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Before any ground disturbing activity, BEAD projects must complete environmental and historic preservation reviews (NEPA/NHPA) with the state broadband office acting as a joint lead agency alongside NTIA, and construction may not begin prior to NEPA completion. Subgrantees must provide a milestone schedule covering required consultations, NEPA/NHPA/ESA reviews, and any needed EAs/EISs. *States may specify final terms.

Designs and technical plans should target NTIA’s performance framework (post June 2025), which includes the following: technology neutral, meeting ≥100/20 Mbps, ≤100 ms latency, and demonstrating future scalability; states can no longer favor fiber categorically.

Grant Strategy & Consulting

Compliance & Documentation

Feasibility Studies & Network Assessments

Capital Expenditure Planning

Site Acquisition

Detailed Network Design

Joint Use & Make Ready Engineering

GIS Mapping & Route Optimization

Permitting & Environmental Reviews

Digital Field Data Collection

Delivery must follow federal procurement standards tailored under 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) and NTIA policy; programs need tight schedule control, grant documentation, and BABA compliance with manufacturer certifications and reporting for any waived electronics/components.

Subgrantees must complete deployment no later than four years from the date they receive the subgrant, and the work must meet NTIA’s technology neutral speed/latency standards with verifiable performance.

NTIA’s draft performance measurement guidance indicates twice per year testing during the period of performance and through the federal interest period, using approved methods (MBA, off the shelf, or provider self testing). *States may specify final terms.

Operations must sustain reliability (rapid outage response, scheduled maintenance during off peak hours) and meet service obligations, including a Low Cost Service Option (LCSO).