Broadband Office Name: Tennessee State Broadband Office, Department of Economic and Community Development
BEAD Award Amount: $813.3 M
Tennessee Broadband Director: Taylre Beaty
Website: https://www.tn.gov/ecd/rural-development/broadband-office.html
Tennessee BEAD Program Tracker
| State | IP Vol 1 Approval | IP Vol 2 Approval | Challenge Process Submission Closed | Submitted Challenge Results to NTIA | Challenge Process Results Approved by NTIA | 1-Year Subgrantee Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | Yes | No | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Tennessee BEAD Program Information
Key Updates
Tennessee has had its Initial Proposal Volume 1 approved and is currently awaiting NTIA approval for its Initial Proposal Volume 2.
Tennessee closed its State BEAD Challenge Process submission phase on June 1, 2024, and is now in the rebuttal phase of its Challenge Process. For more information about Tennessee’s Challenge Process, please visit Tennessee BEAD Challenge Process.
Tennessee BEAD Program Plans & Maps
Tennessee BEAD Program Initial Proposal Volume 2: Overview
*Information is subject to change. Tennessee is awaiting official approval of Initial Proposal Volume 2 from the NTIA.
BEAD Long-Term Objectives
Broadband Access:
- All Tennesseans are served with speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps.
- All Tennesseans have options to subscribe to a broadband plan that meets both their speed and affordability needs.
- All Tennessee internet service providers have an open and equal opportunity to apply for state-administered grant funding.
- All Tennesseans have access to an interim solution while they await broadband infrastructure buildout at their homes and businesses.
- Tennessee’s State Broadband Accessibility Map estimates that nearly 609,293 Tennesseans across 243,717 locations still lack internet at speeds of 100/20 Mbps.
Digital Opportunity:
- All Tennesseans have access to resources to learn and improve digital skills.
- Access to affordable devices.
- All Tennesseans interested in technology jobs have the skills needed to access, apply for, and succeed in tech careers.
- Individuals in Tennessee are prepared to fill the broadband infrastructure workforce pipeline to deploy high-speed internet.
Tennessee BEAD Program Project Area Design
In Tennessee, project areas are being designed by dividing each county into a maximum of three grant application areas, each requiring a minimum 25% match. These application areas will be “all-or-nothing,” meaning the competitive applicant must commit to serving all BEAD-eligible Broadband Service Locations (BSLs) within each defined area.
Any eligible Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) will be identified and grouped into these grant areas as applicable. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) will make this information available prior to the application process.
Tennessee BEAD Program Extremely High Cost Threshold
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) will define separate, incentivized application areas for NTIA-identified High-Cost areas, which will not require a match.
Tennessee will determine the Extremely High Cost Per Location Threshold using a blend of tools and data once the application process has concluded. The two primary sources for this determination will be:
- The Eligible Entity Planning Tool provided by NTIA.
- The initial round of proposals submitted for Tennessee’s BEAD funding.
BEAD Deployment Subgrantee Selection
South Dakota is asking for the following preregistration evidence from subgrantees and compliance with: Financial capability, managerial capability, operational capability, technical capability, ownership info, public funding info, compliance with laws, cybersecurity/supply chain compliance, and BABA/EHP/NEPA/NHPA compliance.
Primary Scoring Criteria for Priority Broadband Projects
- 35 pts – Minimal BEAD Outlay
- 30 pts – Affordability
- 10 pts – Fair Labor Practices
Secondary Scoring Criteria
- 9 pts – Speed to Deployment
- 6 pts – Economic and Community Impact
- 6 pts – Broadband Adoption in Low-Income and Middle-Class Households
- 4 pts – Community Support
Primary Scoring Criteria for Last-Mile Broadband Projects
- 39 pts – Minimal BEAD Outlay
- 26 pts – Affordability
- 10 pts – Fair Labor Practices
Secondary Scoring Criteria
- 9 pts – Speed to Deployment
- 5 pts – Economic and Community Impact
- 6 pts – Broadband Adoption in Low-Income and Middle-Class Households
- 2 pts – Community Support
- 8 pts – Technical Capabilities
BEAD Non-Deployment Subgrantee Selection
TNECD plans to focus on the following initiatives to address digital needs:
- Implementing the State of Tennessee’s digital equity plan.
