18 Jun 2025

The New 2025 BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice: What Missouri Community Stakeholders Need to Know

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The long-delayed effort to begin spending nearly $42.5 billion in broadband infrastructure funding authorized by Congress nearly four years ago is still unfolding. This blog is intended to help community stakeholders—including local government officials, chambers of commerce, nonprofits, and engaged citizens—understand the current situation and work productively to ensure the best possible broadband service is deployed as quickly as possible in their community.

The latest chapter in the BEAD funding saga is the release of a newly revised set of requirements that states must follow to access their share of available BEAD funds. This policy—titled the “Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program: BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice”(the “Policy Notice”) was released June 6, 2025, and it represents a significant shift in federal broadband funding priorities, eliminating or revising many of the earlier requirements imposed by the Biden administration in the original BEAD NOFO, published three years ago, and supplemented with various updates that states had been working to fulfill up until a few weeks ago.

The new Policy Notice emphasizes swift action and sets an aggressive timeline for implementation. Much of the work previously completed by Missouri’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD), including the state’s Initial Proposal and the implementation efforts described in an earlier blog, will now need to be revised to comply with the new requirements outlined in the Policy Notice.

The number of Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) that remain eligible for BEAD funding also may be reduced, because the Policy Notice now permits Unlicensed Fixed Wireless (ULFW) providers to assert they are now providing the broadband service at the level required by the BEAD Act. A new challenge process enabling ULFW providers to provide evidence to OBD is now underway and it should be completed within a few weeks.

All this comes against the backdrop of OBD’s highly successful first round of funding under the prior BEAD NOFO guidance. While specific winners of round one and its sub rounds were not announced, approximately 90% of the eligible locations received proposals and OBD did release information identifying the BSLs where a proposal had been preliminarily accepted. All those results will have to be thrown out. OBD and the ISPs that decide they still want to participate in the BEAD funding program will need to quickly adjust to a new set of rules and priorities and resubmit under a new set of scoring criteria. All this must happen in time for OBD to include the results in its revised final proposal to NTIA in early September.

The new required “Benefit of the Bargain” funding round (described below) is necessary because the Policy Notice, eliminates or substantially modifies criteria for awarding BEAD funding, and it opens up the process to a wider group of internet providers.

Here are some of the most significant changes:

New Definition of a “Priority Broadband Project.” The BEAD statute allowed states to prioritize certain projects over other types of technologies. These are referred to as “Priority Broadband Projects.” The Biden administration’s BEAD NOFO limited this definition to end to end fiber internet (fiber to the premises or FTTP). FTTP was favored over lower cost technologies so long as the amount of BEAD funding requested did not exceed the state’s Extreme High Cost Per Location Target (EHCPLT) for the location. The EHCPLT limit was imposed to make sure that all locations that were not adequately served could receive BEAD funding.

The Policy Notice broadens Priority Broadband Project definition to include any technology that the state (OBD in Missouri) determines can provide broadband service at speeds of no less than 100/20 Mbps with latency less than or equal to 100 ms., and that can easily scale speeds over time to meet the evolving connectivity needs of households and businesses and support the deployment of 5G, successor wireless technologies, and other advanced services.

This definition is important, because all Priority Broadband Projects will compete for BEAD funding using the same scoring matrix in the Benefit of the Bargain funding described below. (Policy Notice §3.1; pp.8-9).

ULFW Potentially Qualifies as a “Priority Project.” To qualify as a Priority Broadband Project, unlicensed fixed wireless (ULFW) must deliver reliable internet to all covered BSLs at speeds at 100/20 Mbps with latency under 100 ms. The BEAD Policy states that a ULFW provider’s network will be considered capable of reliably delivering service at the minimum levels required by the statute if it can demonstrate the ability to deliver download speeds of at least 5 Mbps assuming simultaneous connection at all locations. The BEAD Policy leaves the requirements and standards necessary for a ULFW provider to show its project is easily scalable over time to meet future needs to the discretion of each state. However, NTIA does reserve to itself the right to overrule the state’s determination in cases where it disagrees. (Policy Notice § 3.2; p.10; Appendix A)

LEO Satellite Potentially Qualifies as a “Priority Project.”  Low earth orbit satellite internet providers (LEO Satellite), such as Starlink, also could qualify as a Priority Broadband Project as well, if the provider commits to make sufficient bandwidth available on the network to serve all locations for a period of at least 10 years. States may adopt enforcement mechanisms—such as claw backs of BEAD grants—to ensure compliance; however, they may not take any ownership or security interest in the provider’s network equipment. (Policy Notice § 3.2; p.10; Appendix B)

New “Lowest Cost to the Government” Scoring Matrix Required. Generally, OBD is required to use a scoring matrix for all Priority Broadband Projects that favors the proposal or combination of proposals resulting in the lowest dollar outlay of BEAD funding.

