BEAD Applicants in Georgia Face June 25 Deadline to Stay Eligible
Georgia broadband office sets one-week window for providers to re-submit letters of intent.
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2025 – The Georgia Technology Authority warned prospective applicants Wednesday they have just one week to submit new letters of intent in order to participate in the state’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program.
With the federal deadline for states to re-submit final BEAD proposals set for September 4, Jessica Simmons, deputy state chief information officer and executive director of the Georgia broadband program, announced the state plans to submit its Initial Proposal Correction Letter by June 27. That's the required update to its BEAD plan following recent changes to federal rules by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
The webinar for potential applicants marked the first public event on Georgia’s revised BEAD strategy following recent changes to the program. The state’s correction letter must be approved by NTIA before Georgia can re-open its grant portal, which the state expects to happen within three business days of approval. Then the state can officially restart its subgrantee selection process.
FROM SPEEDING BEAD SUMMIT
Panel 1: How Are States Thinking About Reasonable Costs Now?
Panel 2: Finding the State Versus Federal Balance in BEAD
Panel 3: Reacting to the New BEAD NOFO Guidance
Panel 4: Building, Maintaining and Adopting Digital Workforce Skills
“We need everyone, regardless if you previously applied or not, to participate in the Letter of Intent process, and that is due by 5 p.m., close of business, ET on June 25,” Simmons stated during the webinar. “Late letters received after 5 p.m. will not be accepted.”
Simmons said all previously submitted applications will be returned to draft status in the state’s portal. Applicants must review new eligibility maps and resubmit under the program’s revised framework to participate.
Simmons reasserted Georgia's mission of bringing high-speed internet connectivity to 100 percent of unserved locations in the community, despite the BEAD program’s new minimum outlay requirement, which prioritizes cost efficiency and the lowest possible cost to the government.
“Nothing in the policy notice has changed our BEAD requirement to still get to 100 percent of the unserved locations. While we will be using a different scoring rubric, the fundamental requirement of getting to everybody is still there,” Simmons said.
The state’s new strategy and rapidly approaching deadlines, sparked some concern in the audience.
Greg Turton, president at Southern Fiber Worx, a fiber internet service provider in southern Georgia, expressed annoyance at the changing policies, stating, “We all spent a lot of money doing the [BEAD] application the last time. It seems we’ve just all lost that money, and that was very frustrating to me.”
Simmons responded saying, “Unfortunately, we can't control that the guidance changed. We have to pivot, we have to implement the program, and we have to submit the best proposal to get Georgians served by September 4 as [the policy] stands right now.”
Simmons said the Georgia Technology Authority remains committed to meeting the 90-day deadline for September 2025, and urged all applicants to proactively monitor deadlines and announcements.
Georgia is among many states racing to meet the BEAD program’s new deadlines. Alabama, Maine, and Louisiana also announced updated state approaches and timelines Wednesday.
In Alabama, the state broadband office will host a webinar Friday, June 20, to discuss the state’s updated BEAD program pre-qualification process. Meanwhile, organizations interested in participating in Maine's BEAD subgrantee selection process, should email the state office by June 27.
