N.C. Extends BEAD Challenge Process Amid Hurricane Recovery

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, North Carolina extended deadlines for NTIA’s broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) said Friday. NTIA granted the state permission to extend the previous Oct. 3 deadline for challenges regarding eligible locations until Jan. 8, said NCDIT. ISPs can submit rebuttals Jan. 21-Feb. 20 and NCDIT’s broadband division will make final determinations about eligible locations Feb. 21-March 22, the department said. Also, ISPs now have until Feb. 3 to prequalify to participate in BEAD. The deadline was Nov. 1 previously. The state has received more than 23,000 local challenges since opening the process on Sept. 3, said the department.