However, so long as the EHCPLT is not exceeded, a higher-cost Priority Broadband Project proposal may be selected if it is within 15% of the amount requested by the lowest Priority Broadband Project  proposal.

In this case OBD may select among the Priority Broadband Project proposals based on a scoring matrix that takes only the following criteria into account:

  • The speed at which the project will be completed (with preference for faster deployment)
  • The technical capabilities and scalability of the proposed technology (for example, fiber’s ability to easily upgrade speeds in the future)
  • The reliability of the service, especially in challenging environments
  • Whether the applicant was previously a provisional subgrantee under the old rules (though this is only a minor consideration)

If all Priority Broadband Projects exceed the EHCPLT, OBD may accept a lower cost non-priority option if it meets the 100/20 Mbps and 100 ms. service level, even though it is not able to easily scale to meet future needs.(Policy Notice §§ 3.3–3.4; pp.10-13 )

NTIA Specific Oversight on Project Selection. While states retain broad authority over project selection, the BEAD Policy cautions states against setting EHCPLT at an unrealistically high level to preserve the possibility of fiber deployment. NTIA also reserves the right to disapprove project selections that it believes are inconsistent with BEAD program goals.
(Policy Notice p.9 and §3.4; pp.9 and 11-13)

Project Area Proposals Can Exclude BSLs. OBD must accept proposals that exclude one or more BSLs or provides for different delivery technologies where the provider determines the cost of deployment for a specific technology is too high. In such cases, OBD may solicit alternative solutions from other providers or consider a provider’s proposal to use different technologies for those BSLs.(Policy Notice §3.3; p.11)

Affordability Rules. OBD can no longer impose a specific Low-Cost Service Option (LCSO) that BEAD-funded projects must offer. Instead, providers must propose their own affordable plans, which must be made available to households eligible under the FCC’s Lifeline Program, rather than the broader criteria previously allowed under the Affordable Connectivity Program.
(Policy Notice §§ 2.6; 2.7; pp.6-9)

Open Access/Net Neutrality. Prohibitions on data caps and requirements to provide wholesale or open-access connections to BEAD-funded networks have been abolished. NTIA concluded these mandates discouraged participation and increased project costs.
(Policy Notice §2.3; p.5)

DEI, Workforce and Labor Requirements. Prior BEAD NOFO mandates concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), fair labor practices, and related reporting have been eliminated. Instead, subgrantees are only required to certify compliance with applicable federal labor laws.(Policy Notice § 2.1; p.4)

Climate Resilience Factors.  The requirement that BEAD proposals be scored based on their contribution to climate resilience has been eliminated. Project participants will satisfy this statutory requirement by establishing risk management plans that account for technology infrastructure reliability and resilience to natural disasters (e.g., wildfires, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.) as well as cybersecurity best practices..
(Policy Notice § 2.2; pp. 4-5)

No Credit for Community Input. OBD may no longer award scoring points or preference based on stakeholder engagement, demographic targeting, or other forms of community input. Public comment is still required for the Final Proposal, but it cannot affect project scoring.(Policy Notice § 2.4; pp. 5-6)

Where Do We Go From Here?

Admittedly more guidance will be issued in the coming weeks from OBD as it moves forward to implement the Policy Notice, and likely from NTIA as well. There also is the possibility that certain aspects of the Policy Notice will be challenged in court and the process will be further delayed based on a claim that it strays too far from BEAD’s statutory mandates.

However, it seems more likely that OBD will publish a new BSL map reflecting a revised set of BEAD funding eligible sites in a few weeks and a revised invitation for proposals under the Benefit of the Bargain funding round. That invitation also may provide further guidance (consistent with both the statute and the Policy Notice) detailing how ULFW and LEO Satellite proposals can qualify as a Priority Broadband Project.

For community stakeholders, the greatest risk may be that the providers that won preliminary allocations of BEAD funding under the BEAD NOFO process will simply give up, because they believe their FTTP proposal cannot overcome the construction and installation cost advantage of a ULFW solution. Even though many of these ISPs already have spent thousands of dollars on developing their proposals, after years of work, preparation and waiting, they may be at the point where they view further participation in the BEAD program as throwing good money after bad.

