2024)
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Prospective applicants will submit organizational-level information (technical, financial, operational and managerial capacity) that demonstrates their ability to meet the requirements of the BEAD program.
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Applicants will also be presented with a map of draft Project Service Areas (PSAs) and asked to indicate which they intend to apply for. Learn more about PSAs below.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Phase 2: BEAD Project Application
(Winter 2024)
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Prospective Applicants approved in Phase 1 will be invited to submit project applications for BEAD funding.
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Applicants will provide project-level information, including a bid for specific Project Service Areas (PSAs).
SSP Module on MCA's Resource Exchange
MCA has released a new module on our Resource Exchange focused on the BEAD Subgrantee Selection Process including information about the application portal and requirements, a deeper dive into PSAs, and resources to support with the application process.​​​​​​​​​​
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All dates are approximate and may shift due to NTIA approval, guidance, and internal needs.
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The Subgrantee Selection Process (SSP) is a two-step process through which MCA will evaluate and select prospective applicants and determine how BEAD funding will be distributed to specific Project Service Areas (PSAs). During Pre-Qualification Evaluation, MCA will evaluate prospective applicants on their readiness to manage a BEAD-funded project in Maine. Prospective applicants that are authorized through Pre-Qualification will be admitted to the BEAD Project Application phase where the final PSAs will be available to bid on. Timing of the BEAD Project Application is expected to be later in 2024, and will be determined by NTIA's approval of Maine's BEAD State-Led Challenge Process data.​​​​​​​
Maine's BEAD Project Service Areas (PSAs)
As an element of the Pre-Qualification Evaluation process, MCA has released draft Project Service Areas (including BEAD-eligible locations) to prospective applicants and the public in the BEAD Mapping Tool.
Project Service Areas (PSAs) are in draft form and will continue to be refined this fall ahead of finalization for the BEAD Project Application. The methodology and model used to construct the PSAs are based on several pieces of data and information that are still coming into focus for MCA and necessitate the continued evolution of PSAs. Specifically, PSAs may be updated based on the following:
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NTIA’s curing/approval process for the BEAD State-Led Challenge Process data submission will ultimately determine which locations can be grouped into PSAs.
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MCA greatly values feedback from prospective applicants and will solicit their thoughts during the Pre-Qualification Evaluation process.
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MCA's rapid deployment of broadband infrastructure grants in Maine and ongoing adjustments from other federal funding sources mean that BEAD-eligible locations and corresponding PSAs are still being finalized.
While the final size, scale, and shape of BEAD PSAs are still being finalized, we do expect some right sizing to allow for more efficient bidding, review, and reporting processes as we move through the BEAD timeline. Learn more about PSA Methodology and development within the "Project Service Areas (PSAs)" unit in the Resource Exchange module about the Subgrantee Selection Process.
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​The PSA layer in the Mapping Tool is now downloadable. GeoJSON, JSON, and .CSV files are downloadable from the Mapping Tool. You can directly download from here .SHP and .KMZ files.
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​​​The development of BEAD Project Service Areas (PSAs) is both a science and an art. MCA's Director of Research & Data, Meghan Grabill, Ph.D. explores this careful balance in her recent blog post.
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Click the image to watch an instructional video on how to navigate the Mapping Tool with draft PSAs.
Maine's BEAD State-Led Challenge Process​
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During the State-Led Challenge Process, individuals, nonprofit organizations, units of local government, and internet service providers then had the opportunity to challenge any of the BEAD-eligible locations that MCA identified. Fundamentally, challenges were submitted to determine whether a location has internet speeds below or above 100/20 Mbps. If eligible challengers could provide evidence that a location was misclassified, the location could become eligible for BEAD funding. Once a location was challenged, an eligible challenger could either uphold or refute that challenge and provide further evidence. MCA then adjudicated challenges and rebuttals, the outcome being that final list of BEAD-eligible locations which were then submitted to the NTIA for approval.
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Of the 17,000 external challenges that were submitted by non-profits and ISPs during Maine's BEAD State-Led Challenge Process, 28 ultimately received rebuttal evidence and required adjudication. Of the 28 rebuttals received, 6 resulted in the reversal of challenges submitted. The decision-making criteria which was used to make these determinations is outlined in the Adjudication Standard Operating Procedures.
