Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program supports broadband providers and other entities building and upgrading networks to expand high-speed service in unserved and underserved Pennsylvania areas.
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Due Dates: 14-calendar-day application window (Round Two; specific dates on program webpage)
Funding Amounts: No minimum or maximum award; minimum 25% project-cost match; Pennsylvania allocation of $1,161,778,272.41
Summary: Supports high-speed broadband deployment to eligible unserved and underserved locations across Pennsylvania.
Key Information: Applicants need technical, managerial, and financial expertise to design, build, and operate broadband infrastructure.
Description
Pennsylvania’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program provides competitive grants for constructing and upgrading high-speed broadband infrastructure. The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) administers the program through the Department of Community and Economic Development, using funding authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
Projects serve designated Broadband Serviceable Areas (BSAs), based on U.S. Census Block Groups. Eligible locations are unserved or underserved: they lack reliable service meeting 25/3 Mbps or 100/20 Mbps, respectively. Deployment-related mapping, data collection, and planning are eligible when necessary to deliver broadband deployment. The program follows NTIA’s technology-neutral restructuring policy, emphasizing cost efficiency, network performance, and timely delivery rather than a preference for fiber alone.