Yet the perceived cost advantage of these wireless technologies when compared to FTTP or hybrid fixed wired solutions may be illusory, depending on how OBD (and NTIA) hold UFLW, LEO Satellite or other technologies to the statute’s mandates for service that is easily scalable and future-proof. Much of Missouri’s unserved and underserved locations are in areas where terrain makes deployment of reliable wireless service challenging, and these challenges increase as future needs for higher connection speeds and lower latency require towers to be located closer to the end user and backhaul capacity to increase.

This is illustrated by the independent study commissioned by OBD in 2022. It is worth remembering that this study found that the overall cost of deploying wireless internet statewide was approximately the same as a 100% FTTP solution. While there likely are areas in Missouri, and throughout the United States, where wireless technologies have a substantially lower deployment cost and also can be easily scaled it meet future needs, the 2022 study appears to show that for many Missouri locations, if they are engineered properly to meet specific conditions and terrain challenges, wireless may cost more to deploy than FTTP.

The point here is that community stakeholders who want more than the minimum level of broadband service required by BEAD in their community, need to reach out to the local ISPs that participated in the aborted NOFO BEAD funding round, and urge them to move forward with a new proposal in the Benefit of the Bargain round this summer. They also should be receptive and at least consider joining with a provider in ways that allow them to reduce their  BEAD funding request, so it can fall within the limit of the new 15% rule imposed by the Policy Notice. For example, a local community might agree to fund a fixed a portion of a FTTP network provider’s cost to expand service to a few critical high cost BSLs in exchange for the provider’s agreement to reduce its BEAD funding request by a like amount. Since it is the amount of BEAD funding requested (rather than the cost of the network) that governs, the FTTP bid might be reduced to a point that it did not exceed 15% of a competing ULFW or LEO Satellite Priority Broadband Project proposal.

As the BEAD program enters this critical phase, efforts made by local leaders and  stakeholders still could help determine whether their community secures broadband infrastructure that just meets minimum federal thresholds, or instead infrastructure that is far more durable and future-proof. Now more than ever, communities need to support and encourage ISPs that have already submitted proposals that can meet this long-term vision.

10 Jun 2025

BEAD Restructuring and Updated NOFO Information

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Updated information about the restructuring of the BEAD program is now available on the Missouri Office of Broadband Development website: https://ded.mo.gov/programs/community/broadband-equity-access-and-deployment-bead-program#BEADNotices

From the Missouri Office of Broadband Development:

BEAD Restructuring: UFLW and BEAD Location Eligibility

Unlicensed fixed wireless providers in the state of Missouri are notified that they have seven calendar days (until Friday, June 13) to indicate that they intend to submit evidence that BEAD funding is not required for the locations they serve in line with major federal revisions to the BEAD program in the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice published June 6, 2025 (see Section 4: Optimizing BEAD Locations and Appendix A).

Providers may wish to reference materials prepared and submitted to the state in compliance with Missouri’s BEAD Alternative Technology Policy in identifying locations where they wish to assert service availability and preparing supporting evidence. OBD stresses, however, that providers must submit a new notice of intent to submit evidence and new evidence to remove locations they claim to serve from BEAD eligibility, regardless of whether they participated in the process under Missouri’s BEAD Alternative Technology Policy. The NTIA policy notice OBD’s policy was based on (the “Alternative Broadband Technology Policy Notice”) have been rescinded by NTIA. Among other differences, this new process will have implications for a location’s eligibility for funding of projects using any technology under the BEAD program, not just funding using satellite or unlicensed fixed wireless service.

ULFW providers will have seven calendar days from their notice to NTIA to submit documentation supporting the claim that that the existing ULFW services meet the same technical and service standards required for a BEAD subgrant (see Appendix A of the Restructuring BEAD Policy Notice). If a ULFW service provider demonstrates that it meets the requirements specified by this Policy Notice, the served locations will be ineligible for BEAD Program funding.

Providers should review the technical criteria in Appendix A and be prepared to submit appropriate documentation as well as a list of locations for which they intend to assert service in the seven-day window following their notification of intent to claim service. Only locations where the FCC National Broadband Map indicates potentially qualifying unlicensed fixed wireless service is currently available will be considered in terms of determining BEAD eligibility. (June 6, 2025)

From the United States Department of Commerce:

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program: BEAD Restructuring
Policy Notice

BEAD 2025 NOFO SUMMARYDownload
6.2025 NOFODownload
13 May 2025

Missouri’s BEAD Program 2025

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Just a Speed Bump or Is the Broadband Bus Running on Empty?

