04 May 2025 |

Oklahoma’s BEAD Program has May 26 Deadline

Oklahoma has officially opened its application window for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Pool 1. This round focuses exclusively on fiber projects. Applications opened yesterday and will remain open through May 26.

More application windows are just around the corner. Pool 2, which supports non-fiber technologies, opens April 28. For Pool 3, the focus is fiber in remaining areas, and starts May 5. Pool 4, which targets other reliable technologies in those same areas, launches May 12. All four pools close on May 26.

The state will award points based on specific criteria. The primary scoring system totals 140 points. Key categories include:

  • Outlay per location after match (up to 65 points)
  • Affordability (up to 44 points)
  • Fair labor practices (up to 11 points)

Lower costs per location earn higher scores. For example, applicants spending under $1,000 per location after match get the full 65 points. As costs rise, scores drop accordingly. A $15,000+ spend resets the score to 32.5 points.

The Oklahoma Broadband Office manages $797.4 million in BEAD funds to expand high-speed internet access across the state. ​

The Oklahoma Broadband Office manages $797.4 million in BEAD funds to expand high-speed internet access across the state. ​

Scoring and What’s Next

As Idaho prepares to open its BEAD application phase in the second quarter of 2025, the state has reiterated its proposal scoring criteria. Key factors include the amount of matching funds, cost-effectiveness, affordability, deployment speed, and commitments to labor standards and community coordination — with specific point allocations for each.

The Idaho Broadband Office encourages all prequalified applicants to prepare their proposals and monitor the state’s broadband resources for forthcoming updates. Full program details and ongoing coverage can be found on the Link Up Idaho page from the Idaho Commerce Department.

More on Public Broadband

More of our recent stories about BEAD and public broadband programs

For up-to-date information on the $42 billion BEAD Program, check Brander Group’s BEAD funding progress dashboard

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Tags: BEAD Funds, BEAD program, Broadband Equity Access & Deployment (BEAD) Program, broadband expansion, Fiber Internet,

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