Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program

Update on BEAD Program

On June 6, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released its BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, introducing modified requirements for the BEAD Program. 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 Final Proposal has been approved by the NTIA.

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 nationwide by funding broadband planning, deployment, mapping, equity, and adoption projects and activities. Connecticut was allocated $144 million to support broadband improvements across the state.

The projects identified in Connecticut's Final Proposal will deploy broadband service to unserved and underserved locations, as well as community anchor institutions. Information on BEAD non-deployment funds is forthcoming from the NTIA.

As broadband coverage expanded and data improved, the number of BEAD-eligible locations was refined over time. View the infographic to see how provider buildouts, data updates, and the BEAD Challenge Process shaped the final count of eligible locations.

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 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 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

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.