The moment we have all been waiting for has finally happened. Wisconsin’s BEAD Initial Proposal has been fully approved by the NTIA! BEAD related activities will begin to move very quickly this fall, keep up by signing up for the Wisconsin Broadband Office (WBO) newsletter and the Extension Community Economic Development newsletter to stay informed.

Volume 2 Initial Proposal Approved

The wait is over, the NTIA has approved Wisconsin’s BEAD Initial Proposal (IP) Volume 2!

What is BEAD IP Volume 2? It’s the plan for operating the BEAD grant program. Now that it’s approved, the Wisconsin Broadband Office can begin moving forward with the BEAD grant application process. The NTIA approved Wisconsin’s Volume 2 on July 29, kicking off a 365 day sub-grantee selection process, beginning with the Letter of Intent which is covered in more detail in the next section of this newsletter.

As we wait for the finalization of the project units, which are the units the ISPs will be using to develop their infrastructure proposals, it’s more important than ever to engage in public-private partnership discussions between counties, Tribal Nations, and ISPs.

Resources: Review BEAD IP Volume 2 and here’s a direct link to the estimated BEAD timeline.

BEAD Letter of Intent Period Open

This step is designed for ISPs and Tribal Nations who will be building and operating the broadband networks built with the funds. The Letter of Intent (LOI) process opened on August 1 and will determine who is eligible to apply for BEAD grant funds. The LOI is a required prequalification for participation in the BEAD grant program. Those submitting an LOI will be evaluated on technical, financial, managerial, and operational capacity to complete and operate proposed BEAD funded projects.

Deadline to submit: October 1, 1:30 pm Central

Informational Webinar: August 13, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Central; Register now (webinar hosted by the Wisconsin Broadband Office)

Resources: Letter of Intent Instructions and BEAD Location Estimate Worksheet (you’ll be prompted to download an Excel file)

Webinar: Incentivizing Broadband Projects: Board of Commissioners of Public Lands

As communities are prioritizing broadband projects, incentivizing projects with the most need is one way to ensure these projects will get done. The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands offers one option for communities to consider. Examples of how communities have accessed these funds will be featured.

Details: August 15, 2024, 12:00-1:00 PM Central, Register now

Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Defaults

The FCC has approved RDOF (Rural Digital Opportunity Fund) defaults in 27 counties. These BSLs will now be eligible for BEAD funding. The Wisconsin Broadband Office has been in contact with the counties impacted by the defaults. If you are in one of the counties affected, consider this as you plan and make decisions on endorsements. Watch for more detailed maps on the Wisconsin Broadband Office website.

Preparing for Engagement & Endorsement

The BEAD grant application process will have a specific role for the governing bodies of counties and Tribal Nations. These bodies are the only ones that will be able to formally endorse a project in a way that will count towards the grant scoring. This is different from previous PSC Broadband grants.

Engagement and Endorsement has the potential to count for up to 12 points in the scoring process. The counties and Tribes can have a major influence in BEAD grant decisions. You can read more in the finalized BEAD Volume 2 document starting on page 32.

Extension staff are working on sample language for an endorsement resolution/letter in consultation with the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Wisconsin Broadband Office. Extension will post the document in our Broadband Toolkit under the “Public-Private Partnerships” section.

Spring Workshop Resources

Did you attend one of our Spring Workshops? You can find the resources from the workshops at our workshops and webinars page. We keep adding more, so come back or let us know if there is something you are looking for from the workshops that you don’t see in the resources.

Looking for a different resource? Check out the broadband toolkit at go.wisc.edu/BroadbandToolkit

If you’re looking for something that isn’t included in either of those places, contact us!

Funding Opportunities that Promote ‘Internet for All’

Funding Opportunity	Deadline
NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant – The goal of this program is to fund initiatives that ensure communities have the access and skills to fully participate in the digital world, regardless of their background or circumstances.	September 23, 10:59 pm Central
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Broadband Technical Assistance Program – This program provides financial assistance through cooperative agreements to eligible entities to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training.	August 20, 10:59 pm Central
Board of Commissioners of Public Lands Loan Program – For public purpose projects including economic development, local infrastructure, capital equipment & vehicles, building repairs/improvements, and refinancing existing liabilities.	Rolling
Lifeline program for providers – eligible telecommunications providers will be reimbursed for discounts provided to consumers through this program.	None
Lifeline program for consumers – provides low-income WI residents discounts for the cost of phone, cell, and internet services.	None

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