In a significant move aimed at extending high-speed internet access throughout North Carolina, the N.C. Department of Information Technology's Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity has publicized their revised Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. In accordance with the updated regulations from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), announced on June 6, the state's version of the initiative plans to deploy $1.5 billion to support internet expansion projects. Annette Taylor, NCDIT Deputy Secretary for Broadband and Digital Opportunity, confirmed that the state department is swiftly coordinating with national leaders to ensure the program aligns with federal prerequisites. Taylor urged providers to prequalify, saying, "We encourage all interested providers to prequalify now so they can participate in the state’s BEAD program,” as reported by the NCDIT website.
With a revised timeline now in play, the updated federal guidance introduces added competition among providers, including those in fixed wireless and satellite sectors. By modifying the scoring criteria and adding a requirement for states, needs states to wrap up their subgrantee selection by September 4. The division is amending its prequalification process to accommodate any further internet service providers interested, extending the prequalification window until July 7, 11:59 p.m. Details including new prequalification guidance, response forms, and frequently asked questions are made accessible on the state's broadband site.
To facilitate the BEAD Program's application procedure, prequalification seeks to confirm applicants satisfy minimum and mandatory requirements; providers yet to embark on this process should utilize the newly released documents. The NCDIT has removed outdated requirements from the new guidance and is offering direction on now-obsolete items to providers who've already submitted their prequalification paperwork.
Additionally, the division has rolled out the BEAD Planning Map, depicting preliminary eligible areas for the program. The state will soon open the subgrantee selection window and refine the final eligible locations on the map, after meeting new policy guidance mandates. According to the official website, NCDIT has already invested nearly $675 million from the American Rescue Plan Act towards connecting over 250,000 homes and businesses in the state to high-speed internet, with this program taking precedence over other infrastructure programs because of the imperative new deadlines.
