The Office of Broadband Development held their weekly meeting. The meetings usually end very early. OBD is open to questions that may slip beyond BEAD. They are very helpful – worth attending if you have any questions or clarifications. Most of the information is in the slides. Some points of note:
- Pre-qualification has been extended to March 13.
- First application window (Fiber, you select the areas 11a) March 24 to April 21
- Second window now open May 7 to 21
- There is now a question form on the OBD website for all questions to make it easier to share the answers with everyone
- New update to (point in time) BEAD eligible map should be available this week.
Questions:
Q: Do you have an estimate for when the BEAD Approved Contractor List will be available?
Yes – should have more info by Friday as for as the process goes, and we can talk more about it next week.
We have been advising folks to check no in whether you are on BEAD Approved Contractor List – if you want to get signed in now.
Q; Can providers still submit location “challenges” to the eligible locations?
No.
Q: For “enforceable commitments”
Not at this point given map is coming out this week. But it means it’s in a contract of some form.
Q: Where can I find Info on Prevailing Wage for CPF? (Not BEAD related)
Should be outlines in contract you have for capital funded project. There are some wage reporting requirements.
From the chat:
- If you have any technical questions on using the BEAD Grantor Portal, please email mnhelpdesk@ready.net.
- View a demo of the Bead Grantor Portal from the January 28 BEAD office hours
- Moving forward, please submit BEAD FAQs through our online form, available here: https://forms.office.com/g/jE9EC1Zzpv
Posting later today on the webpage, a quick start guide to using the BEAD eligible location map: