Unpacking Approved BEAD Volume 2s: Washington

BEAD
funding
Author

Michael Santorelli

Published

May 17, 2024

NTIA recently approved Washington’s BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 (V2). The ACLP has compared the final version with the version that the state submitted to NTIA for review (the state did not post a “cured” draft). A redlined version is available here. The following identifies changes made to the state’s V2 ahead of NTIA’s approval:

Subgrantee Selection Process

Scoring

The state made only minor adjustments to its scoring rubric, with most changes aimed at clarifying how points will be awarded in certain categories vis-à-vis Priority Projects (similar changes were made for scoring non-priority projects). For example:

  • Re Affordability, the approved version clarifies that all 20 points will be awarded to applicants that commit to providing symmetrical gig service for less than $75; applicants that commit to providing gig service for more than $85/month will receive no points.
  • Re Fair Labor Practices, the state adopted an increasingly common approach to apportioning points to (1) “pre-existing ISPs” and (2) “New Entrants.” The former must demonstrate compliance with existing labor laws, while the latter must only provide a plan for complying with those laws.
  • Re Speed to Deployment, the state adjusted its timeline for awarding 1 point, reducing the timeframe for receiving the full point from 48 months to 36 months and providing 0.5 points for projects deployed between 36 and 48 months.

Project Areas

The state confirmed that it will use county boundaries to identify PAs.

Low-Cost Option

Price Increases Now Available

The state added a provision allowing for price increases for the option. Specifically:

“Subgrantees may only increase the price of the low-cost service option after 12 months have passed, and at a rate that does not exceed the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) 12-month percentage point change for the “All Items” category, published by the U.S. BLS. Existing customers must be informed via mail, billing announcement, or email, no later than 30 days before an annual price increase.”

Post-ACP

The state also addressed what will happen post-ACP: “In the event that the ACP expires, subgrantees must continue to offer a $30 or less low-cost service option to all eligible customers within the awarded project area.”