Circulating Open Letter Urges BEAD Delays Due to Inaccurate Maps and Lack of Challenge Resources

December 29, 2022 – OaklandUndivided, an entity in the California city’s mayor’s office, is gathering signatures for an open letter that urges federal officials to delay the $42.5 Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program’s schedule for mapping challenges and funding announcements.

The letter – which seems to have been circulated this week and is addressed to the heads of the Federal Communications Commission and BEAD administrator the National Telecommunications and Information Administration – advocates elongating the window for challenge submissions and postponing the BEAD program’s funding announcements by 60 days.

The letter argues that many communities and organizations lack the technical knowledge and resources to successfully challenge the FCC’s mapping data before January 13, 2023. Although the FCC will accept challenges on an ongoing basis to further correct its mapping data, the NTIA has said it will likely announce BEAD grants by June 30, 2023, and any challenges submitted after January 13 may not be processed in time for consideration in that allocation process. The letter says the current version of the FCC’s map is highly inaccurate, which could lead to the misdistribution of BEAD funds.

“This is an equity issue. In order to ensure that federal funds are equitably distributed, the broadband maps must be accurate,” the letter reads. “Given the current FCC timeline and resources provided, communities that are historically disenfranchised and the least connected are not positioned to successfully advocate for their stake in the BEAD funding.”

The letter further asks the agency chiefs to assist communities’ efforts to submit challenges. “We urge our federal and state agencies to use all available means of communication, provide technical assistance, and remain flexible and responsive to community needs,” the letter says. “Although there are many federal webinars scheduled, many individuals and communities are not aware of these events or do not know how to participate.”

An official from #OaklandUndivided said the letter was modeled on a similar letter that has obtained signatures from 77 organizations and cities.