Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program

OFFICIAL NOTICE

March 1, 2024. The Department of Management has announced that the State of Iowa Initial Proposal Volume 1 has been approved by NTIA. The BEAD Program requires the State of Iowa to meet certain milestones including submission of a Five-Year Action Plan, Initial Proposal, and Final Proposal. The Initial Proposal, which, among other things, describes the competitive process the State of Iowa proposes to use to select subgrantees to construct broadband projects. 

The following information concerning the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program can be found below:

Purpose

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program was authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, Division F, Title I, Section 60102, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (November 15, 2021) also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The BEAD Program provides new federal funding for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to grant to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (States), as well as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands (Territories), and in certain circumstances political subdivisions of these States and Territories, for broadband planning, deployment, mapping, equity, and adoption activities. Funding is distributed primarily based on the relative number of “unserved” locations (i.e., broadband-serviceable locations that lack access to Reliable Broadband Service at speeds of at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream and latency levels low enough to support real-time, interactive applications) in each State and Territory. Each State is eligible to receive a minimum of $100,000,000 and each Territory is eligible to receive a minimum of $25,000,000. The State of Iowa received an allocation of $415,331,313 to implement the BEAD Program. 

Timeline of Events

The following timeline identifies near-term steps associated with the BEAD program.  Note: This Timeline does not identify all events associated with the BEAD program, but only those activities that will be completed through the Initial Proposal process.

Five-Year Action Plan

As required by the BEAD program, the State of Iowa Five-Year Action Plan establishes Iowa’s broadband goals and priorities and serves as a comprehensive needs assessment informing the Initial Proposal. View the Five-Year Action Plan.

Initial Proposal

The Initial Proposal, among other things, describes the competitive process the State of Iowa proposes to use to select subgrantees to construct broadband projects. The Initial Proposal is Iowa’s “first draft” of the Final Proposal for the BEAD program. It explains how Iowa will ensure that every resident has access to a reliable, affordable, and high-speed broadband connection. 

Volume 1 was approved by NTIA on March 1, 2024, and describes Iowa’s plan incorporating the following topics:

• Existing Broadband Funding Sources
• Unserved Locations
• Underserved Locations
• Community Anchor Institutions
• Enforceable Commitments
• Challenge Process

Volume 2 has yet to be approved by NTIA and describes Iowa’s plan incorporating the following topics:

• Objectives
• Local, Tribal, and Regional Broadband Planning Processes
• Local Coordination
• Deployment Subgrantee Selection
• Non-Deployment Subgrantee Selection
• Eligible Entity Implementation Activities
• Labor Standards and Protection
• Workforce Readiness
• Minority Business Enterprises, Women’s Business Enterprises, and Labor Surplus Area
• Cost and Barrier Reduction
• Climate Assessment
• Low-Cost Broadband Service Option
• Middle Class Affordability Plans
• Use of 20 Percent of Funding
• Eligible Entity Regulatory Approach
• Certification of Compliance with BEAD Requirements

The State of Iowa has constructed Volume 2 to include a comprehensive list of Appendices including draft versions of the proposed Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA #009), accompanying grant agreement, and other materials to give the public direct insight into the nature of the grant program envisioned.

Initial Proposal Public Comment Period

Prior to submission to NTIA, the Initial Proposal was made available for a 30-day public comment period. Follow the link to view the version that was previously open for public comment: Initial Proposal (Public Comment Version) 

Map Challenge

The challenge process gives Iowans an opportunity to correct inaccuracies in the state’s broadband map so it reflects the most up-to-date broadband access across the state. The updated map will determine which locations are eligible for funding through the BEAD program. The challenge process begins May 15, 2024. To learn more about the challenge process and how to participate, visit the Map Challenge page.