a. Continued Discussion on the role of Dane County, Municipalities, and Internet Service Providers in the
BEAD (Broadband, Equity , Access, and Deployment) Program
Jaron McCallum presenting
Primary focus of today’s discussion will be around the Broadband Equity Access and
Deployment Program (BEAD), but that additional funding still exists from both the Rural
Digital Opportunity Funds (RDOF) and the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost
Model (Enhanced ACAM or EACAM).
Jaron gave an overview of the BEAD program, and answered questions from task force
members. Review of ISPs that have submitted the required letter of intent for application
process. BEAD round 1 application start date tentatively is November 1st.
Discussion of Dane County framework of how an applicant or ISP could gain official
endorsement. A few option that the task force might put forth as requirements or values
of how an provider might gain our endorsement.
Option 1: The Dane County Broadband Task Force offers up some values and
priorities as it relates BEAD applications but will not require anything specific to gain
official endorsement for the County.
Option 2: The Dane County Broadband Task Force offers up the values and priorities
as it relates BEAD applications and will have the below requirement to gain official
endorsement from the county.
•
Dane County will require the following to gain official endorsement: A letter (or similar
method of communication) stating their support and that the municipality has had
discussions with the potential BEAD applicant about their BEAD plans, interests, and
intents in the impacted municipality. The letter should be signed and dated (after April
29, 2024) from a local unit of government including a city, village, or town. The letter
should come from an authorized government representative stating support for the BEAD
applicant within the local government boundary.
Option 3: The Dane County Broadband Task Force offers up the values and priorities
as it relates BEAD applications and will have the below requirement to gain official
endorsement from the county.
• Dane County will require the following to gain official endorsement: A letter (or similar
method of communication) stating their support and that the municipality has had
discussions with the potential BEAD applicant about their BEAD plans, interests, and
intents in the impacted municipality. The letter should be signed and dated (after April
29, 2024) from a local unit of government including a city, village, or town. The letter
should come from an authorized government representative stating support for the BEAD
applicant within the local government boundary.
• Evidence of a public meeting(s) to engage the community in the project planning
process. This could include meeting agenda(s) (including date, time and location) with
meeting minutes, presentation materials used for public meetings, explanation of how the
public meeting informed the project proposal, and/or photos or attendance lists indication
level of participation.
• Letter(s) of support from the school district, the local public library or organization that
supports one or more covered populations in the project area. The letter should be signed
and dated (after April 29, 2024) from an authorized representative for the entity providing
support for the BEAD applicant within the area the entity (school district, library, or
organization) operates.
• A commitment to constructing internet service to all eligible community anchor
institutions within a successful BEAD application.
• A commitment to specific deployment milestones that is quicker than required by the
PSC or NTIA.
Endorsement framework options discussed with pros and cons list, and discussion
