Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Quick Links
Connect Illinois Round 4 is funded by the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) included over $1.04 billion to connect over 150,000 locations to reliable high-speed internet in Illinois.
The BEAD Program is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), executed through the Connect Illinois Round 4 program by the Illinois Office of Broadband.
All dates referenced in BEAD materials are subject to change per NTIA direction. All projects are provisional, subject to NTIA approval.
Landing Pages, Links, & Resources:
BEAD Grantee Resources
BEAD Application Resources
Pre-Qualification Period
Prevailing Wage for Broadband
Connect Illinois Round 4 Request for Input
BEAD Map Challenge Process
BEAD Five-Year Action Plan
Archived Documents
These documents are superseded by the June 6, 2025 NTIA BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice.
- Initial Proposal, Volume I | BEAD Location/CAI Identification & Challenge Process
- Initial Proposal, Volume II | BEAD Subgrantee Selection Process
- Draft for Public Comment (September 2023)
- Final version (Approved by NTIA) - Approved by NTIA on June 13, 2024; Updated December 2024
- Initial Proposal Public Comment Summary
- BEAD basics: BEAD 101 webinar or view the slides
Please refer to this page for updates regarding draft content, timelines, and procedures. Questions can be directed to broadband@illinois.gov.
To report fraud, waste, or abuse, contact the Office of the Inspector General at (866) 814-1113 or file a complaint.