From OBD: BEAD Challenge Portal, updates and resources

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From the Office of Broadband Development news alert…

Minnesota is in the curing phase with NTIA on the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal, Volume 1, awaiting NTIA approval. BEAD will be federal funds that provide funding for broadband infrastructure (fiber, fixed wireless, satellite) with the goal of demonstrating Internet for All. Once NTIA approves Volume 1, OBD will conduct the BEAD Challenge Process with its vendor AppGeo. Currently, the Challenge Window is expected to open mid-July and there will be 30 days for challenges, 30 days for rebuttal, and a 30-day window for OBD to adjudicate. Before the Challenge Window opens, OBD is planning regional events to review the BEAD Challenge process, to hold webinars, and to host weekly office hours online. More information to follow in the coming weeks, additionally, if NTIA approval comes later than anticipated the schedule below will be adjusted accordingly.
BEAD Challenge Portal Opens – late-June (21 days)
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BEAD Challenge Window – mid-July to mid-August

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BEAD Rebuttal Window – mid-August to mid-September
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BEAD Adjudication by OBD – mid-September to mid-October
The Challenge portal is planned to open around two weeks ahead of the official Challenge Window to allow for eligible challengers to review the map and prepare for submitting challenges. The following, states with approved Volume 1s have more information on their websites and are also using AppGeo as their vendor: Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington. Since the portal map will be very similar, if you would like to preview the Challenge portal in those states, you can find more information through the following links:

As information on outreach events, webinars, office hours, and important dates for the BEAD Challenge become available, it will be announced via email to this distribution list as well as posted on OBD’s webpage here.

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