State broadband offices across the country are releasing their Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Plans for public comment. Each state’s Initial Proposal includes two pieces — Volume I and Volume II. By December 27, 2023, all 50 states, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia will have submitted their Initial Proposal, which includes both volumes, to the National Information and Telecommunications Administration (NTIA), for approval.
Notably, Volume I details a state’s mapping challenge process. In May, NTIA released a model State Challenge Process that states can adopt in whole or in part to streamline approval. Alternatively, states can develop their own separate process, which NTIA will either approve or reject. As an example, Pennsylvania adopted the NTIA’s challenge process. On October 10th, Next Century Cities submitted comments supporting Pennsylvania’s decision to allow crowdsourced data to contest broadband availability data on state maps. Additionally, NCC urged Pennsylvania to make challenge information available in easy to understand and transparent formats. You can read NCC’s comments here.
Volume II of Pennsylvania’s Initial Proposal outlines the Commonwealth’s plans for selecting grantees, developing fair labor standards and workforce readiness, reducing cost barriers, and addressing middle- and low-income broadband affordability. Pennsylvania will accept public comments on Volume II until November 14, 2023.
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