Utah’s Last Chance to Identify Eligible Locations for Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Federal Grant Funding
The State of Utah has been allocated $317.4 million of federal funding through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to expand high-speed internet (broadband) access to locations without it. Confirmation of locations that currently do not have access to high-speed internet is essential for funding to be used to connect these areas.
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The Utah Broadband Center (UBC) is administering a broadband availability challenge process in March, 2024 to verify the accuracy of internet service availability by location. By participating in the State Broadband Challenge, you will help ensure that access to reliable, high-speed internet service is available to everyone.
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The Utah Broadband Availability Challenge Process is the last opportunity to ensure the accuracy of locations eligible for BEAD funding. The UBC will coordinate with stakeholders and Eligible Challengers– local and Tribal governments, nonprofits, and internet service providers – to verify existing broadband service for households, businesses, and community anchor institutions.
Here's what you need to know:​
Utah's Initial Proposal Volume 1 has obtained NTIA approval and the BEAD State Challenge Process has officially begun. Eligible entities are encouraged to register for State Broadband Challenge Portal access here.
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Timeline
The UBC has published a specialized map of locations eligible in Utah for BEAD-funded projects for the purposes of the challenge process. This map is published on the Challenge Process portal. The map of eligible locations will be available for ten days prior to accepting any challenges.
For more details on the challenge process phases, please refer to the portal.
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Who can participate?​
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Nonprofit Organizations​​
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Tribal or Local Governments
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Educational organizations that are either a unit of local or Tribal government of a nonprofit (such as a public school district or public university)
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Internet Service Providers
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For registration guidance, please refer to information in the Challenge portal.
Tell us if your service is up to speed! Individuals can run speed tests to support challenges and rebuttals. Each speed test consists of three measurements taken on different days. You can access this information in the Challenge portal.
How to participate: Eligible Entities
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Broadband service is not available but the map shows it is
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Internet speeds fall below the unserved or underserved thresholds
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Latency exceeds 100 ms
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Technology indicated for the location is incorrect
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Residential location, but the broadband service offered is only available to businesses
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Enforceable commitment not indicated on the map
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Evidence of planning to deploy service within a short time
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Community Anchor Institution not identified as such or without speeds of 1000/1000 Mbps
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Review the Challenge Type and Evidence Guidance
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Challenges must be submitted by an eligible entity
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Service locations being challenged must have internet service speeds available at or above 100/20 Mbps
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Challenge submissions must include documented evidence
A nonprofit based in Salt Lake City is offering 13 grants of $2,500 each to eligible entities to assist with area broadband speed test challenges. Applications are currently open and will close two weeks before the end of the 40-day challenge.
Requirements:
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Eligibility: The applying entity must meet the eligibility criteria to participate in the Challenge Process
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Minimum Participation: At least six households within a census block group must participate
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Preparation for Speed Tests: The applying entity must prepare to comply with the speed test requirements outlined in the next section
How to Participate: Individuals
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Each household will need to run 3 different speed tests, on different days
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The speed tests must be run using the same internet service provider, or they will not be accepted
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Households must be subscribed to the highest speed service tier available or at 100/20 Mpbs minimum
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The device running the speed test should be plugged in to the gateway via an ethernet cable for best results
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Access the speed test surveys in the Challenge portal
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Refer to the Challenge Process Guide for step-by-step instructions
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For additional information, consult the Speed Test Survey FAQ
Resources
Office hours for nonprofit organizations and state, local, and tribal governments
Weekly on Thursdays from 2:00pm - 3:00pm. UBC staff will be available at this time to answer questions about the challenge process and the challenge portal. Office hours will start April 25, 2024 and run until May 23, 2024. You can attend each Thursday’s office hours through the recurring Zoom meeting.
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Office hours for internet service providers
Weekly on Fridays from 1:00pm - 2:00pm. UBC staff will be available at this time to answer questions about the challenge process and the challenge portal. Office hours will start April 26, 2024 and run until June 28, 2024. You can attend each Friday’s office hours through the recurring Zoom meeting.
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Step-by-Step Instructions on how to navigate the portal and submit all challenge types.
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The initial list of unserved and underserved locations comes from the National Broadband Map maintained by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Data from this map will form the basis of Utah’s challenge process map. You can download more broadband availability data from the FCC database, current as of June 30, 2024.
The Initial Proposal Volume 1 outlines the State Challenge Process. If your entity plans to submit challenges or expects to receive challenges requiring rebuttal, such as internet service providers, please carefully review the process.
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Webinars and Trainings
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Request a free CostQuest Map Fabric License
Instructions and information to request a license can be found in the Challenge Portal.
Points of Contact
For technical assistance or questions regarding the challenge process:
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Connecting Utah: connectingutah@utah.gov
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Utah Broadband Center: broadbandcenter@utah.gov or visit https://business.utah.gov/broadband/
For questions, guidance and assistance to non-profit organizations, local or Tribal governments, and individuals:
Sophie Dasaro, UBC: sdasaro@utah.gov
For information and questions regarding Volume 1, challenge process requirements, and Internet Service Provider assistance:
Steven Greene, UBC: sgreene@utah.gov