Beginning July 8, the BEAD Challenge Phase is active on the
BEAD Challenge Portal until August 6, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
PST. Throughout this period, local and Tribal governments,
non-profits, and broadband service providers may utilize the
portal to submit evidence to contest the accuracy of the FCC’s National Broadband
Map in identifying locations as unserved, underserved, or
served.
The BEAD Challenge Phase initiates the 120-day Bead Challenge
Process, which allows certain entities, including county
governments, to challenge designations in the FCC’s National Broadband
Map that are used to determine eligibility for BEAD grant
funding. After the BEAD Challenge Phase, the CPUC will evaluate
submitted challenges to ensure they meet required evidentiary
standards and are subject to rebuttal. Challenged service
providers have thirty days to present opposing evidence for
disputed locations. After that period, the CPUC will review all
information and decide the outcomes of contested challenges by
October 19. In the weeks following, the CPUC will submit
challenge results and final eligibility determinations to the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), which has until December 18 to approve or reverse CPUC
determinations. After the Challenge Process, subject to the
approval of NTIA, a final map of locations eligible for BEAD
funding will be published.
When logging into the Portal, there is a “Challenge Submission”
option indicating that submissions are being accepted. As an
alternative option, entities can submit evidence via the
BEAD Consumer Challenge website.
For more details on the Challenge Process, visit the BEAD
Challenge Process
webpage to access updates and sign up for informative
events.
