NTIA Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) — U.S. Department of Commerce
Varies by state ($500K–$50M+)
State-distributed broadband build-out grants
BEAD distributes $42.45B to all 50 states, D.C., and territories to deploy broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved locations. States run their own competitive grant processes — small ISPs, cooperatives, and municipalities apply to their state broadband office (not directly to NTIA). Small providers are given a priority preference in most state programs; some states require participating ISPs to offer low-cost tier service plans.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $500,000 – $50,000,000
- Realistic amount
- Small ISPs and rural cooperatives in most states are winning $2M–$20M for fiber projects covering 200–2,000 locations. M…
- Deadline
- Active — each state runs its own solicitation timeline; many states in active application rounds as of 2026
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Must be an eligible provider: any entity capable of deploying broadband — this includes for-profit ISPs, cooperatives, non-profits, municipalities, tribal entities, and utilities with broadband divisions. Municipalities must verify state law permits municipal broadband.
- Applications go to your state broadband office, not NTIA. Find your state at broadbandusa.ntia.gov/state-programs. Each state sets its own additional eligibility requirements.
- Projects must serve 'unserved' locations (no access to 25/3 Mbps) or 'underserved' locations (no access to 100/20 Mbps), as defined by the FCC Fabric. Verify target locations are listed as unserved/underserved in your state's allocation data.
- The deployed network must provide service at a minimum of 100/20 Mbps (scalable to 1Gbps/1Gbps for fiber projects). Most states require fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) as the preferred technology.
- Low-cost service plan: most state programs require a condition that providers offer a low-cost tier (typically $30/month for 100/20 Mbps) for low-income subscribers, aligned with the ACP program's intent.
- No SAM.gov registration required to apply to state programs, but check your state's specific requirements. If your state requires federal flow-through compliance, UEI may be needed.
- Match required in most states: typically 25% non-federal match for unserved areas, 25% for underserved. Non-profit and co-op applicants may qualify for reduced match.
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Funds intermediaries, not businesses directly
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Fiber optic cable, conduit, and related infrastructure materials
- Electronic equipment — ONTs, OLTs, head-end equipment, switches
- Construction and installation labor for network build
- Network design, engineering, and permitting costs
- Last-mile connection costs (drop cables, customer premises equipment)
- Network operations center (NOC) equipment directly tied to the funded project
- Workforce training for new employees hired for the project
- Pre-construction costs (environmental review, easements) if incurred after state notice of award
Ineligible expenses
- Existing network upgrades in areas already at or above 100/20 Mbps — BEAD is for unserved/underserved areas only
- Operating expenses (salaries, marketing, customer acquisition) beyond what's directly tied to the project
- Equipment not made in America (Build America Buy America waivers required for foreign-manufactured components)
- Projects using Huawei, ZTE, or other FCC-designated covered equipment
- Lobbying and political activity
- Retail equipment provided to end-user customers beyond initial connection
How to apply
-
1
Identify target locations in your state's unserved/underserved map
Download your state's BEAD eligible location data (based on FCC Broadband Data Collection Fabric). Identify census blocks or locations in your service area or expansion area that qualify. Confirm no other provider has challenged the unserved/underserved designation. This step determines whether you have eligible project areas.
~24 hrs
-
2
Register with your state broadband office
Visit your state's broadband office website (find via broadbandusa.ntia.gov/state-programs). Many states have a provider registry or pre-qualification process that must be completed before applying. This often requires proof of existing broadband operations or financial capacity.
~24 hrs
-
3
Prepare engineering feasibility and cost estimate
Prepare a high-level engineering plan for the proposed build area: technology type (fiber, fixed wireless, hybrid), miles of infrastructure, expected cost per location passed, timeline. Most state applications require a cost model and evidence of financial capacity to complete the project.
~24 hrs
-
4
Submit state application
Submit through your state's application portal (not NTIA/federal systems). Typical components: project narrative, engineering plan, budget, evidence of prior broadband operations, financial statements, low-cost plan commitment, workforce plan, and letters from local government supporting the project.
~24 hrs
-
5
State review and subgrant agreement
States review applications over 60–120 days. Selected applicants negotiate subgrant agreements with their state. Federal flow-down requirements (Build America Buy America, Davis-Bacon, environmental review) apply to all BEAD-funded projects.
~24 hrs
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 517311, 517312, 237130
Apply to your state's program — NTIA is not the direct grantmaker. States give priority to cooperatives and non-profits; if you're a for-profit ISP, consider whether converting to a co-op structure before applying makes sense in your state.
Deadline & timing
BEAD is state-administered. Application deadlines vary by state — some states opened initial solicitations in late 2025, others in 2026. Find your state's broadband office at broadbandusa.ntia.gov/state-programs. States typically have 60–90 day application windows once a solicitation opens. Most states complete their first round by late 2026.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.