BEAD State Guidelines
NTIA Announces Major Changes to BEAD Requirements – What You Need to Know
Follow up-to-date BEAD statistics: Connected Nation BEAD Tracker
In June 2025, the NTIA issued a sweeping overhaul of the BEAD Program following testimony by Commerce Secretary Lutnick before the Senate Appropriations Committee. This restructuring fundamentally reshapes how states award broadband infrastructure grants, shifting the focus from regulatory preferences—particularly for fiber and social equity—to strict cost-efficiency and technological neutrality. All previous awards, final proposals, and scoring rubrics are now void. States must revise and resubmit their applications under a new “Benefit of the Bargain” model prioritizing the lowest-cost solution that meets technical benchmarks, regardless of technology.
UPDATE: Wave 1 of the Benefit of the Bargain has officially closed across all 50 states, though some states still have unbid Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) and project areas remaining.
Updated BEAD Program Timeline (As of June 6, 2025)
- June 6, 2025 – BEAD Program Restructured
NTIA releases revised rules, removing fiber preference and introducing tech-neutral, cost-focused criteria. - By June 20, 2025 – NTIA to Notify States of BSL Changes
NTIA has 14 days to inform states of any changes to Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs), including new enforceable commitments or defaults from other programs. - By June 27, 2025 – States to Announce BSL Updates & Notify ISPs
States have 7 days to publicly announce changes and are required to notify ISPs of impacted service areas. - By July 4, 2025 – ISP Response Deadline
ISPs must respond to state notifications within 7 days. - By July 6, 2025 – Mapping and Subgrant Submission Deadline
States must finalize and publish updated broadband maps, submit mapping notifications to NTIA, and provide revised subgrant contract templates (IPV2) reflecting the new rules. - By September 6, 2025 – Application Window Closes
States have 60 days from the restructure date to open and close their prequalification and full application windows. All states are expected to operate within this timeframe. - NTIA Review Period – 90 Days Post Submission
NTIA will have 90 days to review and approve subgrantee selections submitted by each state.
WINNCOM IS HERE TO HELP!
The NTIA’s overhaul has created a new playing field, and Winncom is ready to help Service Providers adapt and win under the Benefit of the Bargain framework. Our value comes from combining deep grant experience, engineering expertise, and supply chain strength:
- Application Support – Guidance with revised state applications, ensuring proposals align with cost-efficiency and technological neutrality standards.
- Engineering Services – PE-stamped drawings, network modeling, and advanced tools like Wireless 20/20, QGIS, and CostQuest Tier D data to strengthen project submissions.
- Supply Chain Advantage – A BEAD-approved product eco-center with BABA-compliant equipment, plus dependable inventory and logistics support to keep projects on schedule.
- Post-Award Compliance – Ongoing support to help Service Providers meet reporting, documentation, and buildout requirements.
With Winncom, you’re not just navigating the new BEAD rules—you’re gaining a partner who can help you design, fund, build, and sustain your broadband network.
While we await official application announcements from individual states, our BEAD resources and guidance are being updated to ensure you have the most accurate and helpful information:
We are actively monitoring state and federal announcements and will update this page as new information becomes available.