In January, the Arkansas State Broadband Office launched the first application round for the $1 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. That phase has now closed with overwhelming participation. 98% of the state’s unserved and underserved locations received bids, and 96% of applications were competitive. The program now enters the adjudication phase.
Glen Howie, director of the Arkansas State Broadband Office, shared on LinkedIn that 814 applications were submitted in Tranche-1. Of those, 96% were competitive, and 92% received at least one bid. A total of 48 ISPs participated, including 29 in-state and 19 out-of-state providers.
The State Broadband Office will now review and finalize applications, a process expected to take at least three weeks. The second bidding phase, Tranche-2, begins on February 13. Initial selections will be announced in the coming months. Arkansas must submit a final proposal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) by October, detailing grant allocations.
ARConnect – The Arkansas State Broadband Office
Some Arkansas BEAD Locations Remain Unclaimed
Despite strong participation, some locations received no bids. Officials must now determine how to address these areas. The state may offer incentives to ISPs willing to cover unclaimed locations.
“We may adjust reference prices in Tranche-2 to increase demand if needed,” Howie told Broadband Breakfast. Raising reference prices could attract more ISPs to previously unclaimed locations.
Next Steps for Arkansas BEAD
Arkansas broadband officials are reviewing bids, ensuring providers meet funding criteria, and considering adjustments before the next round. Other states, including Louisiana, are conducting similar evaluations. Results from Tranche-1 will be announced in the coming weeks.
For More About BEAD
Brander Group has been tracking the $42 Billion BEAD program and updates on awards by state on our BEAD Progress Dashboard. An overview of the program is here. Follow us for more news, as the program is now in the bidding and grant stage, there will be evolving quickly in 2025.
◼️
Other Popular Blog Posts
https://brandergroup.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brightspeed-Secures-238-Million-in-Public-Digital-Infrastructure-Funding-1.png 1080 1920 Brander Group Editorial https://brandergroup.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/brander-group-buy-IPv4-logo-.svg Brander Group Editorial2025-01-15 10:38:522025-02-02 20:48:16Brightspeed’s $238 Million in Grants includes BEAD Funds
https://brandergroup.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-IPv4-Market-Summary-and-2025-Predictions.svg 1384 2681 Brander Group https://brandergroup.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/brander-group-buy-IPv4-logo-.svg Brander Group2025-01-12 21:51:542025-01-17 21:58:502025 IPv4 Outlook: Preparing For the Next Market Cycle
https://brandergroup.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Louisiana-ISP-Secures-414000-in-BEAD-Broadband-Funding.png 1080 1920 Brander Group Editorial https://brandergroup.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/brander-group-buy-IPv4-logo-.svg Brander Group Editorial2025-01-06 21:34:112025-01-14 22:53:57Louisiana’s PhireLink Secures $414k in BEAD Funding