The Office of Broadband Development (OBD) will carry out an extensive public engagement process as it plans for its Connecting All Missourians programs. These programs will be funded under the Digital Equity Act (DEA) and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, both part of the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA). It will inform the state’s plans for spending more than $1.7 billion toward broadband deployment and more than $20 million toward addressing non-infrastructure barriers to full participation in the digital world.
For more information about BEAD and DEA, please visit internetforall.gov and broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov.
DEA & BEAD Program Information
- Digital Equity Act (DEA)
Digital Opportunity Grant Program (FY25) Open for Applications
The Office of Broadband Development's (OBD) Digital Opportunity Grant Program opened for applications on October 15, 2024, at 12 p.m. CST. Applications will remain open for 45 days (excluding holidays) and close on December 2, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
You can apply now using the Digital Opportunity Grant Program (FY25) application. Please note that you will need to sign up for a Submittable account to apply.
Final Program Guidelines
For eligibility information, required documentation, and other details, please review the Digital Opportunity Grant Program's Final Guidelines.
Application Support
OBD will host a live walkthrough of the application for the Digital Opportunity Grant Program on November 8, 2024, at 11 a.m. in addition to office hours on November 15 and November 22, 2024. These trainings are intended to be a resource for potential applicants and partners to assist them with the application process.
Registration Links
Digital Opportunity Grant Program Application Walkthrough - November 8
Digital Opportunity Grant Program Application Walkthrough
Public Input Survey for Digital Opportunity Grant Program (FY25) Draft Guidelines Now Open
DED is requesting public feedback on the draft guidelines for its Digital Opportunity Grant Program (FY25). The program, which includes a local and statewide component, will promote increased digital opportunities for all Missourians. The primary aim of the Digital Opportunity Program (FY25) is to attain the measurable objectives listed in the State of Missouri Digital Opportunity Plan. The program has been allocated $13,739,765.24 from Missouri’s share of the funds provided by the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program (SDECGP).
The public input survey will assist DED in finalizing the program guidelines, which will determine use of grant funds, application evaluation criteria, and eligible applicants.
The public input survey is open until October 3, 2024, at 3 p.m. CST. If you are unable to submit comments online, you may also do so by contacting us at 573-526-5415. Comments may also be submitted directly to broadband@ded.mo.gov.
State of Missouri Digital Opportunity Plan
The State of Missouri Digital Opportunity Plan was created in order to satisfy the requirements of, and unlock Missouri’s share of funding provided by, the Digital Equity Act. This plan outlines the progress towards establishing fair and equal access to digital opportunities for all Missourians. This document was composed with the support of numerous partners across the state. The plan outlines the non-infrastructure barriers to equal participation in the digital economy, as well as the current and future resources available to assist Missourians in overcoming those barriers. The plan also outlines the goals and strategies the office intends to deploy in order to assure full participation within the digital economy is attainable for all Missourians regardless of their circumstances.
Help Contribute to the Missouri Digital Asset Map
The Digital Asset Map is a project of the University of Missouri System Broadband Initiative in partnership with the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Missouri Broadband Resource Rail.
The project aims to provide a comprehensive statewide inventory of public computers and Wi-Fi access locations, as well as resources such as digital literacy programs, computer classes, one-on-one technical assistance centers, and adult/workforce education programs.
Entities offering public internet resources are encouraged to help build the Digital Asset Map by entering basic information that populates a searchable map to help users find nearby digital resources. As more assets are added to the map, MU Extension will help promote the tool to users across the state.
How to Contribute
To contribute, go to Digital Asset Map site. Next, click on the Add/Edit Digital Asset button and fill out the brief form.
The form asks "community anchor institutions" to report available internet speeds. These institutions, such as schools and libraries, help people who would otherwise struggle to get online. The form will help identify locations that may be eligible for federal funds that do not currently have upload and download speeds of at least 1 Gbps.
For questions, contact help@cares.missouri.edu.
Digital Demonstration Projects Grant Program
State awards $250,000 in Digital Equity Act funding through the Digital Demonstration Projects Grant Program
The Department of Economic Development (DED) announced the award of $250,000 through the Digital Demonstration Projects Grant Program. The program, funded through the Digital Equity Act (DEA), is focused on supporting digital opportunities throughout the state. Digital Demonstration Projects will help extend the benefits of the digital economy to all Missourians.
Many Missourians are unable to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the internet for reasons beyond availability of reliable high-speed internet access, which may include lack of familiarity with new technologies, inability to afford an internet-connected device, and the inability to afford internet service.
The Digital Demonstration Project Grant Program is a competitive grant program that will fund projects that allow the State of Missouri to better understand, develop, and implement programming that furthers the goal of digital equity. The results of this Program will inform the Missouri Digital Equity Plan, which must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Commerce to secure future federal funding.
- Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD)
Approved Initial Proposal Volume I and Volume II
Missouri’s Initial Proposal Volume I (governing the state challenge process and BEAD eligibility) and Volume II (governing subgrantee selection for carrying out BEAD broadband deployment projects) have been approved by NTIA.
BEAD Project Area Submission Window Extended, Local Coordination Template Available
DED's Office of Broadband Development (OBD) is extending the window for prospective applicants to submit project areas for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. To allow for further participation, OBD will accept project area submissions through June 14, 2024.
