Virginia's Approved BEAD Plans
The Commonwealth of Virginia has received approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on all of the required BEAD planning documents. Check out these approved documents below!
BEAD ELIGIBLE LOCATIONS
The BEAD Challenge Process began in November 2023 and concluded in March 2024. DHCD continues to work with NTIA to certify the results of the BEAD challenge process and set the locations eligible for the BEAD program. DHCD will issue an announcement once challenge process results are certified by NTIA, which will determine when the application process begins.
Once the BEAD Challenge Process results are certified by NTIA, DHCD will post shapefiles identifying BEAD eligible locations to the Open Data Portal. These locations will be in version 3.2 of the Broadband Data Collection Fabric, and be in three .csv files: (1) unserved locations, (2) underserved locations, and (3) unserved Community Anchor Institutions. These three files will include Federal Communication Commission’s Broadband Availability Map Fabric (“Fabric”) Location IDs of these locations. DHCD is not permitted to post full address information of these locations, per a CostQuest agreement which govern the use and sharing of Fabric Location IDs. To download Fabric Location IDs, with full associated physical addresses, broadband providers must secure a Tier D License from CostQuest to view the statewide fabric. Broadband providers should visit https://apps.costquest.com/ntiarequest/ to request this full Fabric and address list. Local governments and Non-Profits must secure a Tier E License from CostQuest to view the statewide fabric. These groups should visit https://apps.costquest.com/ntiatiererequest/ to request this full Fabric and address list. More information about his Tier D and E licensure requests can be found here.
BEAD Application Process and Resources
Once the BEAD Challenge Process results are certified by NTIA, DHCD will announce this certification and the start date of the BEAD application process. To help broadband providers prepare applications under the BEAD program, as well as to keep local governments and other stakeholders informed of the BEAD process, DHCD has made the resources available below.
- BEAD Application Guidance for Broadband Providers
- BEAD vs. VATI Comparison Cheat Sheet
- BEAD Application Process FAQs
- BEAD Guidance for Counties and Cities
The documents provided below serve as technical resources for broadband providers submitting proposals under Virginia’s BEAD Program. These technical assistance materials are designed to help applicants navigate the specific federal requirements of the BEAD program. Additional technical assistance is available by emailing broadband@dhcd.virginia.gov.
- Financial Capability Requirements: Overview | Webinar
- Managerial Capability Requirements: Overview | Webinar
- Technical Capability Requirements: Overview | Webinar
- Compliance with Laws Requirements: Overview | Webinar
- Operational Capability Requirements: Overview | Webinar
- Ownership Summary Requirements: Overview | Webinar
- Other Public Funding Sources: Overview | Webinar
- Labor and Employment Laws: Overview | Webinar
- Advancing Workforce Development: Overview | Webinar
- Skilled, Credentialed Workforce: Overview | Webinar
- WBEs, MBEs, and LSA’s: Overview | Webinar
- (Forthcoming) Buy America, Build America: Overview | Webinar
- (Forthcoming) Environmental and Historical Preservation: Overview | Webinar
- (Forthcoming) Cybersecurity and Supply Chain Risk Management Overview | Presentation | Plan
BEAD Timeline
The following timeline includes the most up-to-date information available to the Office of Broadband. Additional details to this timeline will be added, as approvals are received from NTIA and application processes begin.
July 25, 2024 – NTIA Approves Initial Proposal Volume 2
TBD – NTIA Certifies Challenge Process Results
TBD – Virginia Office of Broadband Begins the BEAD Application Process
TBD – Letter of Intent Submission Window Opens
60 Days Later – Letter of Intent Submission Window Closes; Application Window Opens
90 Days After Letter of Intent Submission Window Closes – Application Window Closes
TBA – Office of Broadband Recommends Proposed Awards to Governor Youngkin
TBA – Governor Youngkin Recommends Proposed Awards to NTIA
TBA – Announcement of Proposed Awards to NTIA, Pending Approval of Virginia’s BEAD Final Proposal
TBD – Office of Broadband staff Opens Applications for No-Bid Areas and Locations
30 Days Later – No-Bid Areas and Locations Application Window Closes
TBA – Office of Broadband Recommends Proposed Awards to Governor Youngkin
TBA – Governor Youngkin Recommends Proposed Awards to NTIA
TBA – Announcement of Proposed Awards to NTIA, Pending Approval of Virginia’s BEAD Final Proposal