Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program

The BEAD Program will provide $797.4 million to build broadband infrastructure and develop programs to expand high-speed internet access.

BEAD is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the US Department of Commerce. The Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO) will manage the competitive grant process, subgrantee selection process and awardee monitoring and compliance. 

• Availability - service identified is not offered at the location
  • Examples of evidence:
    • Screenshot of ISP webpage.
    • A service request was refused within the last 180 days (e.g., an email or letter from ISP).
    • Lack of suitable infrastructure (e.g., no fiber on pole).
    • A letter or email dated within the last 365 days that an ISP failed to schedule a service installation or offer an installation date within 10 business days of a request.   
      
    • A letter or email dated within the last 365 days indicating that an ISP requested more than the standard installation fee to connect this location, or that an ISP quoted an amount more than the ISP’s standard installation charge to connect service at the location.
      
• Technology - technology indicated for the location is incorrect
  • Examples of evidence:
    • Manufacturer and model number of residential gateway (CPE) that demonstrates the service is delivered via a specific technology.    
• Enforceable commitment - broadband will/will not be deployed at the location by the date established in the deployment obligation
  • Examples of evidence:
    • Enforceable commitment by service provider (e.g., authorization letter). In the case of Tribal Lands, the challenger must submit the requisite legally binding agreement between the relevant Tribal Government and the service provider for the location(s) at issue (see Section 6.2 in Volume I).
• Planned Service - broadband will be deployed at the location within 12 months from the launch of the challenge process
  • Examples of evidence:
    • Construction contracts or similar evidence of ongoing deployment, along with evidence that all necessary permits have been applied for or obtained.
    • Contracts or a similar binding agreement between the OBO and the ISP committing that planned service will meet the BEAD definition and requirements of reliable and qualifying broadband even if not required by its funding source (i.e., a separate federal grant program), including the expected date deployment will be completed, which must be within 12 months from the launch of the challenge process.
• Data cap - available service plans have monthly data caps below 600 GB
  • Examples of evidence:
    
    • Screenshot of ISP webpage.
    • Service description provided
      to consumer.
• Business only service - residential location has service listed but is only for business purposes
  • Examples of evidence:
    • Screenshot of ISP webpage.
• Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) - location should/should not be classified as a CAI (i.e. libraries, schools, hospitals, etc)
  • Examples of evidence:
    • Any evidence that proves the location falls within the definitions of CAIs set by the OBO, or does not.
      

CostQuest Licenses

To access appropriate location data, the Oklahoma Broadband Office is requiring organizations that want to particiapte in BEAD to acquire a CostQuest license. This will allow an organization to view location data for mapping and planning purposes. To learn more click here.

Tier D License - Entities that participate in Federal Broadband Programs and will file challenges during state led challenges processes or relevant reporting will need a Tier D license. Examples: Recipients, sub-recipients, and prospective recipients of federal broadband funds from Federal Broadband Granting Agencies. Please use this link to request a license.   

Tier E License - Entities that seek to participate in the BEAD program challenge processes will need a Tier E license. Examples: Units of local government, non-profits, and FCC Tier 4 organizations. Please use this link to request a license.

In addition, Eligible Entities will need to have an active FCC Registration Number (FRN) and/or a Unique Entity Identifier through Sam.gov.

Note: Unique Entity Identifiers will be needed at the time of award.