In June 2023, the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) announced that Missouri had been allocated over $1.7 billion through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, to expand high-speed internet access to more than 200,000 unserved and underserved locations across the state. This was the third highest amount of set aside for any state, with only California and Texas receiving larger allocations. The  BEAD funding was part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) enacted back in 2021, and the amount represented a historic opportunity to close Missouri’s digital divide and stimulate economic growth especially in rural unserved and underserved communities.

However “allocating” money isn’t the same thing as distributing it … either to the state or to the ISPs that will ultimately construct and operate new internet networks that ultimately will construct and operate new internet networks. Actually getting the money to where it could be used for an internet construction project has been painfully slow. At this point no money BEAD has been committed to a broadband project in Missouri, and it is looking less likely that any will be at this year.

This Blog describes why that’s happened, and suggests some steps communities might consider as we wait for the money.

BEAD Funding …. It’s a Process.

Even though BEAD was enacted in 2021 the “roll out” almost immediately encountered a substantial delay. It took a year and a half for the FCC to put together a set a map that NTIA could use to apportion the $44.24 billion Congress made available among the states. Much of that delay occurred because the FCC refused to begin working on the maps until Congress appropriate money specifically to fund the cost of preparing maps. Once the mapping process was completed, NTIA then required states to complete a multistage process that was roughly based on requirements outlined in the BEAD statute.

NTIA’s process required states to first determine locations eligible for funding and to create a procedure for selecting which ISPs would receive BEAD money. States were required to submit this procedure to NTIA for approval (Preliminary Plan Approval). Once Preliminary Plan Approval occurred, each state had one year to actually identify project locations eligible for funding and to conduct the  competitive process to select ISPs to build the broadband infrastructure using BEAD funds. The result of this work also had to be submitted to NTIA as the state’s Final Plan, and NTIA then would have an undetermined length of time to “approve it” (Final Plan Approval). Only after Final Plan Approval would ISPs selected in the state’s competitive grant process actually be assured they actually would receive the BEAD money, once the project was completed in accordance with the grant requirements.

Missouri Receives Preliminary Approval from NTIA and the Project Selection Process Begins

It took NTIA over a year (August 2, 2024) to give Missouri “Preliminary Plan Approval.” Thereafter, Missouri’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) made significant progress moving toward a completion of a Final Plan for NTIA’s Final Plan Approval. Last year OBD conducted a rigorous challenge process to ensure that the locations designated as eligible for BEAD funding were accurate. It prequalified ISPs to streamline the process of reviewing ISP proposals to provide service in those areas, and it completed a first round of  BEAD funding applications, receiving 519 applications covering 192,284 locations-about 90% of the sites eligible for BEAD money.

A Short Pause…Or a Substantial Multi-Year Delay?

The acronym BEAD stands for Broadband Equity Access and Deployment, and for that reason alone, it’s not surprising that the incoming Trump administration would want some changes. NTIA is part of the Commerce Department, and  Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has consistently criticized the BEAD program for what he describes as “woke mandates,” including labor and climate-related requirements, and a “favoritism towards fiber-optic technology” that he believed needlessly inflated project costs and delayed infrastructure deployment.

During his January 2025 Senate confirmation hearing, Secretary Lutnick declined to commit to honoring NTIA’s existing Preliminary Plan Approvals, stating he would review plans for efficiency and alignment with “lowest cost” objectives. In March 2025, he announced a 90-day review focused on  Biden-era rules, prioritizing a tech-neutral approach (including satellite and fixed wireless) and streamlining infrastructure construction. The goal of this approach he argued was to accelerate deployment and reduce taxpayer costs. That has since been followed by an across the board 90 day extension in the date States must submit their Final Plan for NTIA approval.

Meanwhile, in March, congressional Republicans introduced the SPEED for BEAD Act to codify some of Secretary Lutnick’s priorities. Key provisions of this bill include:

               •Mandating technology neutrality, removing fiber-first preferences.

               •Eliminating labor (e.g., prevailing wage) and climate resilience requirements for broadband infrastructure.

               •Restricting BEAD funds to for infrastructure deployment only, blocking states from allocating funds for digital equity or workforce programs.

               •Requiring states to prioritize cost-effectiveness in subgrantee selection.

The legislation aligns with broader GOP efforts to redirect BEAD toward “shovel-ready” projects. Undoubtedly, it also puts fixed wireless providers and satellite providers in a much more competitive position as well, as they generally are less costly, at least in the short run, when compared to fiber to the premises broadband.

