Overseen by the N.H. Department of Business and Economic Affairs, the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program (BEAD) has $196.5 million to distribute to projects focused on broadband infrastructure and affordability.
The program — which is in the final implementation stages after receiving funding from infrastructure legislation President Joe Biden signed in 2021 — required a five-year plan that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved earlier this year. The state’s initial proposal for BEAD in 2023 outlines plans to have infrastructure available to 100 percent of places suited for high-speed broadband by 2029, according to its five-year plan. Final determinations of funding recipients will take place between Sept. 30 and Oct. 30, according to the business and economic affairs department.
The mandated challenge process for BEAD is meant for local governments and nonprofit organizations to ensure the accuracy of the FCC’s map of places served, underserved and unserved by broadband, according to Henry Underwood, senior planner for the Southwest Region Planning Commission.
“It’s a very quick turnaround, but nevertheless it’s an important time for municipalities and nonprofits to help ensure broadband access in their communities,” he said.
Areas the FCC considers “served” are those that have access to broadband at the federal criteria of 100/20 megabits per second (Mbps), a unit of measurement for the speed and capacity of an Internet connection or network. Underserved communities have a speed less than this, and unserved means there is no access. According to the FCC’s map, 99.49 percent of Cheshire County meets the federal criteria for served with fixed broadband, which is slightly lower than the state at 99.95 percent. Meanwhile, the county exceeds the state with access to high-speed Internet through at least a 4G mobile broadband at 94.83 percent versus the statewide total of 86.64 percent.
Broadband plays a crucial role in numerous fields and in education. High-speed Internet gives students the ability to complete online assignments at home, in libraries and other public spaces with broadband infrastructure. It can also bolster economic development through a remote workforce and give first responders faster communication methods, according to the business and economic affairs department.
During the challenge phase of BEAD, people can provide public comment. Any challenger can view all of the submissions.
“It helps, for example, if you picture a local government that may not have in-depth knowledge of every address,” Underwood said. “It’s something that can ... be a signal to those looking at the data, ‘Hey, something is going on here and maybe we need to investigate this area in more detail.’ “
The process also helps identify “community anchor institutions,” which are groups of organizations that provide a public service, such as schools, hospitals and police stations. Underwood noted that once unserved addresses are resolved, the state can use any remaining funds to support community anchor institutions.
“This challenge process is all about ensuring New Hampshire’s database of those important institutions and organizations is complete and translates directly into funding,” Underwood said. “It’s making sure the little dots on the map are capturing them.”
More information about the BEAD challenge process and how to submit comments can be found at register.connectingnh.com. Potential BEAD challengers can use virtual office hours provided by the state at noon this Thursday, as well as the following Thursday, Aug. 8. Registration can be found at nheconomy.com/office-of-broadband-initiatives/iija/bead-challenge-process.
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