Unpacking Approved BEAD Volume 2s: Maryland

NTIA recently approved Maryland’s BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 (V2). The ACLP has compared the final version with the version that the state released for comment last fall (it did not publicly post the version it submitted to NTIA). A redlined comparison is available here. The following major changes were evident:

Subgrantee Selection Process

Scoring – Minimal BEAD Outlay

The state will award up to 15pts across two subcategories. Up to 15pts will be awarded for project costs relative to the state benchmark, with max points going to projects with estimated costs of 20%+ less than the benchmark. Up to 15pts will be awarded based on the proposed match, with the max points going to matches of 50%+.

Scoring – Affordability

The state has expanded its approach to scoring affordability and will award max points to applicants that commit to offering a symmetrical gig at a cost less than either the cost of that service elsewhere in the state (if the ISP offers service in the state) or the average cost of the same service in the FCC Urban Rate Survey.

Scoring – Fair Labor Standards

Like many other states, Maryland will award points across a number of sub-categories, with some going to evidence of past compliance with relevant laws, some points for commitments to future compliance, and others related to commitments like paying a prevailing wage.

Scoring – Secondary Criteria – Low-Cost Option

The state will award up to 5 points to applicants that commit to offering a low-cost option that largely mirrors the NTIA model plan. Previously, the state only indicated that it would award points based on vague commitments to offer affordable options to qualifying households. Interestingly, the state in this section allows applicants to increase the price of the option to $50/month upon a showing of financial non-viability, but it omits mention of a similar waiver in its standalone section regarding the Low-Cost Option.