The NTIA has created a dashboard to track states’ progress toward submitting their initial proposal for BEAD funding. Genius – as a former teacher I remember, if you want to get folks to turn things in, create a check list and share it on the chalkboard. Here’s a description from the NTIA website…
This dashboard allows anyone to track how BEAD Eligible Entities are progressing through the major milestones* necessary to submit their Initial Proposal by the December 27, 2023 due date. The dashboard shows a check mark when an Eligible Entity has achieved one of the eight enumerated milestones. Check back here for weekly updates, and to view Initial Proposals that have been released for public comment, visit Public Notice Posting of State and Territory BEAD and Digital Equity Plans/Proposals | BroadbandUSA (doc.gov).
*The BEAD Initial Proposal consists of two separate volumes: Volume I is focused on the Eligible Entity’s challenge process; Volume II consists of the remainder of the Eligible Entity’s BEAD implementation plan.
Here are the steps they track:
- Vol I draft shared with NTIA
- Vol I released for public comment
- Vol I submitted for NTIA approval
- Vol I approved by NTIA
- Vol II draft shared with NTIA
- Vol II released for public comment
- Vol II submitted for NTIA approval
- Vol II approved by NTIA
Minnesota has completed the first task. You can see how they compare with the graph below. The Office of Broadband Development plans it to have the draft available in mid-November and then the public will have 30 days to comment. So be sure to mark off a little time to check it out and I’ll definitely let you know about it once it’s available.
