Program Update

On June 6, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a Restructuring BEAD Policy Notice that enacts updates to the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program.

On July 11, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) opened the required Benefit of the Bargain grant solicitation with the goal of submitting Massachusetts' BEAD Final Proposal by Thursday, September 4. The solicitation included eligible broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) and community anchor institutions (CAIs). The solicitation included required changes to the Subgrantee Selection Process. The grant application deadline was July 31, 2025.

The BEAD Program is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and allocates $147 million to Massachusetts. The Deployment Phase of the BEAD program will fund infrastructure projects that will connect the remaining BSLs that are unserved (below a 25/3 Mbps threshold) and underserved (below a 100/20 Mbps threshold), in addition to eligible CAIs that facilitate greater use of broadband service by vulnerable populations and lack access to 1 Gbps symmetrical service. MBI is committed to achieving universal service by bringing affordable, reliable high-speed internet to every home in the state.

BEAD Final Proposal

Public comment for the draft of the Massachusetts BEAD Final Proposal is now open. The seven-day long public comment period opened on Wednesday, August 27 and will close on Wednesday, September 3 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. During this time, members of the public may submit comments and/or feedback about the draft BEAD Final Proposal (link). To submit a public comment, use the online form below to enter your information and comment by 5:00 p.m EDT on Wednesday, September 3.

For details and information on data files used in the BEAD Final Proposal, please reference the NTIA BEAD Final Proposal Guidance for Eligible Entities, page 79, List of CSVs section.

Please note the Massachusetts BEAD Final Proposal is subject to approval by NTIA. MBI will submit the draft BEAD Final Proposal to NTIA on Thursday, September 4. 

Submit A Public Comment

Final Proposal

Read Draft BEAD Final Proposal 

 

  • Exhibit A - Subgrantee CSV file
 
  • Exhibit B - Deployment Projects CSV file
  • Exhibit F - BEAD Program Monitoring Plan
  • Exhibit C - Locations CSV file
  • Exhibit G - Draft Subgrant Agreement
  • Exhibit G – BEAD Subgrant Agreement - LEO Satellite Capacity Subgrants
  • Exhibit D - No BEAD Locations CSV file
  • Exhibit H - Environmental and Historic 
    Preservation (EHP) Documentation
  • Exhibit E - CAIs CSV file
 

The Benefit of the Bargain Solicitation

The Benefit of the Bargain grant solicitation round includes BEAD eligible BSLs and CAIs. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that have already been qualified by MBI may proceed directly to complete and submit project application(s). ISPs that have not successfully completed the qualification process through either the BEAD Prequalification or the BEAD Round 1 Deployment solicitation still have the opportunity to apply for BEAD funding. These ISPs are required to submit BEAD qualification information and documentation as part of the response to the Benefit of the Bargain grant solicitation.

Unlicensed Fixed Wireless BEAD Eligibility

Posted June 16, 2025

On June 6, 2025, NTIA published the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice. Per the new NTIA requirements, MBI was required to offer unlicensed fixed wireless (ULFW) providers that currently offer service to BEAD-eligible locations the opportunity to provide evidence that BEAD funding is not required for the locations they serve. MBI set a deadline of June 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST for ULFW providers to submit documentation to MBI supporting the claim that the existing ULFW services meet the same technical and service standards required for a BEAD subgrant. As of July 1, 2025 MBI did not receive any documentation.

According to the FCC’s National Broadband Map, the following ULFW providers currently serve BEAD-eligible locations in Massachusetts:

  • Netafy 

  • ULFW providers must submit a notice of intent to submit evidence to remove locations they claim to serve from BEAD eligibility in seven calendar days (deadline June 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.).
  • Providers will have an additional seven calendar days (deadline June 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.) to submit their documentation to MBI supporting the claim 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.
  • ULFW providers should submit responses to broadband@masstech.org with the subject line “ULFW BEAD Eligibility."

Massachusetts Challenge Process 

Massachusetts facilitated the BEAD Challenge Process during the summer of 2024. The Challenge Process was a crucial step to ensure the accuracy of internet availability data and maps for MBI to deploy funding to expand broadband access across the state.  

The Massachusetts Challenge Portal was based on the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) map, with version 4 of the CostQuest fabric data and availability data as of December 31, 2023. 

Throughout the challenge phase of the BEAD Challenge Process, registered users entered 33,665 challenges into the portal. An additional 14,449 challenges were created as pre-challenge modifications (3,548) and area and multiple dwelling unit (MDU) challenges (10,901), bringing the total number of challenges to 48,114.

During the Rebuttal Phase of the Challenge Process MBI received 5091 rebuttals.

Challenge Process Results:

CAI Challenges

BSL Challenges

Post Challenge CAI List

Post Challenge BSL List