Deployment Solicitation     Massachusetts Broadband Map

The Broadband Equity Access & Deployment (BEAD) Program is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and allocates $147 million to Massachusetts. The Deployment Phase of the BEAD program will fund infrastructure projects that will connect the remaining Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) that are unserved (below a 25/3 mpbs threshold), and underserved (below a 100/20 mbps threshold).  MBI is committed to achieving universal service in Massachusetts by bringing affordable, reliable high-speed internet to every home in the state.

To unlock BEAD funding MBI has completed the following:  

BEAD Deployment Phase

The Deployment Phase allows qualified applicants to apply for funding to complete infrastructure projects for the remaining underserved or unserved BSLs across Massachusetts. The Phase launched on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

The following entities are eligible to apply for funding through the Deployment Phase:

  • Private companies (e.g. corporations, limited liability companies, general partnerships, limited partnerships, etc.);
  • Local government entities (e.g. municipalities or municipal light plants that offer broadband service)
  • Tribal governments
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Co-operatives, electric co-operatives and public or private utilities;
  • Public utility districts;
  • Public Private Partnerships, which are the long-term agreements between local government entities and private entities for the delivery and funding of broadband services; and 
  • Other entities that develop and/or operate broadband networks and can demonstrate the experience, capacity and financial resources and stability to satisfy the grant obligations.

Organizations applying for funding through the Deployment Phase that have already completed and been approved by MBI during the Pre-Qualification Process may proceed directly to submit the full project application.

 

Those organizations who did not successfully complete or participate in the Pre-Qualification process must submit their qualification information and documentation prior to beginning the process of completing and submitting the full project application.

 

All interested applicants should closely review all documents and the timeline on the solicitation page.

 

BEAD Eligibility List       BEAD CAI List

 

BEAD Pre-Qualification Process

Prior to the opening of the Deployment Phase, MBI administered a Pre-Qualification Process for the BEAD Program. The Pre-Qualification Process was open from September 26, 2024 until October 28, 2024. This process strongly encouraged interested BEAD applicants to pre-qualify for grant eligibility through the Deployment Phase by supporting the review and approval of subgrantee applications to certify that potential applicants meet necessary qualification requirements. 

Massachusetts Challenge Process 

Massachusetts facilitated the BEAD Challenge Process during the summer of 2024. The Challenge Process was a crucial step to ensure the accuracy of internet availability data and maps for MBI to deploy funding to expand broadband access across the state.  

The Massachusetts Challenge Portal was based on the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) map, with version 4 of the CostQuest fabric data and availability data as of December 31, 2023. 

Throughout the challenge phase of the BEAD Challenge Process, registered users entered 33,665 challenges into the portal. An additional 14,449 challenges were created as pre-challenge modifications (3,548) and area and multiple dwelling unit (MDU) challenges (10,901), bringing the total number of challenges to 48,114.

During the Rebuttal Phase of the Challenge Process MBI received 5091 rebuttals.

Challenge Process Results:

CAI Challenges

BSL Challenges

Post Challenge CAI List

Post Challenge BSL List