BEAD Grant Program Description

BEAD Grant Program Description. The BEAD Grant Program provides federal funding for broadband planning, deployment, mapping, equity, and adoption activities. The BEAD Program’s focus is on deploying broadband service to unserved locations—defined by the NTIA as those without any broadband service at all or with service offering speeds less than 25 1 Available at https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/BEAD%20NOFO.pdf. Mbps downstream/3 Mbps upstream—and underserved locations defined by the NTIA as those without broadband service with speeds of 100 Mbps downstream/20 Mbps upstream. The BEAD Program also seeks to prioritize deployment to community anchor institutions as defined in the IIJA, 47 U.S.C. § 1702(a)(2)(E). Deployment to unserved and underserved areas and to community anchor institutions are considered “last-mile broadband deployment projects.” Assuming those needs are met and any BEAD funding remains, the BEAD Program allows grants to be awarded for “non-deployment uses,” subject to federal guidance and regulations.