Of course, there are solid arguments supporting all of these proposals, and admittedly, the speed of implementing BEAD up to this point has been discouraging. However, the prospect of forcing states to throw out the work they’ve already done, and restart the planning and approval process under a new set of guidelines, is pretty disheartening, not only for the ISPs that proposed under Missouri’s approved Preliminary Plan, but to the communities hoping to finally get internet service as well. A recent opinion piece by Missouri Representative Louis Riggs, did a good job of expressing these concerns, and frustration with the delay and the change in approach.

Missouri stakeholders—including ISPs, local governments, and bipartisan state legislators-have expressed concern about mandatory federal changes forcing states to restart or revise their BEAD plans. A letter signed by 115 state legislators from 28 states urged Secretary Lutnick to make any changes to BEAD optional rather than mandatory to avoid undermining state authority and delaying broadband deployment, but even if changes are made optional at the state level, it seems likely that Missouri officials will want to carefully consider whether to go forward with the existing grant applications, or adopt the new standards.

While nothing can be said with certainty, it seems likely that even under comparatively optimistic timeframes, Missouri now will not be able submit a Final Plan for NTIA approval until late this year, and of course NTIA approval might take many months more. If the Trump administration chooses to focus efforts on passing the “Speed for BEAD Act” it seems likely that much of what OBD did this past year will need to be redone to allow new applications and proposals for funding that allow more wireless projects, and eliminate environmental and prevailing wage requirements.

Funding Under USDA Programs Seems Uncertain.

Although funding promised to Missouri under BEAD has dwarfed other federal programs, over the past several years the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided funding assistance through grants and loans for many rural communities as well. Two programs in particular administered by USDA are the Reconnect and the smaller, Telecommunications Loan Program. Unfortunately things don’t look promising here either. The Trump Administration’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has directed that funding under both of these eliminated, because they are duplicative.

Other Broadband Funding Options for Missouri Communities

Given the uncertainty around BEAD’s timeline and rules and the probable elimination of other federal programs, Missouri communities and ISPs may want to again explore other funding avenues to continue broadband expansion efforts. Missouri law authorizes several mechanisms to finance broadband infrastructure, including issuing tax-exempt bonds for Qualified Broadband Projects, Community Improvement Districts (CIDs), Neighborhood Improvement Districts (NIDs), Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and property and sales tax exemptions for broadband projects. These are outlined in a White Paper previously published on MoBroadband. You can find the White Paper [Here].

What’s next?

Well, the short answer is we don’t know. However, it is clear that many Missourians continue to lack a connection to reliable, affordable high speed internet, and the fact that Missouri received the third highest allocation of BEAD funding (even though the state ranks 19th in population), is compelling evidence that Missouri has a much larger connectivity problem than most other states. As long as this continues, it seems likely Missouri risks underperforming our peer states in the use of internet based applications that foster economic development, telehealth, and educational opportunity.

12 Nov 2024

Digital Opportunity Grant Program (FY25)

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Missouri’s Digital Opportunity Grant Program (FY25) will fund digitally inclusive projects across the state. The statewide component of the program will fund service areas encompassing 20 or more counties and will be complemented by the local component, which will fund digitally inclusive projects in service areas encompassing fewer than 20 counties.

The following types of entities are eligible to receive funds from the program, providing the proposed project meets other requirements in the Guidelines:

a. Community anchor institutions;
b. County and municipal governments;
c. Local educational agencies;
d. Nonprofit organizations;
e. Organizations that represent:

i. Individuals with disabilities, including children with disabilities;
ii. Aging Individuals;
iii. Individuals with language barriers, including individuals who are English learners and/or have low levels of literacy;
iv. Veterans; and
v. Individuals who are incarcerated in the State (excluding Federal correctional facilities).

f. Civil rights organizations;
g. Entities that carry out workforce development programs;
h. State agencies responsible for administering or supervising adult education and literacy activities;
i. Public housing authorities in the State; and
j. A consortium of any of the entities listed in a through i.

Additional requirements:

a. If the Applicant is a type of entity required to register with the Missouri Secretary of State (SOS) to conduct business in Missouri, the Applicant must be registered and in good standing with the SOS.
b. Applicant has a Missouri Tax ID Number (EIN).
c. Applicant has a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
d. Applicant has a Unique Entity Identifier from SAM.gov

or is in the process of obtaining one. 
e. Applicant is registered with MissouriBUYS and/or MOVERS (for the State’s accounting system) or is in the process of registering (no payments can be made without being in the system) [3].
f. Applicant is not delinquent in taxes owed to the State of Missouri.
g. Applicant is enrolled in E-Verify and provides a copy of its signed Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as required by § 285.530 RSMo. [4]
h. Applicant is not suspended or debarred from participating in Federal grant programs.

