NTIA Releases Final Guidance on State BEAD Challenges

NTIA released final guidance Wednesday for the broadband, equity, access and deployment program's state challenge process (see 2306260007). States and territories are required to include a challenge process in their initial proposals where other entities can "challenge whether a location or community anchor institution is eligible for BEAD funding," said a news release. The agency sought comment on its proposed guidance template and made some revisions based on feedback from 61 stakeholders. “ACA Connects appreciates NTIA’s diligence in reviewing the many comments and revising the proposed guidance," commented CEO Grant Spellmeyer: "All stakeholders agree that this process is critical to ensure that the limited BEAD funds are targeted to bringing high-performance broadband to locations that are truly unserved and underserved."