Rhode Island’s $108.7M BEAD Program

Rhode Island Embarks on $108.7M Broadband Rollout

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Taking a major step forward, Rhode Island Commerce has officially launched its $108.7 million Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, making a bold investment to expand high-speed internet access across communities statewide.

With funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the state has simultaneously issued its first Request for Proposals (RFP) to design and build broadband infrastructure in over 30 municipalities. This launch builds on the NTIA’s recent approval of Rhode Island’s BEAD Challenge Process, which clears the path for immediate, shovel-ready projects.

“The BEAD Program will ensure that every home and business — regardless of where they’re located — has access to reliable, high-speed internet. We’re eager to start these investments in Rhode Island, which strengthen our communities and support Rhode Island’s economic future.”

Liz Tanner, Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce

Who Can Apply?

Rhode Island is calling on a wide range of applicants—from private companies and local governments to nonprofits, utilities, cooperatives, and public-private partnerships. Qualified applicants must demonstrate both technical expertise and financial capacity to deliver projects that meet federal performance benchmarks: a minimum of 100 Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload speeds and latency under 100 milliseconds.

The initial focus is on unserved and underserved locations, but any leftover BEAD funds can be used to expand connectivity to Community Anchor Institutions and other eligible nondeployment projects, broadening the program’s impact.

This new initiative builds on the momentum of Rhode Island’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF) broadband investment program. That $25 million state investment unlocked $27 million in private matching funds, bringing total CPF broadband funding to $52 million. The CPF program is set to improve broadband service for over 16,000 locations across the Ocean State.