The following are ineligible to apply for the program:

a. Entities that are not listed as eligible in the DEA, as set forth in Section 3.1 of the Guidelines. See 47 U.S.C. § 1723(b)(1)(C); and
b. Applicants that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise ineligible to participate in a Federal award.

Applicants may submit their application via Submittable

during the open cycle.

DED intends to award all funds in one funding round but may hold additional funding rounds to ensure all available funds have been obligated prior to the conclusion of the SDECGP period of performance.

17 Oct 2024

Round 1 of the BEAD Program to Open November 15

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DED’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) has announced that the first application round for the Missouri Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program is scheduled to open on November 15, 2024.

Round 1 applications will close at 5 p.m. on January 31, 2025. In response to feedback from potential BEAD applicants, OBD requested and received a variance from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to allow a longer window for Round 1 applications than proposed in Missouri’s approved Initial Proposal Volume II.

Round 1 BEAD pre-qualification applications are currently open and will close at 5 p.m. on January 16, 2025. Pre-qualification applications will be available for submission during each scoring round and sub-round until 15 days before the round or sub-round closes.

NTIA must approve OBD’s final list of BEAD-eligible locations before OBD can release a final Application Area Map and open Round 1 of the BEAD program. If approval is not received by November 15, the opening of the round will be delayed.

Notifications of further guidance about Round 1 of the BEAD application process and the publication of Missouri’s BEAD Application Area Map will be posted on OBD’s Connecting All Missourians webpage and sent via email to broadband stakeholders. LEARN MORE…

17 Sep 2024

MO DED: Request for Public Input on BEAD Reimbursement Process

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DED is requesting public feedback on options for the reimbursement process for the upcoming Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The BEAD program will invest $1.7 billion to address infrastructure barriers for unserved and underserved locations throughout Missouri.

The public input survey, linked below, covers multiple aspects of the reimbursement process that will be used throughout the BEAD program’s lifetime. You may provide input through the survey until 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

Take the survey: https://moexperience.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_26t09YDfmGUaqcC

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please contact us at broadband@ded.mo.gov or 573-526-1028.

24 Jul 2024

Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program: Notice of Funding Opportunity Released on July 24, 2024 

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This announcement was worth the wait!  Today, NTIA is proud to announce a nearly $1 billion Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. This is the first funding opportunity from the $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, the third of the three Digital Equity Act programs.    Now, non-profits, local educational agencies, workforce development organizations, political subdivisions, agencies, state instrumentalities, Tribes, Alaska Native entities, Native Hawaiian organizations, and other community anchor institutions will be able to apply for Competitive Grant Program funds. Territories are also eligible for funds under this funding opportunity.  These competitive grants will resource initiatives that support populations most impacted by digital divides. Low-income households, older adults, justice-impacted people, people living with disabilities, rural communities, and racial and ethnic minority groups are among the populations served by this program. Additionally, competitive grant investments are an essential complement to broadband deployment strategies.    We need you. NTIA is calling on organizations, large and small, to scale efforts to expand digital opportunities. Your organization’s work to ensure telehealth access, promote skills training, optimize small business connectivity, and various other initiatives enables households nationwide to participate in the digital economy.   Interested applicants are encouraged to act now!  Review the Digital Equity Competitive Grant NOFO and Application Resources. The application deadline is September 23, 2024. Learn about how your state or territory plans to expand digital opportunities at internetforall.gov.  Subscribe to the BroadbandUSA Newsletter to receive NTIA e-mail updates.  Follow NTIA on social media or on our website at www.ntia.gov for information.  Check out the Digital Equity Technical Assistance Hub for application help.  Develop a timeline for completing your application.  Begin gathering partnership letters and authorizations, both written and signed. These letters provide credibility and expertise, and will further your project’s reach. 
  For more information on creating data-driven applications and other Internet for All initiatives, view the following resources:  NTIA Internet for All Digital Equity Page Digital Equity Act Population Viewer
  Register for the informational webinar on July 25, 2024, at 2:00 PM ET. For all other concerns, questions, and resources, please reach out to NTIA at digitalequity@ntia.gov. 
Let’s make “Internet for All” a reality.  
9 Jul 2024

BEAD Pre-Qualification Application Now Available

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DED’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) Pre-Qualification Application for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program is now live. The BEAD Pre-Qualification Application is the first step for potential BEAD applicants.

The Pre-Qualification Application groups all general and non-scored BEAD application requirements into one application, allowing applicants to respond one time for these functions. Pre-Qualification Applications will be applied to each of the applicants’ BEAD Applications. The Pre-Qualification Application must be started prior to filling out BEAD Scoring Applications.

