California Opens Application Window to $1.86 Billion in BEAD Funding

The state of California is opening its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program application window for prequalification and application submissions, and ending on October 2 for submission of the final proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which administers the program federally. The BEAD Program has allocated $1.86 billion to California for bringing high-speed internet to unserved and underserved residents. Applicants must meet a 25 percent match requirement on proposals. Eligible projects include last-mile broadband infrastructure to unserved locations (defined as those with access to less than 25/3 Mbps service) and underserved locations (those having between 25/3 and 100/20 Mbps). In addition, priority will be given to projects consisting solely of end-to-end fiber.