Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program

The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program provides funding for broadband infrastructure. Following requirements from the June 6, 2025, Restructuring Policy Notice from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Minnesota submitted a Final Proposal with a BEAD grant request on September 4, 2025. On December 19, 2025, the NTIA approved Minnesota’s Final Proposal, advancing the state’s plan to expand highspeed internet with $652 million in federal funding. Funding will serve over 74,000 broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) that, as defined by NTIA, are unserved (locations without reliable broadband service of at least 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload) or underserved (locations that lack access to wire-line broadband service at speeds 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload) with a combination of fiber, satellite and licensed fixed wireless technologies.

Updates and Additional BEAD Resources

Sign up for OBD’s email newsletter to receive BEAD updates
Current NTIA BEAD FAQ
Scroll down to read Minnesota’s BEAD Final Proposal and attachments in the BEAD Final + Initial Proposals toggle.
For a timeline of events since 2021, please scroll to find the BEAD Timeline toggle.
Please see the Archived BEAD Materials toggle at the bottom of the page for previously posted archived and rescinded resources.

Additional information on the federal BEAD program is available on the NTIA website.

BEAD Grantor Portal

Access the BEAD Grantor Portal

If you have any technical questions on the portal, please email mnhelpdesk@ready.net.

BEAD Awards (preliminary)

BEAD Eligible Locations (XSLX) (6/30/2025)
Approved BEAD Participants (PDF) (8/8/2025)
BEAD Preliminary Award Map
Preliminary BEAD Awards by County and Entity (XLSX) (12/17/2025)

Subgrantee Resources & Compliance

To understand obligations and responsibilities to reporting fraud visit the OBD Contact page.

Environmental Permitting Resources

Minnesota National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Permitting Resources

Grantee Process Map for BEAD Environmental and Historic Preservation Compliance for each NEPA Project Area (PDF)
MN OBD NEPA Project Area Guidance for Grantees (PDF)
MN BEAD Program Environmental and Historic Preservation Questionnaire Instructions (PDF)
MN BEAD Program Environmental and Historic Preservation Project Details Questionnaire (PDF)
MN BEAD Program Environmental and Historic Preservation Impact Screening Questionnaire (PDF)
Minnesota Broadband and Railroad Rights-of-Way (PDF)
Environmental Historic Preservation (EHP) Requirements (PDF) BEAD final proposal requirement documenting MN Environmental and Historic Preservation responsibilities.
Minnesota Office of Broadband Development BEAD Pre-Construction Meeting Guidance (PDF)
View recorded sessions from the virtual 2026 Navigating PLUS (Permitting, Land Use, and State Systems) on the OBD Webinars and Recorded events webpage

NTIA NEPA and Permitting Resources

NTIA Permitting Needs Checklist (PDF): Details how to structure a permitting needs assessment and access considerations
NTIA's ArcGIS Pro Permitting and Environmental Information Tool (APPEIT): Tool for federal broadband grant recipients and subgrantees to identify permits and environmental factors in planning routes for deployments.
NTIA Best Management Practices and Mitigation Measures (PDF): Best management practices (BMPs) and mitigation measures to minimize impacts during construction, deployment and operation of NTIA funded broadband projects.
NTIA NEPA for BEAD NEPA Milestone Schedule and Timeline (PDF): Guidance on requirements established in Section 13B of the BEAD Terms and Conditions.
NTIA Local Permitting Importance and Challenges and Strategies (PDF): Guidance explaining local permitting, providing strategies and examples addressing challenges and increasing processing efficiency. environmental factors in planning routes for deployments.
Sample Project Descriptions and Maps for BEAD Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Review: Provides guidance to assist Eligible Entities in preparing ESAPTT project descriptions and maps.

Other NEPA and Permitting Resources

EHP Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) Memo Minnesota (PDF)

BABA Compliance

Federal Guidance & Compliance

NTIA Letter of Credit Waiver (Section 2.2b has changes that apply to the performance bond only)
NTIA Permitting/Environmental Application Guidance
BABA Compliance FAQs (PDF)

BEAD Information Sessions

Registration links will be posted when information sessions are scheduled.