The Pre-Qualification Application includes four sections:

  1. Entity Information
  2. Capability
  3. Public Funding Received
  4. Compliance and Other Program Certifications

Inside these four categories, applicants will provide information such as SAM.gov ID and organizational charts with resumes, financial statements, and certifications to comply with applicable laws. Templates required for certain fields are available for download on OBD’s Connecting All Missourians webpage.

30 Apr 2024

BEAD — Let’s Not Throw Away Our Shot Part 3 – Adoption

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By: Marc McCarty and Meredith Morrison

When COVID-19 was classified as a pandemic in March 2020, much of our normal in-person activity ceased, and was replaced by a new, “online normal.” Even though millions lacked a broadband connection, without question our ability to remain connected played a critical role in maintaining our workforce, healthcare, and educational institutions in the immediate crisis. For example,

  • By May of 2020, 35% of employees worked remotely full-time through online connection.
  • Within the pandemic’s first three months, telemedicine encounters increased by 766%.
  • In 2020, 77% of public schools moved their classes to a  distance-learning format, and 84% of college students reported either some or all of their classes shifted to online-only instruction.

Since the pandemic’s onset, many things have returned to pre-pandemic normalcy, but the increased reliance on broadband remains a permanent feature of our lives.

  • Approximately 13% of employees work remotely (online) full-time, and 28% maintain a hybrid work schedule.
  • Today digital medical consultations are chosen 38 times more often than before the pandemic. In 2023, 37% of mental health visits took place virtually, followed by infectious disease, obstetrics, and transplant consultations.
  • While students and teachers continue to prefer in-person instruction at least for elementary and secondary students, online learning has clearly become a critical component for post-secondary education. Over half of degree seekers take at least some of their classes online, and over a quarter study exclusively online.

Yet full adoption of the applications that rely on broadband to better our lives continues to be a concern, even in communities with access to high-speed internet infrastructure. This blog addresses some key barriers to broadband adoption and like the two preceding blogs, suggests ways Public Organizations can help increase adoption rates in all communities, especially in those now receiving BEAD funding.

The term broadband “adoption” refers to overcoming three main barriers that prevent communities and residents from using available broadband service to their benefit.

  • Convincing skeptics that they need a fixed high-speed internet connection in their home,
  • Overcoming the privacy concerns and the fear of criminal activity on the internet, and
  • Developing the skills needed to use broadband applications effectively.

Convincing the Skeptics

Some may be surprised that in 2024, there is still a need to make the case for fixed broadband. After all, approximately 4 out of 5  households are already connected with some form of fixed broadband at home. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to conclude that just like the voice calling to Kevin Costner in the movie “Field of Dreams” – “if you build it, they will come” – or in this case if you build out the broadband network, folks will quickly subscribe for the service.  

Unfortunately, the truth is a bit more complicated. The most recent NTIA study found that in the households that still lack a fixed internet connection in the home, nearly 6 out of 10 don’t want or feel they need broadband. That percentage dwarfs those who aren’t online because they think it is too expensive (18%) or those who say they would subscribe if service was available (4%).

Overcoming Privacy and Security Concerns

Digital privacy and security concerns also deter millions of Americans from engaging in online activities. The spread of emerging technologies and practices, such as smart home devices and online activity tracking, puts these concerns at the forefront of adoption.  A 2023 public survey of 7,500 Missouri households showed that eight out of ten respondents cited security of their personal information as their top concern of internet adoption, and over half expressed concern about seeing misleading information.

Developing Digital Skills

A high speed internet connection can enable individuals to receive online treatment from their healthcare provider at home; shop for products, pay bills and bank; apply for government benefits; work from home or start an online business. However, the same technology can sow disinformation and mistrust, steal personal financial data, or create an addictive dependency on social media. Whether the internet is used for good or for evil largely depends on whether the users are equipped with the knowledge and the skills to use broadband effectively.

Adoption Is Critical to the Success of the BEAD Program

The percentage of broadband skeptics is particularly concerning because many of those currently disconnected  reside in rural locations destined to receive the bulk of Missouri’s BEAD funding. Of course, how questions are asked can impact the response, but that should not blind us to the need for a concerted effort to make the case for the use of broadband-based applications, along with the practical digital skills training necessary to navigate the internet safely and securely.

Broadband adoption also is critical from a purely economic standpoint. If those most likely to be the beneficiaries of BEAD funding don’t think they need it, or are afraid to use broadband, ISPs face the prospect of low subscription rates in areas that already have far fewer potential subscribers per mile than urban or suburban areas.

