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Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the BEAD Program provides states federal funding to help expand high-speed internet access and use. Texas was allocated $3.3 billion to support infrastructure deployment, mapping and adoption, including planning and capacity-building.
BEAD Restructuring
On June 6, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice (Policy Notice), which outlines significant changes to program requirements and how states must conduct the subgrantee selection process.
To comply with new federal requirements, the BDO has implemented policy changes that align the Texas BEAD Program with the recent Policy Notice. These updates include considering all technologies that meet the minimum performance standards, eliminating certain non-statutory requirements and administering an accelerated "Benefit of the Bargain Round" to evaluate applications based on cost and other factors. The new deadline for submission of Texas’ Final Proposal to NTIA is Oct. 27.
The BDO will publish a draft of the Final Proposal and accept public comment for seven days before submitting the Final Proposal for approval.
All program information, planning documents and deadlines will be available here. Check back often.
SUBGRANTEE SELECTION PROCESS
BENEFIT OF THE BARGAIN ROUND
Application Window
The BDO accepted applications from July 9 to 22 for the Benefit of the Bargain Round.
Application Evaluation
The BDO is evaluating applications. Once award determinations are made, the office is expected to post the Final Proposal for public comment in early October.
Application Challenge Period
The BDO accepted written challenges from interested parties regarding Texas BEAD applications. The BDO is reviewing each submitted challenge and will issue a written determination to the challenger as to whether the challenge will be upheld. The BEAD-eligible location list will be updated accordingly.
Program Guidance
Applicants who experience technical issues can contact the BDO’s technical support helpline by calling 855-TEX-BEAD (855-839-2323) Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by emailing the BEAD helpdesk.
Guidance Webinars
The BDO used its previously scheduled virtual Industry Roundtable as an opportunity to provide meeting attendees updates on how the Texas BEAD Program will be administered in response to the Policy Notice. A recording of the meeting is available below. All potential applicants that were unable to attend the meeting are encouraged to watch.
Texas BEAD Subgrantee Selection Webinar Recordings
The BDO hosted an eight-part webinar series to ensure potential applicants were prepared to submit successful applications. Due to federally required programmatic changes, the information provided in most of the webinars is no longer relevant. To avoid confusion, the outdated webinar recordings have been removed. The remaining webinar recordings provide accurate information relevant to the Texas BEAD Program.
| Date | Topic/Recording | |
|---|---|---|
| March 12 | Preliminary Registration | |
| May 7 | Subgrantee Portal Walkthrough | |
| Please note the information provided in these webinars are subject to change as the BDO works to update the portal to reflect the new guidelines provided by NTIA. | ||
CHALLENGE PROCESS
APPROVED BY NTIA ON MAY 8, 2025
The BEAD Challenge Process was vital to ensuring the state accurately represents location-level funding eligibility for the BEAD Program.
Additional Information
The BDO accepted service availability challenges from internet service providers (ISPs), units of local government and nonprofit organizations from Dec. 3-17, 2024. The submitted challenges were reviewed by the BDO to determine validity. ISPs and community anchor institutions affected by a challenge had the opportunity to submit rebuttals from Jan. 10-24, 2025.
To ensure challengers were prepared, the BDO hosted several webinars throughout the Texas Availability Challenge Process. The following webinars covered the process and inputs needed to successfully file challenges and rebuttals:
- Oct. 30, 2024 – Webinar recording
- Nov. 13, 2024 – Webinar recording
- Dec. 4, 2024 – Webinar recording
- Jan. 8, 2025 - Webinar recording
All challenged location IDs, challenge types and challengers are listed in the BEAD Challenge Submission Data spreadsheet.
The BDO submitted challenges and rebuttal evidence to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on April 1 and was approved on May 8, 2025. The BDO’s Final Determinations for all submitted challenges and the approved list of BEAD-eligible locations are provided on the Subgrantee Selection registration page.
INITIAL PROPOSAL
States were required to submit a comprehensive two-volume Initial Proposal for the BEAD Program that detailed the steps they planned to take in pursuit of universal service.
Details
The BDO’s Initial Proposal was submitted to NTIA on Dec. 23, 2023. Volume I of the Initial Proposal was approved on April 11, 2024. Volume II was approved on Nov. 21, 2024. With the release of the NTIA’s BEAD Restructuring Policy, the BDO is currently preparing its approach to align with the new guidance and timelines.
- BEAD Initial Proposal Volume I Amended (PDF)
- Identified Community Anchor Institutions (XLSX)
- BEAD Initial Proposal Volume II
(PDF)
*see NOFA addenda for document updates
- Scoring Rubric (PDF) *see NOFA addenda for document updates
Five-Year Action Plan
States and territories planning to access funding through the BEAD Program were required to develop and submit a Five-Year Action Plan to NTIA outlining broadband objectives, goals and priorities for ensuring unserved and underserved locations gain access to reliable broadband. The plan served as a needs assessment and informed how the BDO developed a Texas-specific grant program with funding from the BEAD Program.
- Email us to request a copy of the BDO’s Five-Year Action Plan.
Need assistance?
If your question is not addressed here, email us.