BEAD Final + Initial Proposals
BEAD Final + Initial Proposals

Final Proposal

The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development (OBD) has drafted the following Final Proposal, as required under the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD). Upon receipt and consideration of comments to this document, the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development submitted for consideration on September 4, 2024 to the National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA), the administrators of BEAD, including the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Following extensive engagement, restructuring, and over 18 rounds of curing, NTIA notified Minnesota of initial approval of the Final Proposal December 19, 2025 and OBD received its BEAD Notice of Award (NoA) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on February 9, 2026.
- Minnesota’s Final Proposal* (PDF)
- BEAD Program Monitoring Plan Summary (PDF)
- Attachment 1 - Final Proposal Subgrantees* (CSV)
- Attachment 2 - Final Proposal Deployment Projects* (CSV)
- Attachment 3 - Final Proposal Locations* (CSV)
- Attachment 4 - Final Proposal No BEAD Locations* (CSV)
- Attachment 14.1 EHP PEIS Memo Minnesota (PDF)
- Attachment 14.1 EHP Requirements (PDF)
- BEAD Final Proposal Public Comment Summary (PDF)
Archived Volumes 1 & 2

The Office of Broadband Development submitted their Initial Proposal draft for the BEAD program to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on December 22, 2023. Minnesota's BEAD Initial Proposal, Volume 1 was approved on May 30, 2024. If you are a person with a disability and need materials provided in an alternate format for accessibility purposes, please contact deed.broadband@state.mn.us.

Volume 1
Volume 2
Archived BEAD Five-year Action Plan

As Minnesota's eligible entity, the Office of Broadband Development also submitted the state's BEAD Five-Year Action Plan to NTIA on July 12, 2023.
Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory
Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory

Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory Form
- Complete and submit the form above to be listed on the Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory.
- The table indicates if the organization represented to OBD has reported they have participated or will participate in the specified optional practices listed in the bullet points below:
  - Practice 1, Training Program: Contractors and subcontractors of sub-grantee applicants have participated or will participate in either (a) an industry association, state, or federally recognized registered apprenticeship program or (b) a joint union/contractor training center.
  - Practice 2, Certified Drug Testing: Operators of equipment who are in the workforce installing broadband networks around existing utilities will have passed a certified drug test.
  - If a cell is marked as "No", the organization did not represent to OBD they have participated or will participate in either of the listed practices.
- For questions about this directory, please email deed.broadband@state.mn.us.
View the Minnesota BEAD Contractor Directory (7/8/2026)
BEAD Timeline
BEAD Timeline

The process for receiving and awarding BEAD funding has multiple steps and spans multiple years:

November 15, 2021

IIJA signed into law

May 16, 2022

BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) issued

May 30, 2023

FCC issues new broadband data maps which are basis for BEAD funding

June 26, 2023

State/Eligible Entities funding allocations announced by NTIA

July 12, 2023

Minnesota submits BEAD Five Year Action Plan

December 22, 2023

Minnesota Submits Initial Proposal Vol. 1 and Vol. 2

May 29, 2024

NTIA approves Minnesota's Initial Proposal Vol. 1

Summer 2024

BEAD Challenge process
- 6/25/24 to 7/15/24, OBD holds BEAD Challenge informational sessions across the state and online
- 7/22/24 to 8/21/24, 30 days to submit challenges
- 8/22/24 to 9/20/24, 30 days to rebut
- 9/21/24 to 10/21/24, 30 days for OBD to adjudicate
- 12/18/24, Final list of BEAD eligible locations submitted to NTIA for its approval
October 3, 2024

