WSBO opens round two for Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding applications
$1.2 billion is available; applications close May 16
The Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) opened its second-round application period today for BEAD funding. This round includes project areas that didn’t receive a preliminary award in the first round.
“We are excited to open the second round as we work to bring high-speed internet to areas of Washington that haven’t had broadband access previously,” said WSBO Director Aaron Wheeler. “Once completed, these projects will be transformational for Washington’s communities.”
The map of eligible project areas for round two is available here. Applicants must access the Zoom Grants Portal to apply. Round two will close on May 16.
The counties in the second round that did not receive a single application in round one includes:
- Asotin
- Grant
- Grays Harbor
- Pacific
- Wahkiakum
- Yakima
The first funding round closed on Jan. 31, 2025.
Round one by the numbers
- 307 applications received
- 75% of BEAD-eligible project areas received at least one bid, representing 79% of Broadband Service Locations (BSLs)
- 49% of BEAD-eligible project areas received two or more bids
- 63 project areas received preliminary awards in round one
Following WSBO's review of round two applications, there may be a future round three for negotiation, if needed. After completing all three BEAD rounds, WSBO will create a package of potential awardees and send it to the federal government for final approval. Once final approval is received from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), WSBO will formally announce awards and fund BEAD projects statewide. The complete application process is detailed in our BEAD Volume II document.
Eligibility
The BEAD program is open to cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, private companies, public or private utilities, public utility districts, and local and tribal governments.
Projects must serve areas identified and approved through the BEAD process. Commerce posted BEAD construction project area maps that detail unserved and underserved locations across the state eligible for BEAD funding. View project area maps.
About BEAD
The BEAD program aims to get all Americans online by funding partnerships between states or territories, tribal nations, communities, internet providers and other stakeholders to increase high-speed internet adoption. The federal program provides over $42 billion for infrastructure planning and implementation nationwide. Learn more about Commerce’s BEAD work on our Internet for All page. There is no federal freeze on BEAD funding, and we continue to partner closely with our federal partners on this work.
Digital equity dashboard
The Washington State Broadband Office launched a Digital Equity Dashboard to help everyone understand the digital divide – that is, the gap between those without access to technology, digital literacy skills and the internet. View the Digital Equity Dashboard.
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