On September 9, 2024 MCA published the results of the State-Led Challenge Process adjudication, including the draft BEAD eligible locations. These should be considered draft until NTIA approval. These draft BEAD eligible locations were used to develop draft Project Service Areas (PSAs). Learn more about PSA Methodology and development within the "Project Service Areas (PSAs)" unit in the Resource Exchange module about the Subgrantee Selection Process.
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Maine's BEAD State-Led Challenge Process was MCA’s opportunity to create an accurate map of locations where BEAD funding can be deployed in Maine and represents the next step in unlocking Maine's $272 million BEAD allocation. MCA published an initial list of all served, unserved, underserved locations, and Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) in Maine in our BEAD Initial Proposal, Volume 1. That list was then refined with the final list of locations being using to conduct the State Led Challenge Process published here.
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Maine's BEAD Initial Proposal (Volume 1 and Volume 2) has been approved! THANK YOU to everyone who contributed during the public comment period!
BEAD Initial Proposal, Volume 1 & 2
Volume 1 includes:
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1.1 Existing Broadband Funding
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1.2 Unserved and Underserved Locations
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1.3 Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs)
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1.4 State Challenge Process
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Volume 2 includes:
2.1 Objectives, 2.2 Local, Tribal, and Regional Broadband Planning Processes, 2.3 Local Coordination, 2.4 Deployment Subgrantee Selection, 2.5 Non-Deployment Subgrantee Selection, 2.6 Eligible Entity Implementation Activities, 2.7 Labor Standards and Protection, 2.8 Workforce Readiness, 2.9 Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs)/Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs), Labor Surplus Firms Inclusion. 2.10 Cost and Barrier Reduction
2.11 Climate Assessment, 2.12 Low-Cost Broadband Service Option, 2.13 Middle-Class Affordability Plans, 2.14 Use of 20 Percent of Funding, 2.15 Eligible Entity Regulatory Approach, 2.16 Certification of Compliance with BEAD Requirements,
Public Engagement
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As MCA launched Maine's BEAD State-Led Challenge Process and subsequent Subgrantee Selection Process, we will host info sessions and other opportunities for individuals, partners, and other organizations to engage with these processes.
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What Does BEAD and Digital Equity Mean For Me?
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
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This event is for anyone interested in understanding where we are in the BEAD & Digital Equity timelines, has questions about what upcoming BEAD and Digital Equity funding will mean to their community, organization, or broadband project, or would like to know more about how these funding streams will work in conjunction with other MCA programs.
Maine's Broadband Action Plan and Digital Equity Plan​
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Faced with the opportunity for unprecedented funding, Maine Connectivity Authority facilitated the development of a Broadband Action Plan (BAP) that is rooted in digital equity, in coordination with stakeholders around the state. This plan identifies priorities for investment in broadband and digital equity, and serves as the state’s 5-year road map to bring the economic, health, educational, and social benefits of high-speed internet to all Mainers. Through the BAP process, we strive to understand the challenges and opportunities facing stakeholders from every corner of the state so we can develop effective solutions.
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Following our Reflect and Revise period in June 2023, MCA processed hundreds of pieces of feedback that were received and updated the draft plan. In August 2023, MCA submitted the state's 5-year Broadband Action Plan to the NTIA. In September 2023, MCA submitted the state's first Digital Equity Plan to the NTIA.
We are greatly appreciative of all the insightful comments and helpful feedback that was provided by the people of Maine as we finalize these plans!
Digital Equity in the Planning Process
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Digital equity is the condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity for full participation in our society and economy. Maine has opted to combine our digital equity and infrastructure planning, so digital equity will be woven throughout the plan and will also result in a separate stand alone digital equity plan for the state for the first time. The digital equity components of the BAP will be guided by the Digital Equity Taskforce and supported by the Regional and Tribal Broadband Partners.
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For more information about MCA's Digital Equity initiatives, head to our Digital Equity webpage.
Click the image to enlarge