NTIA approves Minnesota’s Initial Proposal Vol. 2

January 2025
- January 17, 2025 NTIA approves list of BEAD eligible locations
- January 27, 2025 the BEAD Grantor Portal opens for the Pre-Qualification process. Pre-Qualification is for interested applicants to submit specified documentation to support their financial, managerial, technical and operational capacity to participate in the BEAD program as a subgrantee and must be completed to participate in BEAD. The Pre-Qualification process was extended to remain open until March 13, 2025
Spring 2025
- 3/24/25 to 4/21/25, Subgrantee selection subround, 11a
- June 6, 2025 NTIA releases BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice
Summer 2025
- July 8, 2025 the NTIA approves Minnesota’s IP BEAD Correction Letter required as part of NTIA’s Restructuring BEAD Policy Notice
- July 14 - July 24, 2025 1:30pm CST Prequalified applicants (all technologies) to submit applications for the Restructured BEAD Round, compliant with the updated changes to the NTIA's June 6 Restructuring BEAD Policy Notice
- August 5 - August 8, 2025 Direct Negotiation (All providers & technologies) for locations (BSLs) that did not receive any bids in the Restructured BEAD Round
- August 28, 2025 OBD posts Final Proposal for 7-day public comment period
- August 28 – September 3 OBD holds information sessions (2 virtual, one for general public and one for Tribal partners and 5 in-person regional sessions across the state) to provide an overview of the Final Proposal, steps for public comment, and next steps for BEAD in Minnesota
- September 4, 2025 Minnesota’s draft of the Final Proposal is submitted to NTIA. NTIA committed to review and approve plans in 90 days
December 19, 2025

Following extensive engagement, restructuring, and over 18 rounds of curing, NTIA initially approves Minnesota’s Final Proposal. This advances the state’s plan to expand high‑speed internet with $652 million in federal funding. Minnesota was initially approved for $378.9 million in BEAD subgrants across 94 projects. These projects are supported by nearly $190 million in matching funds, representing a total anticipated investment of more than $568.8 million to connect 74,739 locations.

February 9, 2026

OBD receives BEAD Notice of Award (NoA) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Spring 2026
- OBD moves BEAD forward through drafting contract language to include state and federal regulations, designing the Grants Management System for BEAD, preparing permitting and environmental documentation, and engaging in outreach with ISPs, constituents, and local government entities.
- BEAD project areas are submitted to NTIA’s Environmental Screening and Permitting Tracking Tool (ESPLATT), which is a proactive step to help streamline the necessary environmental reviews and permitting processes, ensuring that Minnesota's broadband expansion efforts continue to progress efficiently and remain on schedule
- As part of ongoing engagement with Tribal Governments, OBD connects with Tribal partners whose Tribal lands include locations proposed for funding to collaborate in connecting with subgrantees interested in seeking Tribal Consent.
October 8, 2026

NTIA approved deadline for contracting process to be completed in Minnesota.
Archived BEAD Materials
Archived BEAD Materials

If you are a person with a disability and need materials provided in an alternate format for accessibility purposes, please contact deed.broadband@state.mn.us.

