Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Important Update on BEAD Program Requirements
On June 6, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released its BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, introducing modified requirements for the BEAD Program. DEEP has reviewed these changes and adjusted BEAD program strategy to align with the NTIA's updated framework. We are committed to providing timely, accurate, and transparent information to support applicants and stakeholders.
An additional subgrantee selection round was held from July 11 - July 22, 2025, as required by the policy notice.
DEEP held the Final Proposal public comment period from September 10, 2025 –September 16, 2025. The draft Final Proposal has been submitted to NTIA for review. This one-page info sheet summarizes our preliminary results.
- Read the Draft Final Proposal
- Read the Draft Program Monitoring Plan, Agency Policy Documentation, and
- Environmental and Historic Preservation Documentation
- Download the Draft Final Proposal Data Attachments (updated as of September 25, 2025)
- BEAD Location Progress (updated as of September 25, 2025)
- Sample BEAD Awardee Terms and Conditions
The BEAD Program was allocated $42.45 billion by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to expand high-speed internet access across the country by funding broadband planning, deployment, mapping, equity, and adoption projects and activities.
Connecticut will receive $144 million to enhance broadband in the state.
This competitive grant program will fund the deployment of broadband service to unserved and underserved locations. After all locations have been served, any remaining funds may be used to support deployment of gigabit connections to community anchor institutions and other related projects.
BEAD Application Process Information
DEEP initially established a multi-step process for selecting subgrantees and awarding BEAD funding. In accordance with updated federal guidance, this process has been streamlined: the prequalification and scoring phases were combined into a single application window, reducing the number of discrete phases.
Qualification and Scoring Phase: Entities that had not yet been prequalified had the opportunity to complete prequalification as part of their application submission. Previously qualified applicants did not need to resubmit documentation. Applicants with existing submissions could either request rescoring under the new framework or submit a revised application that reflected the removal of certain non-statutory requirements.
Negotiation Phase: DEEP entered into negotiations with the highest-scoring applicants. These negotiations resulted in provisional grant awards, contingent on final compliance with all applicable statutory and programmatic requirements, including those related to financial, technical, and operational capability. Provisional awards are included in the Final Proposal DEEP and will be finalized upon NTIA’s approval.
The following entities prequalified for the BEAD Program:
- Cellco Partnership d.b.a. Verizon Wireless
- Civitas Networks
- Comcast
- Connecticut Education Network (CEN)
- Cox Communications
- GoNetspeed
- Reasnor Telephone Company
- Space Explorations Technology Corp. (SpaceX)
- The Southern New England Telephone Company d.b.a. Frontier
- Verizon New York, Inc.
Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
| July 8, 2025 | Revised List of Eligible Locations Published |
| July 11, 2025 | Application Portal Opens |
| July 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST | Application Submission Deadline |
Applicant Webinar
A webinar for potential applicants was held on Monday, July 7th to provide an overview of program changes, including a summary of updates to Connecticut's timeline, location eligibility data, program design, and application process. Watch the recording.
Apply for the BEAD Program
The application period is now closed and applications are under review.
Challenge Process Results
The goal of the BEAD challenge process was to improve the Connecticut BEAD Program Broadband Map so DEEP has an accurate map to make funding decisions. Through the Challenge Process, eligible challengers were able to provide information indicating whether certain locations should or should not be eligible for funding. The Challenge Process opened April 1, 2024, and closed on July 22, 2024. BEAD Challenge Process results received NTIA approval on December 12, 2024. The results of the Challenge Process are as follows:
As required by the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, DEEP performed additional analyses on the resulting data and modified the eligibility lists to reflect the following:
- DEEP investigated and accounted for locations that did not require BEAD funding and indicated or omitted them as appropriate with non-service codes as outlined in the Final Proposal guidance, including providing an opportunity from June 12 - June 25, 2025, for ISPs to submit evidence of locations served by non-subsidized service.
- DEEP reviewed the FCC’s National Broadband Map and determined that no ULFW provider currently offers service that meets technical requirements to any BEAD-eligible BSLs. Therefore, no locations were removed from eligibility.
- DEEP did not need to modify BEAD-eligible locations lists to include locations that are no longer served due a default of a Federal Enforceable Commitment because NTIA indicated there were no such locations.
- DEEP revised its list of eligible Community Anchor Institutions to conform with the IIJA definition of a CAI and align with the NTIA's narrow interpretation of the term “community support organization".
Please contact DEEP.Broadband@ct.gov with questions.
Initial Proposal: Volumes 1 and 2
Initial Propo
sal
The Initial Proposal is the “first draft” of DEEP’s Final Proposal for BEAD grant funding, and, among other things, explains how Connecticut will ensure that every resident has access to a reliable, affordable, and high-speed broadband connection. After a public comment period, Volumes 1 and 2 of Connecticut’s Initial Proposal were submitted to the NTIA on December 27, 2023 and subsequently approved. Please note that the published versions are subject to content modifications to align with the NTIA's 2025 BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice.
Click here to read Volume 1 and here to read Volume 2. (Note that Volume 2 was updated in January 2025. Changes are redlined.)
Read DEEP's response to public comments submitted for Volume 1 and Volume 2.
Five-Year Action Plan
Five-Ye
ar Action Plan
The plan serves as a strategic roadmap to achieve the state’s broadband goals and serves as a comprehensive needs assessment that informs the next steps of the funding process.
Click here to read the Five Year Action Plan.
BEAD Resources
BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity
Content last updated September 2025