The goal of the RFI process is to generate application areas that can be applied for competitively through the BEAD program. The RFI process allows potential BEAD applicants to indicate the geographic scope of projects for which they may apply for BEAD funding by submitting project areas. Additional project area submission (RFI) information is available on the OBD challenge webpage. Project areas can be submitted through broadbandmap.mo.gov or as shapefiles here.
OBD has also released the Local Coordination Template for the upcoming BEAD Program.
BEAD Initial Proposal, Volumes 1 and 2, Submitted to the NTIA
OBD has submitted Volumes 1 and 2 of its Initial Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
- BEAD Initial Proposal (Submitted)
- BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1 (Final Version)
- BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 (Not Final)
The Office of Broadband Development (OBD) has made changes to Volume II of its Initial Proposal for funding through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program in response to requests from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which must approve the plan before Missouri can begin deploying Missouri’s $1.7 billion BEAD allocation. This document indicates the status of the document as of June 2024, with notes about changes made due to NTIA curing. The final version of Volume II will be published when OBD receives NTIA approval.
The final version of Volume 1, approved by NTIA, is linked above and includes changes from previous documents noted and highlighted.
Files Referenced in Initial Proposal
- Submitted Broadband Funding Sources
- Submitted Deduplication Programs
- Submitted Community Anchor Institutions
- Submitted Underserved Location IDs
- Submitted Unserved Location IDs
BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 (Public Comment Closed)
Initial Proposal Volume 2 includes the state’s plan for how broadband projects will be awarded and monitored. The comment period for Volume 2 will remain open until December 15, 2023.
- BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 - Final
- Attachment 2.11.1.1: Climate Report
- Attachment 2.4.2.1: Scoring Rubric
BEAD Initial Proposal Volume II Office Hours
BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1 (Public Comment Closed)
Initial Proposal Volume 1 lays out the process through which OBD determines which locations in the state of Missouri should be eligible for funding through the BEAD program, which will bring improved broadband service to unserved and underserved locations across the state. OBD welcomes comment on the proposed process.
The 30-day comment period on this proposal closed on November 26.
- BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1
- BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1 (Submitted)
- List of unserved locations
- List of underserved locations
As part of Initial Proposal Volume 1, OBD has drawn on various datasets to create a list of community anchor institutions in the state of Missouri that may be eligible for improved service if they have internet speeds of less than 1 gigabit per second download and upload. The process OBD used to identify these locations is laid out in Initial Proposal Volume 1.
Representatives of community anchor institutions that were not included in the datasets used to produce this list can go to the MoBroadband Digital Asset Map survey and either pick the option to “Add a Digital Asset” or to “Provide information about internet service to a community anchor institution without adding it to the map.”
The public comment survey can also be used by community anchors that appear on the list without speed information to provide information about the speeds available to them. Community anchors will only be treated as BEAD eligible if they fall into one of the categories defined by OBD in the final version of its Initial Proposal.
Missouri to Receive Over $1.7 Billion in Funding through NTIA for Broadband Expansion (Press Release, June 26, 2023)
BEAD Five-Year Action Plan
The Five-Year Action Plan is a requirement of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The Office of Broadband submitted the final version of the State’s BEAD 5-Year Action Plan to NTIA, the federal agency responsible for the BEAD program, on August 28, 2023. This document provides a high-level outline of how Missouri will invest BEAD funding and other broadband-related resources across the state and highlights the state’s vision, goals, objectives, and strategies to help connect all Missourians to affordable, reliable high-speed internet. The 5-Year plan will inform the state’s BEAD Initial Proposal, which will set the rules governing the BEAD program.
Applying for Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Missouri runs on high-speed internet. A strong internet connection powers our economy and supports education. It fosters better public health. And it connects loved ones and strengthens social ties. But not everyone is connected. Too many Missourians are cut off from the opportunities that high-speed internet makes possible. That’s why we’re working to bring high-speed internet to all Missourians.
BEAD is a federal grant program that aims to get all Missourians online by funding partnerships between states, territories, communities, and stakeholders to build infrastructure where we need it and increase adoption of high-speed internet. BEAD prioritizes unserved locations that have no internet access or that only have access under 25/3 Mbps and underserved locations only have access under 100/20 Mbps.
- Pre-Qualification Application
The BEAD Pre-Qualification Application is the first step for potential BEAD Applicants.
The Pre-Qualification Application groups all general and non-scored BEAD application requirements into one application. Allowing applicants to respond one time for these functions. Pre-Qualification Applications will be applied to each of the applicants BEAD Applications. The Pre-Qualification Application must be started prior to filling out BEAD Scoring Applications.
The Pre-Qualification Application includes four sections:
- Entity Information
- Capability
- Public Funding Received
- Compliance and Other Program Certifications
REGISTER HERE
This link is where applicants will register as a user in the grant portal before starting the application. Once applicants register in the portal, the OBD team will review and approve registrations on a rolling basis. Once approved, applicants will be able to start the Pre-Qualification Application.
Program Documents
BEAD Ownership and Leadership Information Form
Cybersecurity Risk Management Plan Description Form
E-Verify Supplemental Statement
Pre-Qual App Certification Statement
Supply Chain Risk Management Plan Description Form
Demo Videos
*As a reminder, while the state is working through fully implementing the functionality to send messages through the grant portal, please send or respond to messages to/from OBD outside of the grant portal until this is resolved.*