Utah Broadband Center Grants
BEAD Restructuring: Unlicensed Fixed Wireless and Broadband Equity & Access Deployment Location Eligibility
Unlicensed fixed wireless (ULFW) providers in Utah are notified they have seven calendar days — until Wednesday, June 18, 2025, by 5 p.m. — to indicate that they intend to submit evidence that Broadband Equity Access & Deployment (BEAD) funding is not required for the locations they serve in line with major federal revisions to the BEAD program in the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice published June 6, 2025 (see Section 4: Optimizing BEAD Locations and Appendix A).
Please respond to Utah Broadband Center (UBC) if you intend to submit evidence: [email protected]
Utah’s policy was based on the “Alternative Broadband Technology Policy Notice,” which has since been rescinded by the National Telecommunications & Infrastructure Administration (NTIA). Among other differences, this new process will have implications for a location’s eligibility for funding projects using any technology under the BEAD program, not just satellite or ULFW service.
ULFW providers will have seven calendar days from their notice to UBC to submit documentation supporting the claim that the existing ULFW service meets the same technical and service standards required for a BEAD subgrant (see Appendix A of the Restructuring BEAD Policy Notice). If a ULFW service provider demonstrates that it meets the requirements specified by this Policy Notice, the served locations will be ineligible for BEAD Program funding.
Providers should review the technical criteria in Appendix A and be prepared to submit appropriate documentation. Only locations where the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) National Broadband Map indicates potentially qualifying ULFW service is currently available will be considered in terms of determining BEAD eligibility. (June 6, 2025)
Broadband Infrastructure Grant (BIG BEAD)
Opened: Feb. 10, 2025
Closes: April 25, 2025
Only available to those who completed the pre-application. Approved applicants are invited to submit their proposals to provide reliable high-speed internet to eligible designated areas to promote digital inclusion through device access, affordability, and digital accessibility to individuals and communities throughout the state.
Broadband Infrastructure Grant (BIG)
The round two application portal for the Broadband Infrastructure Grant (BIG), funded by the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, will soon open. This round invites pre-approved applicants to submit proposals for delivering reliable high-speed internet to designated Utah Project Funding Areas (UPFA), which aims to achieve 100% coverage in Utah.
All proposals are subject to a review, scoring, and awarding process as outlined in Utah’s Initial Proposal Vol II and require a minimum 25% matching contribution unless designated as high-cost areas by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. This additional application round addresses UPFAs where initial submissions did not fully meet the requirements, ensuring complete service coverage.
All grant applications must be submitted through the BIG BEAD Grant portal. Entities eligible to apply for Utah’s Broadband Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Round 2 have registered, been preapproved, and have been emailed a link to the portal to participate.
If you have any inquiries, please email [email protected] or call 801-538-8681.