In the quest for universal broadband service, state broadband offices have a critical role to play, especially in administering funds through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Established by the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA), the $42.5 billion program is designed to “lay critical groundwork for widespread access, affordability, equity, and adoption of broadband, create good-paying jobs; grow economic opportunities, including for local workers, provide increased access to healthcare services, enrich educational experiences of students, close long-standing equity gaps, and improve the overall quality of life across America.” (BEAD NOFO, Section I.B.1)
A pivotal yet often overlooked aspect of this process is ensuring unit-level connectivity in unserved and underserved Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs). According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), including unit-level connectivity for MDUs in the BEAD subgranting process is not just beneficial—it is a stipulation of the Program included in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and essential for achieving the goal of universal service.
However, only seven states included an explicit unit-level connectivity requirement for subgrantees in their draft Initial Proposals, while 28 states are completely silent on this point.
Here’s why clearly addressing this expectation is crucial.
Understanding the BEAD Program NOFO Requirements
The BEAD NOFO outlines specific requirements for states and subgrant recipients to ensure they provide comprehensive broadband service. Specifically, the Program “prioritizes projects designed to provide fiber connectivity directly to the end user.”(BEAD NOFO, Section I.B.1)
This prioritization underscores the Program’s commitment to ensuring that every resident can access high-quality internet services regardless of their housing situation. Put another way, providing reliable, high-speed internet to every unit within an MDU is implicitly required to meet the goals of the BEAD program.
Under the Program guidelines, if an MDU is identified as an unserved or underserved location, it must be served. The methods to connect these locations are noted in the last mile deployment methodologies in the BEAD NOFO, outlined below:
| 1. Construction, improvement, and/or acquisition of facilities and telecommunications equipment required to provide qualifying broadband service, including infrastructure for backhaul, middle- and last-mile networks, and multi-tenant buildings. 2. Long-term leases (for terms greater than one year) of facilities required to provide qualifying broadband service, including indefeasible right-of-use (IRU) agreements. 3. Deployment of internet and Wi-Fi infrastructure within an eligible multi-family residential building. |
Essentially, it’s not enough to bring fiber to the building if the intended end users, namely households living in the MDU, cannot access the internet.
Why Requiring Unit-Level Connectivity Matters
Addressing Digital Inequity and Connecting Unconnected Households
For households living in multi-family and public housing, the inability to connect to reliable, affordable broadband is a significant barrier to fully participating in 21st-century society. Unserved and underserved MDUs often house some of the most vulnerable populations, including low-income families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities. The lack of connectivity exacerbates long-standing inequities in access to education, healthcare, job opportunities and training, and other vital assistance programs. By requiring eligible BEAD subgrantees to demonstrate how their proposals will ensure unit-level connectivity, state broadband offices can directly address the digital divide within these communities and achieve the objectives of the BEAD Program.
Without ensuring unit-level connectivity, you risk leaving thousands of households in your state without access. Ensuring that each unit has access to high-speed internet means providing these residents with the tools they need to participate fully in the digital economy and access remote learning, telehealth, and other essential online services. Unit-level connectivity requirements, either through direct fiber connections or managed Wi-Fi solutions, ensure that every residential end-user has access. This leads to more reliable and consistent internet performance, and the state ensures no home is left offline.
Collaboration between eligible subgrantees will also be key to the successful BEAD-funded broadband deployment. States should encourage BEAD applicants, especially traditional Internet Service Providers (ISPs), to explore partnerships with managed service providers (MSPs) to reach individual residential units effectively. By leveraging the expertise of specialized providers, such as MSPs, states can ensure comprehensive coverage and competition in the marketplace.
Implementing Unit-Level Connectivity in Subgranting Process
To align with the BEAD NOFO requirements and to maximize the impact of broadband investments, state broadband offices should incorporate the following strategies into their subgranting process:
1. Include Explicit Requirements in RFPs
Clearly state in Requests for Proposals (RFPs) that subgrantees must provide unit-level connectivity for MDUs. For example, the Wisconsin Initial Proposal states, “For projects that propose to serve a multiple-dwelling unit (MDU), an applicant will specify if the project will provide: (a) a wireline fiber connection to each unit; (b) connection with a non-fiber technology to each unit; or (c) a building-wide Wi-Fi installation available to all units.” This level of specificity ensures that eligible subgrantees know and understand how to submit bids on MDUs, proposals are aligned to deliver comprehensive service to every household, and each proposal is evaluated accordingly.
2. Encourage Partnerships and Offer Incentives
State broadband office should encourage subgrantee partnerships and offer incentives for subgrantees to achieve unit-level connectivity. Michigan took this route by including language in its Initial Proposal that encourages applicants “to identify partners as needed to ensure that all eligible locations (i.e., homes, businesses,multi-dwelling units (MDUs), and CAIs) within their project areas can be served. For example, every unit of an MDU needs to have the proposed service available to it, and to do so might require a partnership with a managed service provider.”
Encouraging creative solutions like this one between ISPs and managed service providers (MSPs), and allocating additional points to proposals that include free service during the BEAD performance period demonstrate a state’s commitment to ensuring all end users, particularly households in MDUs are connected.
State Broadband Offices can achieve Internet for All
State broadband offices hold the key to closing the digital divide and achieving universal service through the strategic allocation of BEAD funds. Getting an A+ on this endeavor is no easy task. However, by explicitly requiring unit-level connectivity for MDUs in the subgranting process, these offices can ensure that every resident, regardless of their living situation, has access to the high-speed internet they need to thrive in today’s digital world. This approach complies with the BEAD Program and paves the way for a more inclusive and connected future.
At EducationSuperHighway, we are committed to providing pro bono support to state broadband offices in this mission. Our team can:
- provide model language to include in BEAD Initial Proposals and RFPs;
- provide data on which MDUs in the state require unit-level connectivity solutions
- assist with building owner education and outreach;
- facilitate dialogues with ISPs and MSPs, and
- advise the state on the procurement strategies and the design of MDU-specific procurement programs
By prioritizing unit-level connectivity, we can collectively work towards a future where internet for all is a reality.
