BEAD Program

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program

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 will be used to support deployment of gigabit connections to community anchor institutions and digital equity related projects.

For information on Connecticut's digital equity programming and to read the State's Draft Digital Equity Plan, click here.

BEAD graphic

Challenge Process

About the Challenge Process

The BEAD Challenge Process is critical because it determines the locations and community anchor institutions within Connecticut that are potentially eligible for BEAD funding. Per the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) requirements, the State used the National Broadband Map as a starting point to identify the list of BEAD-eligible locations within its jurisdiction. DEEP will review and potentially modify the designation of a location as served, underserved, or unserved on the National Broadband Map through the Challenge Process. As required by statute, the initial eligibility determinations for funding eligibility under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program are based on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) National Broadband Map.

Eligible challengers include local governments, Tribal governments, nonprofits, and broadband service providers. While NTIA requirements do not allow individuals to submit challenges directly, residents of Connecticut may work with eligible challengers to identify inaccuracies.

Phase	Dates
Challenge Phase	April 1 - April 30
Rebuttal Phase	May 11 - June 10
Final Determination Phase	June 11 - July 11

Get Ready

Eligible challengers may now register for the challenge process.

Register and Learn More

Per the Challenge Process as outlined in Volume 1 of the Initial Proposal, DEEP has published a list of BEAD-eligible unserved, underserved, and served locations, as well as identified Community Anchor Institutions, using Fabric version 3.2 and availability data from the National Broadband Map as of February 20, 2024:

The locations posted in the files above have been deduplicated. The methodology is available in the Initial Proposal. As required by statute, the initial eligibility determinations for funding eligibility under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program are based on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) National Broadband Map.

Resources

Please contact DEEP.Broadband@ct.gov with questions.

Obtaining CostQuest BSL Fabric Licenses

To administer the BEAD program, DEEP is required to use the FCC National Broadband Map as the baseline, which provides reported broadband availability data at the location level and relies on a proprietary dataset to provide the location data. DEEP was required to enter into a license agreement with CostQuest Associates, the owner of the dataset, to access the data for the purposes of the BEAD program including the challenge process. The terms of this license agreement restrict DEEP from making the data fully available to stakeholders participating in the challenge process.

Participants in the challenge process are eligible to apply for their own licenses with CostQuest. The NTIA entered into a contract with CostQuest to cover the cost of these licenses, so there is no expense to the licensees.

A CostQuest License may not be required to file challenges directly through the challenge portal. However, if you are considering submitting bulk challenges, DEEP recommends that you obtain a license from CostQuest.

There are two tiers of licenses relevant for the BEAD Program:

Tier D License: The Tier D License is available to all qualified, or presumptively qualified, recipients and subrecipients of federal broadband grants. This license is available to broadband providers, including co-ops, and units of Tribal governments. Request a Tier D License. Learn more about applying for a Tier D License.
Tier E License: The Tier E license is intended for units of local government, nonprofits, and other organizations that have signed an FCC Tier 4 license. Request a Tier E License. Learn more about applying for a Tier E License.

Initial Proposal

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.

Click here to read Volume 1 of the Initial Proposal.

Click here to read DEEP's response to public comments submitted for Volume 1 of the Initial Proposal.

Five- Year Action Plan

The plan serves as a strategic roadmap to achieve the state’s broadband goals and serves as a comprehensive needs assessment that will inform the next steps of the funding process. Submission of the plan to the NTIA also brings the state one step closer to receiving the more than $144 million awarded to Connecticut through the BEAD Program.

Click here to read the Five Year Action Plan.