BEAD Communications and Reports
- Minnesota BEAD Initial Proposal (IP) Correction Request, 7/2/2025: Approved IP Correction Request letter from Minnesota by NTIA on July 8, 2025 as part of the Restructuring BEAD Policy Notice from June 6, 2025.
- Understanding the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice: From the NTIA, this slide deck reviews major program shifts and compares and contrasts the BEAD NOFO & Restructuring BEAD Policy Notice from 6/6/2025.
- Priorities and Proposed Modifications to Minnesota’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Volume 2 and Administrative Streamlines: Letter, sent 3/27/2025 from Minnesota Office of Broadband to United States Department of Commerce.
- 2024 Broadband Infrastructure Cost Gap Analysis: The Office of Broadband (OBD) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a consultant to perform a broadband cost gap analysis study for the state of Minnesota. The purpose of the analysis was two-fold: first, to determine the amount of funding needed to serve the state under BEAD; and second, to determine the cost if all locations in the state were to be served with a minimum 100Mbps download/20Mbps upload wireline connection, as is the goal under state law.
- Getting CostQuest Licenses for Fabric IDs: If you plan to participate in the BEAD program, you will need a CostQuest license to review the list of BEAD eligible locations and to identify the locations included in your application project area.
BEAD Subgrantee Resources
- Past Information Sessions and Materials
  - December 17, 2025, Minnesota Broadband Update webinar: Slides (PDF) | Webinar Recording
- Identification of Non-BSLs for BEAD (DOCX)
Direct Negotiation Round Materials
- Call for Letters of Interest and Location Bids for Direct Negotiation
- Letter of Interest Form for Direct Negotiation
- Location Bid Form - Available BSLs for direct negotiation that did not receive any bids in the Restructured BEAD Round.
- Direct Negotiations Round BEAD FAQs (8/7/2025)
BEAD Applicant Resources
- BEAD Restructured Application Guide
- Section 3: BEAD Network Tech Form Fillable Upload Q 5
- Section 3: BEAD Geospatial Data Upload Guide Q 6
- Section 6: BEAD Minnesota Letter of Credit TEMPLATE Q 18
- Section 11: BEAD Budget Schedule Proforma Pricing Workbook (xlsx) Q 48
- Section 11: BEAD Affidavit Template Upload Q 49
- BEAD Waiver Request Form Guide
- BEAD Call for Applications & Addendum
- BEAD Pre-Qualification Guidance
- BEAD Grantor Portal Pre-Qualification User Guide
- BEAD Grant Contract Agreement DRAFT (some sections obsolete due to BEAD Restructuring)
- Register to access the BEAD Grantor Portal. Download and view the updated BEAD Portal User Guide and BEAD Pre-Qualification Guide.
- Approved BEAD Applicants (8/8/2025)
- Watch a walkthrough on how to select locations in the BEAD Grantor Portal.
- Restructured BEAD FAQs (7/22/2025)
BEAD Eligible Locations
- BEAD Eligibility Map
  - Resources available to assist with using the Minnesota interactive broadband map are available from Connected Nation, Map Product How-To Videos. A downloadable PDF is also available as a quick-start guide, BEAD Mapping Portal Guide.
BEAD Information Sessions

Materials from past sessions:
- August 28, 2025 BEAD Final Proposal Virtual Information Session Slides | Watch the Recording
- September 24, 2025 BEAD Update with Minnesota OBD Slides
Completed Challenge Process

BEAD Challenge in Minnesota, July - November 2024

Minnesota's NTIA BEAD Challenge provided an opportunity to finalize the funding eligibility and status of Minnesota's broadband serviceable locations and community anchor institutions.

The BEAD Challenge process was the only opportunity for local governments, nonprofits and providers to "challenge" the status of a location as eligible or ineligible for federal BEAD funding.

Eligible entities that could participate in the BEAD Challenge process were Local and Tribal Governments; Nonprofits; and Broadband Service Providers. NTIA requirements did not allow the public to submit challenges independently. However, the public could submit information about their location such as speed tests or documentation of lack of service.

Following the completion of the BEAD Challenge Process, only locations classified as unserved and underserved will be eligible for BEAD grant funding.

BEAD Challenge Resources
Completed Restructured BEAD Round

Restructured BEAD Resources
- BEAD Restructuring: UFLW and BEAD Location Eligibility [DOCX] (6/12/2025)
- BEAD Restructuring: UFLW and BEAD Location Eligibility [XLSX] (6/12/2025)
Restructured BEAD Office Hours

Materials from recent BEAD Office Hours sessions:
Rescinded BEAD Round

Rescinded BEAD Resources for Pre-Qualification and Application
- BEAD Community Support Guide
- BEAD Past & Future Workforce Safety Forms
- BEAD Past Workforce Safety Form
- BEAD Future Workforce Safety Form
- Identification of Non-BSLs for BEAD TEMPLATE
- BEAD Pre-Qualification FAQ PDF (final update posted 3/7/25)
- BEAD Subgrantee Selection FAQ PDF (updated 4/17/25)
- BEAD General FAQ PDF (updated 3/21/25)
Rescinded 2025 Webinars, Application Information Sessions, and Office Hours

Webinars

OBD provided an update of information on the BEAD program in Minnesota going into 2025. To watch the recording of the webinar and download the slides, visit the OBD webinar's webpage.

Application Information Sessions
- Session 1, Round 11a: March 25 PDF of slides | Recording
Office Hours

Materials from previous office hours:
For questions on webinars or office hours, please email deed.broadband@state.mn.us.

Rescinded Additional Resources