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Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program

The BEAD Program will provide $797.4 million to build broadband infrastructure and develop programs to expand high-speed internet access.

BEAD is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the US Department of Commerce. The Oklahoma Broadband Office (OBO) will manage the competitive grant process, subgrantee selection process and awardee monitoring and compliance. 


BEAD NET Request for Information

Open RFI Portal

Internet service providers looking to inform the OBO on how Network Expansion Terroritories (NETs) should be constructed can now access the Request for Information portal.

This process will allow companies to download data of proposed NETs across the state, along with associated locations and CAIs, and resubmit templates with proposed changes.

NETs will be the basis for the BEAD Subgrantee Selection process. The RFI process will be the one opportunity for companies to request changes to proposed NETs. OBO wants to receive feedback from the business community about potential ways to serve all Oklahomans most efficiently.

The deadline to submit RFIs is February 21 at 11:59pm.

BEAD Network Expansion Territories (NET) Primer

Note: A tutorial video is available within the RFI portal.

For technical questions about a submission in the RFI portal, please email okhelpdesk@ready.net. For programmatic quetions related to the RFI process or BEAD, please email BEAD@broadband.ok.gov.  


BEAD Pre-Qualification

Pre-Qualification is now avaiilable for organizations interested in participating in the BEAD Subgrantee Selection Process. It is a requirement before organizations can apply for BEAD funding. Questions will be related to an organization's operational history, finances and personnel, among other topics. An organization will complete the pre-qualification within the BEAD portal. If an organization participated in the BEAD Challenge Process, request access to the portal by emailing okhelpdesk@ready.net. Use the subject line, "OPT-IN" and include associated company name, your name, and your email. 

For organizations new to the BEAD program, register for portal access here

Access the Pre-Qualification Guide here

Access the BEAD Portal here

Organizations will have through April to complete Pre-Qualification. An exact date for the submission deadline will be announced once the Subgrantee Selection process begins.


Tribal Broadband Permitting Workshop

The Oklahoma Broadband Office will host a Tribal Broadband Permitting Workshop on February 26 from 11am-1pm at the Patience S. Latting Northwest Library, 5600 NW 122nd St., Oklahoma City.

This event will focus on broadband permitting challenges, potential solutions, and improving coordination among key agencies.

As we continue working together to advance broadband deployment, we would like to gather information on each tribe’s broadband permitting process. Understanding the procedures will help ensure smoother coordination and compliance with tribal, state, and federal regulations. 

We kindly request details on the following:

  • Permit Request Process – What steps are necessary to get a Resolution of Consent for permitting requests?
  • Federal Entity Coordination- What entities do Tribal Nations coordinate with? What is your federal permitting process? What documentation is needed from the Tribal Nation that will be submitted to the Federal Entity?
  • Review and Approval – How are requests reviewed, typical processing time, and key decision-makers involved?
  • Rejection Process – If a request is denied, what are the reasons for rejection, and what options are available for resubmission or appeal?
  • Point of Contact – Designated personnel or department responsible for handling broadband requests?

Subgrantee Selection Listening Session

We invite you to participate in an upcoming Listening Session on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Subgrantees Selection Process. This session is an opportunity for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to engage with state and federal officials and gain insights into the selection process. Representatives from the Office of Inspector General at the US Department of Commerce will also be present to share compliance expectations. 

Event Details:

Date: February 26, 2025 
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm 
Location: Patience S. Latting Northwest Library, 5600 NW 122nd St., OKC.

During the session, we will discuss:

  • The BEAD subgrantee selection framework
  • Evaluation criteria and funding priorities
  • Compliance requirements and expectations
  • Q&A and feedback from ISPs

Please RSVP by Monday, February 24th  by registering here.


BEAD Subgrantee Selection FAQ

BEAD Subgrantee Selection FAQ Updated 8:00 a.m. CT, February 20, 2025  


BEAD Participant Resources


Eligible Entity Requirements

CostQuest Licenses

To access appropriate location data, the Oklahoma Broadband Office is requiring organizations that want to participate in BEAD to acquire a CostQuest license. This will allow an organization to view location data for mapping and planning purposes. To learn more click here.

Tier D License - Entities that participate in Federal Broadband Programs and will file challenges during state led challenges processes or relevant reporting will need a Tier D license. Examples: Recipients, sub-recipients, and prospective recipients of federal broadband funds from Federal Broadband Granting Agencies. Please use this link to request a license.   

Tier E License - Entities that seek to participate in the BEAD program challenge processes will need a Tier E license. Examples: Units of local government, non-profits, and FCC Tier 4 organizations. Please use this link to request a license.

In addition, Eligible Entities will need to have an active FCC Registration Number (FRN), Employer Identification Number (EIN) and/or a Unique Entity Identifier through Sam.gov.

Note: Unique Entity Identifiers will be needed at the time of award.

Last Modified on Feb 19, 2025