Fortunately, these concerns can be overcome. Over half of the respondents to the 2023 public survey expressed an interest in internet training assistance. “Help finding information and resources I can trust” (33%) and “assistance with setting up or using new devices” (28%) were the top two areas.

Public Organizations’ Role in Broadband Adoption

Public Organizations are uniquely situated to provide adoption programs that will address these concerns for many reasons. First, the improvement of the health, education and economic opportunity of their constituencies is the primary mission of most every Public Organization. Second, in many cases Public Organizations have already established a local connection with the community – and specifically with members of the community most at risk of being unable to use broadband-based applications to better their lives.

Finally, for local governments and related nonprofits many of the beneficial aspects of broadband-based applications lie in the ability to deliver better services more efficiently. Those who have learned to use the internet to apply for a permit, paid taxes, reported problems with utility service or otherwise interacted with local government have found the process is faster and more convenient than making an in-person visit or filling out paper forms and submitting them by mail.

In addition to being more efficient, these same technologies can also result in significant cost savings through reduced personnel and processing. However, when many of the most vulnerable lack the skills necessary to use these technologies, much of the benefit is lost, because two processing systems must be maintained, one that operates online, and a second “paper” system that accommodates those who are unable to use the new technology.

Resources for Adoption

There are literally hundreds of Public Organizations that have developed programs designed to address one or more of the three barriers to digital adoption outlined earlier in this blog. Many can be located through Mobroadband’s Missouri’s Digital Asset Map. This resource, created by the UM System at the request of OBD, is designed to allow organizations that offer digital skills to help individuals and communities quickly locate organizations that offer digital literacy programs, such as computer classes, one-on-one technical assistance centers, and bilingual resources.

Each community may have a different set of needs, and not every program will be appropriate for every community. However, each likely will face three questions.

  • What digital adoption programs does our community need most?
  • How can we integrate and coordinate our efforts with programs like BEAD that focus on internet access?
  • How do we pay for digital adoption?   

There are tools available to answer these threshold questions. One is the Digitally Connected Community Guide offered through MU Extension. The Guide leads community stakeholders to develop a shared vision of ways broadband based applications can promote better health outcomes, online learning and education opportunities and economic opportunity in their community. With that vision, stakeholders are then provided tools to approach and engage with ISPs to create a workable written plan that focuses on using new or expanded networks in ways that implement the community’s vision.

But what programs should the community use? This will vary of course depending on the community’s specific needs. Yet ideally, in every case these adoption programs should be offered by a trusted resource, and ideally they should be capable of addressing each individual’s needs through one-on-one instruction when needed.

One idea that has been successfully piloted by MU Extension in select communities is the Digital Ambassador program. This program trains a permanent cadre of local volunteers called – “Digital Ambassadors.” Trained Digital Ambassadors share specialized knowledge with individuals in their community on topics such as telehealth, cybersecurity, social media, applications like Google Docs and Office 365. Additionally, Digital Ambassadors learn practical skills necessary to help individuals set up their internet connection at home and navigate financial obstacles to broadband use, by accessing programs that subsidize internet service or provide affordable hardware. MU Extension plans to obtain funding to expand the Digital Ambassador program to all communities throughout the state.

Funding Digital Adoption Programs

Of course, Public Organizations must determine how they will pay for digital adoption programs if they are to participate with ISPs to create “digitally connected” communities. Thankfully, one new source of funding are federal grants authorized by the Digital Equity Act. Beginning sometime late summer or early this fall, OBD  is expected to begin accepting applications from Public Organizations for up to $14.2 million in grants to pay for broadband adoption programs. Additional funding, expected to total at least $10 million, should be available over the next two fiscal years under this program.

At the same time, this summer the federal government is scheduled to begin awarding up to $1.25 billion of grants through a competitive digital adoption program administered by NTIA. These programs, along with others already in place, should offer every interested community the opportunity to obtain financial support for broadband adoption programs that can complement and support efforts to build and expand broadband infrastructure over the next five years.

Let’s Not Throw Away Our Shot

The common theme running across this series of blogs is that now is the time for action. There has never been this level of financial support at the federal government level for broadband, and there is every reason to believe this investment will not be repeated, at least in our generation. Missouri has received a significantly greater proportion of this federal funding than other states, primarily because we have a greater need. The percentage of unserved and underserved locations in our state has been among the highest in the country, and our economic progress and our quality of life have suffered because of it.

We now have an opportunity to change that. This is our shot – what will we do with it?