Office of Broadband Development
The Office of Broadband Development was established in 2022 as the central broadband planning and coordination entity to encourage, foster, develop, and improve broadband within the Commonwealth. The Office aims to improve broadband accessibility for unserved and underserved communities and populations, drive job creation, promote innovation, and expand markets for Kentucky businesses and industries, and serve the needs of Kentucky's agricultural, educational, health care, and public safety systems, governmental operations, and citizens.
BEAD Program Updates
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice on June 6, 2025 to modify and replace certain requirements outlined in the BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
To comply with the NTIA's BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, pre-qualification for the "Benefit of the Bargain" application round will be open June 16, 2025 through June 27, 2025. This pre-qualification round is for prospective subgrantees that have not previously submitted materials or have previously submitted materials that were not approved.
Unlicensed Fixed Wireless (ULFW) Location Eligibility
Because the Policy Notice allows unlicensed fixed wireless providers (ULFW) to compete for BEAD subgrants, states must now determine if existing ULFW networks available at any BEAD-eligible location meet the same technical and service standards required for a ULFW application for a BEAD subgrant (see Appendix A of the Notice), in order to remove those broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) from BEAD funding eligibility.
As required by the Policy Notice, the Kentucky Office of Broadband Development has reviewed the FCC’s National Broadband Map to determine where ULFW providers (technology code 70) currently offer service to any BEAD-eligible BSLs. This list contains the BSLs that the Office has preliminarily identified as having ULFW service with the potential to meet the BEAD technical and service standards.
As such, this posting (available on June 12, 2025), initiates the seven (7) day period for ULFW providers to respond that the ULFW provider intends to submit evidence that BEAD funding is not required for the locations it serves. Providers must respond by 11:59PM ET on June 19, 2025 indicating that they intend to submit evidence that they provide service that meets the technical and service standards required for a ULFW application for a BEAD subgrant and the provider is reasonably capable of delivering the service for at least four years after the date of Final Proposal submission.
The Office will provide to respondents specific guidelines and requirements for the submission. All submissions will be evaluated by technical experts to validate the service claims.
If the Office receives evidence that an ULFW service provider provides service that meets the requirements specified by the Policy Notice, the locations will be ineligible for BEAD Program funding.
If a provider does not respond to this notice, fails to submit sufficient evidence of service, or submitted evidence fails to demonstrate the service meets BEAD requirements, the locations will remain BEAD eligible, unless the location is otherwise removed from the list for another reason, such as a new enforceable commitment or evidence that the location does not require broadband service.
To express interest in submitting evidence, ULFW providers must respond to broadband@ky.gov by June 19, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET. The Office will follow up with instructions for submitting documentation of sufficient service to the locations in question. Evidence will be accepted for seven (7) calendar days after a provider notifies the Office that it intends to submit evidence of service.
An interactive map of BEAD Eligible locations by county can be viewed here. Eligible locations will be updated, as required by the Policy Notice, prior to the opening of the "Benefit of the Bargain" application round.