Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program

Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Granting Organization/Business Unit: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (MN DEED)
Website: MN DEED Open RFPs

Overview
The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, funded by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), aims to expand broadband access across unserved and underserved areas in Minnesota. Administered at the federal level by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the program allocates a portion of $65 billion in national funding to support broadband development. Minnesota’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) under DEED is responsible for implementing this initiative in the state. The program seeks to close the digital divide by ensuring reliable high-speed internet access for all Minnesotans.

Status (Profit/Nonprofit): Mixed – open to nonprofit and for-profit entities, as well as public institutions

Eligibility Criteria/General Requirement:
Eligible applicants include:

• Private companies

• Cooperatives

• Nonprofit organizations

• Public-private partnerships

• Local governments

• Indian tribes

• Public and private utilities

• Public utility districts

• Other internet service providers (ISPs)
  

Additional Requirements:

• Projects must target eligible locations identified via the BEAD Challenge process and approved by NTIA
  

• Locations are considered unserved (<25Mbps download / 3Mbps upload) or underserved (<100Mbps download / 20Mbps upload)
  

• Matching funds are required and must be in the form of cash from private and/or public sources
  

Grant Requests Not Accepted: Not explicitly listed, but eligibility is restricted by location and matching fund requirements

Application Deadline:
Applications must be submitted no later than 4:30 PM Central Time on the following dates:

• April 7, 2025
  

• May 21, 2025
  

• July 10, 2025
  

Focus Area/Areas of Expertise:

• Broadband Infrastructure

• Digital Inclusion

• Technology Access

• Rural & Underserved Communities
  

Grant Outcomes & Priorities:

• Ensure access to high-speed internet for all unserved and underserved areas in Minnesota
  

• Support diversity and equity in broadband access, particularly for populations experiencing disparities
  

• Complete infrastructure construction within NTIA’s four-year timeline
  

Contact Information:
Please refer to the MN DEED Open RFPs page for specific contacts and RFP updates.