Deadline: May 9-30, 2025
Award Amount: $675,000,000
Match: None
Eligible Entities: Tribal Governments and Nonprofits
Description: For the first time, providers of alternative technologies, such as low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and unlicensed fixed wireless will be eligible to seek BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) grants. As in Round 1, Tribal communities, non-profits, internet service providers, cooperatives and other entities may submit Prequalification Applications. BEAD applicants must submit a Prequalification Application to apply for BEAD funding. Round 2 will focus on remaining project areas and locations that did not receive a bid in the first round, which ran from January 3-March 24. Beginning May 9, entities that want to build infrastructure for unserved communities may submit the Prequalification Applications to OBAE. Those submissions will help the state determine whether an entity has the technical capability and financial stability to deploy broadband and meet federal and state requirements.