Program Update

On February 6, 2026, Massachusetts received a notice of award for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) approval of the Massachusetts Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal. The $18.8 million in approved funding will be used to expand broadband connectivity for 2,565 unserved and underserved homes and businesses and 1,243  community anchor institutions in 251 communities across the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Broadband Institute remains committed to achieving universal access to reliable broadband service, and this funding will move Massachusetts closer to achieving this goal. 
 
MBI submitted the BEAD Final Proposal, an NTIA required planning document, on Sept. 4, 2025. The BEAD Final Proposal complied with the NTIA’s updated BEAD policy notice that was issued in June. The BEAD program will expand internet access through a variety of technologies, including end-to-end fiber, hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet. 

The 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 BSLs that are unserved (below a 25/3 Mbps threshold) and underserved (below a 100/20 Mbps threshold), in addition to eligible CAIs that facilitate greater use of broadband service by vulnerable populations and lack access to 1 Gbps symmetrical service. MBI is committed to achieving universal service by bringing affordable, reliable high-speed internet to every home in the state.

BEAD Final Proposal

On June 6, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a Restructuring BEAD Policy Notice that enacts updates to the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program.

On July 11, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) opened the required Benefit of the Bargain grant solicitation with the goal of submitting Massachusetts' BEAD Final Proposal by Thursday, September 4. The solicitation included eligible broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) and community anchor institutions (CAIs). The solicitation included required changes to the Subgrantee Selection Process. The grant application deadline was July 31, 2025.

Public comment for the Massachusetts BEAD Final Proposal is now closed. The seven-day long public comment period opened on August 27, 2025 and closed on September 3, 2025. During this time, members of the public were invited to submit comments and/or feedback about the BEAD Final Proposal.

The Massachusetts BEAD Final Proposal is subject to approval by NTIA. MBI submitted the BEAD Final Proposal to NTIA on September 4, 2025.

Read BEAD Final Proposal

The Benefit of the Bargain Solicitation

The Benefit of the Bargain grant solicitation round includes BEAD eligible BSLs and CAIs. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that have already been qualified by MBI may proceed directly to complete and submit project application(s). ISPs that have not successfully completed the qualification process through either the BEAD Prequalification or the BEAD Round 1 Deployment solicitation still have the opportunity to apply for BEAD funding. These ISPs are required to submit BEAD qualification information and documentation as part of the response to the Benefit of the Bargain grant solicitation.