KY BEAD: 2025 Pre-Application

The allocation of $1.1 billion from the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) to Kentucky represents a substantial investment in the enhancement of the Commonwealth's broadband infrastructure. In response, the Kentucky Office of Broadband Development ("the Office") has initiated the statewide Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD), complemented by the development of a thorough Five-Year Action Plan and Program Proposals Volumes I and II.

The BEAD Challenge Process will identify all unserved and underserved locations eligible for funding under the BEAD program. Unserved locations are those without access to broadband service meeting the 25 Mbps download and three Mbps upload threshold; underserved locations lack broadband service meeting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standard of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. Eligible locations will be published upon the conclusion of the Challenge Process, and the Application period will begin following approval by NTIA of Kentucky's Challenge data.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible entities applying for Kentucky BEAD funding are:

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
Local Governments
Non-Profits

All prospective subgrantees must demonstrate a commitment to expanding broadband access in underserved and unserved areas of Kentucky and adhere to all program guidelines and regulatory requirements.

Required Documentation

The Office is accepting Pre-Applications from eligible entities, aiming to simplify the submission process by consolidating common administrative information required for all Applications. This approach enables pre-registered prospective subgrantees to provide pertinent details once, which will then be utilized across multiple project-specific Applications.

Required documentation encompasses a range of information, including but not limited to, company information such as parent company or subsidiaries (where applicable), contact details, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Employer Identification Number (EIN), FCC Provider ID, W9 forms, along with various legal and financial disclosures. Additionally, prospective subgrantees may be required to submit supplementary documentation demonstrating their eligibility and capacity to effectively implement broadband projects.

For a comprehensive list of all required documents for submitting a Pre-Application, please download the Required Documentation Details file at the bottom of this page. Please note that the Office may request further documents while reviewing your Pre-Application and/or you may need to provide additional documentation should you progress to the next phase of the Application Process.

Award Details

While no awards will be granted during the Pre-Application stage, successful prospective subgrantees will receive invitations to advance to the next phase of the selection process. Not every entity submitting a Pre-Application will be invited to participate in the next stage of the Application Process.

Award decisions will be based on the merit of each Application submitted during the next phase of the Application Process, as evaluated against established criteria, funding availability, and the overall strategic vision of the BEAD program.

Application Process

The subgrantee (i.e., Kentucky BEAD Applicant) selection process begins with a Pre-Application period, during which prospective subgrantees are required to submit information detailing their managerial, financial, technical, and other capabilities (refer to "Required Documentation" above for more information).

The Office is reopening this portal for a second round of BEAD Pre-Application submissions. This second round of the Pre-Application process will accept submissions for 30 days: from February 11, 2025, through March 13, 2025. When the 30-day Pre-Application window ends at the end of the day on March 13, 2025, no further Pre-Applications will be accepted. If your Pre-Application has already been submitted and approved, you will not be able to submit and/or modify your submission. Please return to the "2025 Application" page for application(s) submission.

The Office will evaluate Pre-Applications to determine eligibility and assess prospective subgrantees' suitability for participation in the BEAD Program. Eligible prospective subgrantees will then be invited to progress to the next phase of the Application Process, which will be announced at a later date.

Please note that the KY BEAD Pre-Application User Guide is available to download below.

Documents

Document	Description	Last Modified
1q. Affidavit for Bidders and Offerors	This official 2024 affidavit document is to be downloaded and submitted via question 1q. on the Pre-Application. The affidavit must be signed in the presence of a notary public to attest to its veracity.	4/19/2025
KY BEAD Pre-Application User Guide	This comprehensive guide provides detailed instructions and definitions of key terms for prospective subgrantees navigating the BEAD Pre-Application process.	4/19/2025
Required Documentation Details	This document contains a comprehensive list of all the necessary documents for submitting a Pre-Application. Please note that the Office may request further documents while reviewing your Pre-Application and/or you may need to provide additional documentation should you progress to the next phase of the Application Process.	4/19/2025