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BEAD Mapping Challenge Process
Overview
The Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 includes $42.45 billion for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to expand broadband connectivity across the country over the next five years, with the goal of universal coverage. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is charged with administering the program. The NTIA allocated just over $1.04 billion in BEAD funding to Illinois.
The BEAD Program rules require states to prioritize funds in this order:
- Connect unserved locations (where available service is less than 25/3 megabits per second (Mbps))
- Connect underserved locations (where available service is at least 25/3 Mbps but less than 100/20 Mbps)
- Connect eligible “community anchor institutions” (such as libraries and schools) to at least 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) symmetrical service.
To confirm which locations are eligible for BEAD project funding, each state must conduct a process that gives stakeholders an opportunity to challenge the accuracy of the existing broadband maps. The Challenge Process is critical to ensuring that the Illinois broadband map identifies every unserved and underserved location and eligible CAI so that BEAD funds are deployed where they are needed.
Key Links
- Challenge Process User Guide
- BEAD Challenge Map
- BEAD Challenge Dashboard
- BEAD Challenge Portal: www.illinoisbroadbandmapping.org
- Pre-Register to participate
Resources & Support
- Challenge Process Weekly Lunch & Learns | Register Here
- One Pager for Local Government & Community Leaders
- Office Hours – Tuesday & Thursday, 1-2 pm CT through duration of challenge phase
- Spread the word to your community:
Instructions to Create a Challenge
- Initiate a challenge using the BEAD Challenge Map or on the BEAD Challenge Portal at www.ilbroadbandmapping.org
- Reminder: Please use a bulk CSV template for submissions with more than 50 challenges
- Review the training on how to create a challenge (Slides | Recording)
- Read the Challenge Process User Guide closely to ensure your challenges are complete and valid, and to understand what belongs in each field
Illinois BEAD Challenge Process Phases and Timeline
Phase |
Duration and Dates |
Publication of Eligible Locations Public documentation posted, including an explanation of the state’s Challenge Process, the classification of all locations and CAIs, and the timeline for the full Challenge Process.
The IOB informs units of local government, non-profits, and internet service providers about the challenge process timeline, deadlines, and how each will be notified of challenges. |
7 days February 20 – February 26, 2024 |
Challenge Phase The IOB accepts challenges. |
21 days February 27 – March 18, 2024 |
Challenge Validation (Pre-Rebuttal) The IOB reviews challenges submitted during Challenge Phase and evaluates for Minimum Level of Evidence. Then, IOB publishes all challenges on the BEAD Challenge Map website, determines area challenges and prepares for Rebuttal Phase. |
28 days March 19 – April 15, 2024 |
Rebuttal The IOB posts accepted challenges and shares notifications about rebuttal opportunities. The IOB accepts rebuttals. |
21 days April 16 – May 6, 2024 |
Final Adjudication The IOB reviews and validates rebuttals, then posts publicly to the BEAD Challenge Map website. Finally, the IOB reviews all challenges and rebuttals and finalizes the BEAD Challenge Map. |
May 7 – June 18, 2024 (Remainder of the 120-day Challenge Process window) |
Publication of Final Determinations The IOB publishes the final determinations after NTIA review. |
Early Summer 2024, but dependent on the NTIA review and approval timeline |