Maryland State Plans for BEAD and Digital Equity

Maryland State has published its initial plans for BEAD and Digital Equity as part of the state implementation of the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) federal broadband programs. View the plan documents and public comment guidelines visible underneath the "Maryland BEAD Plan" and "Maryland Digital Equity Plan" labels below.

Announcement: BEAD Application Prequalification Phase

The State of Maryland was awarded $267,738,400.71 by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband (OSB) is administering the State’s BEAD Grant Program. As part of the State’s preparation for this program, it is requiring all potential applicants to participate in a Prequalification phase.

Announcement of Prequalification Phase: February 13, 2025
Posting of Pre-Qualification Materials on OSB Website (Pre-Qualification Guide, FAQs, and other templates): February 25, 2025
Opening of Pre-Qualification Phase Window: February 28, 2025
Pre-Qualification Submission Deadline: March 14, 2025
Notice of Pre-Qualification Status and Notice to Proceed to the Full Application Phase: March 28, 2025

Application Material:

For any questions contact OSB.BEAD@maryland.gov

Announcement: Approval of Challenge Process Results

We are pleased to announce that the results of our BEAD Challenge Process have been officially approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This approval marks a significant milestone in our efforts to expand connectivity within Maryland.

The approved Post Challenge Process Location Data CSV and Post Challenge Process Eligible CAI CSV now serve as our final lists of unserved locations, underserved locations, and Eligible Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs).

In alignment with the BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), these lists are being made public here. In the file 'Unserved and Underserved locations' 0 indicates Unserved and 1 indicates underserved.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this process.

BEAD Broadband Challenge Process

Maryland’s Office of Statewide Broadband (OSB) Is beginning the 2024 challenge process on July 15th. This challenge process will allow internet service providers, units of local government, and non-profit organizations in Maryland to challenge the accuracy of existing broadband maps. Ensuring the maps accurately reflect broadband availability and speeds across the state is critical to directing federal BEAD program funds where they are needed most.

The new deadline for submitting challenges will be September 10, 2024.

The new timeline is as follows:

Challenge Submission Deadline: September 10, 2024
Rebuttal Phase: September 11, 2024 - October 10, 2024
Final Determination: October 11, 2024 - November 10, 2024

To contact our office about the challenge process please use the email, OSB.BEAD@maryland.gov.

Pre-challenge process locations - This data is being used in our ongoing challenge process. It includes the ID of the location and the current Status of the location. For more information this data should be paired with the licensed NTIA-Costquest fabric.

What is BEAD?

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (“BEAD”) program provides federal funding to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs. The BEAD plan serves as Maryland’s State Plan establishing its commitments and strategy to support broadband projects over the next five years in alignment with the Office of Statewide Broadband’s objective to close the digital divide in Maryland. The Initial Proposal presents the State’s method of implementing the plan.

Maryland BEAD Plan Initial Proposal

Initial Proposal Volume 1 and Volume 2

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (“BEAD”) program provides federal funding to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs. The BEAD Plan Initial Proposal documents open to public comment include Initial Proposal Volume I and Initial Proposal Volume II. The BEAD Plan will serve as Maryland’s State Plan establishing its commitments and strategy to support broadband projects over the next five years to close the digital divide in Maryland. The Initial Proposal presents the state’s implementation of the plan.

Public Notice: Comment Period Closed for BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1 and Volume 2

From November 1 to December 2, 2023, all Maryland residents were encouraged and invited to read the draft BEAD Initial Proposal to share their feedback and recommendations. The Office of Statewide Broadband has received and reviewed these comments.

While the public comment period is now closed, you may still share feedback and relevant comments or questions to osb.bead@maryland.gov.

What is Digital Equity?

According to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA):

“Digital equity is a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy.
Digital equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.”

For more information visit: Definitions - National Digital Inclusion Alliance.

Maryland Digital Equity Plan

What is the State Digital Equity Plan for?

Maryland’s Digital Equity Plan serves as the state roadmap to achieve digital equity over the next five years. The Digital Equity Plan guides the Office of Statewide Broadband as it implements its mission to ensure that every Marylander has equal access and the necessary skills to leverage digital resources, technologies, and opportunities, regardless of their background, location, or abilities.

Read the State Digital Equity Plan

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved Maryland’s Digital Equity Plan in March 2024, which you may read below. The draft plan was open for public comment in 2023, and this feedback was incorporated into the final plan.

Final Maryland Digital Equity Plan

The Digital Equity Plan serves as a working document, integrating additional insights and continual feedback from the community. If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, you may send them to osb.de@maryland.gov.