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BEAD Process

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​Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment (BEAD) Program​​

​​The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program was created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to provide access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet for everyone. The National Telecommunications and Information Association (​NTIA) oversees the BEAD program and has delegated primary administration to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.  

The BEAD program allocates $1,055,823,573.51 to Wisconsin to ensure all locations in Wisconsin have access to 100 megabits per second download and 20 megabits per second upload or faster internet. Entities eligible to apply for BEAD funding are those that will own and operate the deployed broadband infrastructure, and include but are not limited to internet service providers, telephone and electric cooperatives, and certain local governments.

​Total Wisconsin BEAD Funding
​Purpose
​Eligible BEAD Funded Locations
​$1,055,823,573.71
​Every Wisconsinite has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet
  • ​Unserved households and businesses lacking 25/3 Mbps.
  • Underserved households and business lacking 100/20 Mbps. ​

​Jump to Section

Estimated ​Timeline
BEAD Volume 1: Challenge Process
BEAD Volume 2: Subgranting Process
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Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program Timeline​ 

BEAD is being implemented in several phases. During 2023, the Commission engaged in robust outreach and planning efforts to develop the BEAD Five Year Action​ (see the Planning Activities page for more information). After completing planning, the Wisconsin Broadband Office developed the BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1 and Initial Proposal Volume 2​, which outlines the process it will follow to achieve universal service for all broadband serviceable locations in Wisconsin. 

The timeline below shows the implementation of the BEAD Program. Dates are approximate and subject to revision as needed to meet federal requirements. 

  • ​​​On May 17, 2022, Governor Evers submitted a letter of intent to participate in the BEAD Program. 
  • From June 2022 through December 2023, the Commission conducted its initial planning efforts, including outreach and creating the BEAD Five Year Action Plan using $5 million in initial planning funds.
  • The Initial Proposal was submitted to NTIA for approval on December 20, 2023.
  • WBO conducted its Challenge Process to determine locations eligible for funding from April through August 2024.
  • The Initial Proposal was approved on July 29, 2024.
  • From Augst 2024-​May 2025 the Commission began the subgranting phase and made preliminary awards.
  • On June 6, 2025, NTIA released the ​BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, which required the Commission to rescind previous subgranting preliminary awards in order to conduct the Benefit of the Bargain (BOB) grant round that follows changes to certain requirements of the BEAD subgranting process.
  • On June 17, 2025, the Commission reopened the Letter of Intent (LOI) period for interested entities wanting to apply for BEAD funding. The deadline to submit an LOI is June 30, 2025 at 1:30 pm.
  • Final Proposal due to NTIA by September 4, 2025.
  • Upon approval of the Final Proposal by NTIA, environmental reviews and final engineering of projects will begin.
  • Construction is generally anticipated to begin in 2026.
  • Projects are expected to be completed within four years of award.​​

​​Flowchart of BEAD Timeline Fully Described in Image Caption

*These are estimates and actual dates are contingent upon NTIA actions. 2022: May 17. Governor Evers submits letter of intent. June - Dec. Initial planning fund application submitted. $5 million in planning funds will be allocated to WBO starting December 1. 2023: Jan. - Aug. WBO BEAD Planning: Workforce and Local Planning Grant programs, Listening Tour, and surveys. Allocation June 26. Aug 28. 5-year state action plan due. Dec. 27. Initial Proposal due. 2024: Jan - Dec. State Challenge Process. BEAD competitive subgrant rounds begin after approval of Initial Proposal. 2025: Jan. - Dec. BEAD competitive subgrants awarded to successful applicants. Final proposal due September 4,. 2026-2030: Ongoing implementation. Subgrantees complete projects within four years of subaward receipt.

BEAD Volum​​e 1​​: Challenge Process 

Implementation of BEAD takes place in two phases. The first is the BEAD Challenge Process outlined in its approved BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1​​ which was used to establish the final list of broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) eligible for BEAD funding. Participants were given the opportunity to contest a particular BSL’s status as unserved (lacking 25/3 Mbps) or underserved (lacking 100/20 Mbps) and thus eligible for funding. Changing a location’s status to unserved or underserved would make it eligible for BEAD funding. Participants could also challenge the status of a location as a community anchor institution.  

The BEAD Challenge Process was operated in three phases. The Challenge Submission Window was open from April 29 to May 29, the Rebuttal Submission Window was open from June 20 to July 20, and the final determination by the Commission was made on August 20. The Commission submitted the results of the challenge process, and the preliminary list of locations eligible for BEAD, to NTIA on August 27, 2024. The BEAD Challenge Process results were approved by NTIA on November 19, 2024. 

The BEAD Challenge Process was implemented under the docket 5-BCH-2024​, which contains all challenges received, instructional documents, and the results of the challenge process. The following documents outline the results of the challenge process: 

BEAD Volume 2: Sub​​granting Process 

The second phase of implementation is the BEAD subgranting process. The State of Wisconsin’s BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2​ was approved by NTIA on July 29, 2024. Initially, the approval of Volume 2 began a 365-day timeline to conduct a grant process and identify an awardee and technology to be deployed to all eligible locations. 
From August 2024 to May 2025, the Commission conducted two subgranting rounds in which 98% of BEAD eligible locations were preliminarily awarded. 

On June 6, 2025, NTIA released the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice. The policy notice makes programmatic changes and removes certain requirements ​of the BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). NTIA has removed requirements in the NOFO such as requirements related to local coordination and engagement, labor, employment, workforce development, climate resilience,  affordabilty and middle-class affordability plans, and consumer protections. 

The policy notice also requires the Commission to rescind the previous preliminary awards to conduct the "Benefit of the Bargain" (BOB) grant round that reflects the changes of the policy notice. Primary criteria for awarding BEAD funds in the BOB round has changed to only lowest cost minimal BEAD program outlay. There is secondary criteria for awarding BEAD funds if multiple applications for the same area are within 15% of the total project proposal bid. The secondary criteria is based on speed to deployment, speed of network and other technical capabilities, and previous preliminary subawardees. 

NTIA has taken a tech neutral approach for the BOB round. This means priority projects will not only include fiber, but can include other technolgy types such as unlicensed fixed wireless (ULFW) and low earth orbital (LEO) satellite services as long as the technology​ meets the priority project requirements of service speeds of 100 Mbps/20 Mbps, has latency at most 100 milliseconds, and scalability to meet 5G and other future wireless services.

​Due to the policy notice changes, the Commission is conducting​ a new Letter of Intent​ (LOI) process for potential BEAD applicants. The 32 previously approved LOI applicants are not required to submit a new LOI. For a list of approved LOIs, see BEAD Round One Sub-Granting Selection Process to Begin​; PSC REF#: 544411; and PSC REF#: 541533. The new LOI process opened on June 17, 2025, and deadline to submit a LOI is June 30, 2025, at 1:30 PM CT.

The due date for the Final Proposal has also changed from the initial 365-day timeline. The new Commission deadline to submit the Final Proposal is by September 4, 2025. For up to date information on the application phase see the BEAD Grant Webpage​ and docket 5-BD-2025​​.  

For questions related to BEAD, contact PSCBEADGrants@wisconsin.gov​​

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