- Providing user training on cybersecurity, privacy, and other digital safety matters.
- Promoting digital literacy and upskilling.
- Offering computer science, coding, and cybersecurity education programs.
- Conducting multi-lingual outreach to support adoption and digital literacy.
- Providing prisoner education to promote pre-release digital literacy job skills and online job acquisition skills.
BEAD Eligible Entity Implementation
TNECD will implement the following initiatives:
- Broadband Deployment
- Challenge Process
- Final Proposal Submission
- Other Non-Deployment Activities related to broadband adoption, digital skills, and affordability
BEAD Local, Tribe, and Regional Broadband Planning Process
TNECD engaged with 905 stakeholders through over 59 meetings, covering rural, urban, and suburban regions. There are no federally recognized tribes in Tennessee.
List of Engagements:
- Listening Sessions (in-person, virtual, and hybrid)
- Public Comment Processes
- Grant Program Outreach
- Targeted Outreach and Engagement
- State Challenge Process
- Area Selection Public Comment Process
BEAD Labor Standards & Protection
TNECD requires all BEAD subgrantees to submit the following information:
A record of past compliance with federal/employment laws:
- Must address info on deployment projects within the last 3 years.
- Certification form from an Officer/Director level employee of past compliance.
- Written confirmation that subgrantee has disclosed any violations from contractors within the last 3 years.
- Discussion of workforce plan
Plans for ensuring compliance with federal/employment laws:
- How subgrantee will ensure compliance in its labor/employment practices.
- Info on applicable wage scales, wage, and overtime practices for each class of employee expected to be involved in physical construction of the network.
- How subgrantee will ensure implementation of workplace safety committees.
- Comply with the Prevailing Wages Act.
- Other items as outlined in the BEAD NOFO.
BEAD Minority Business Enterprises / Women’s Business Enterprises / Labor Surplus Area Firms Inclusion
Since Local Small Area (LSA) firms are not registered or certified in Tennessee, the state proposes using HUBZones and Opportunity Zones as alternatives. The following steps will be taken to support small and minority businesses and women’s business enterprises:
- Placing Qualified Small and Minority Businesses and Women’s Business Enterprises on Solicitation Lists: Ensuring these businesses are included in the procurement process.
- Soliciting Small and Minority Businesses and Women’s Business Enterprises Whenever They are Potential Sources: This is already in partnership with Go-DBE (Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise).
- Dividing Total Requirements: When economically feasible, breaking down requirements into smaller tasks or quantities to maximize participation by these businesses.
- Establishing Delivery Schedules: Setting schedules that encourage participation by small and minority businesses and women’s business enterprises, where possible.
- Using Services and Assistance from Relevant Organizations: Leveraging the support of the Small Business Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce.
- Requiring Subgrantees to Take Affirmative Steps: Ensuring that subgrantees also follow these affirmative steps for subcontractors.
BEAD Cost & Barrier Reduction
1. Promoting the use of existing infrastructure.
2. Promoting and adapting dig-once policies.
3. Streamlining permitting processes.
4. Streamlining cost-effective access to poles, conduits, and easements.
5. Streamlining rights of way, including the imposition of reasonable access requirements.
BEAD Low-Cost Broadband Service Option
TNECD requires that internet service providers receiving BEAD funds must offer a low-cost broadband service option to eligible subscribers, as defined by the BEAD NOFO, for $50 per month.
- Subgrantees will also be required to participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
BEAD Middle-Class Affordability
TNECD asks providers to adopt one or more of the following recommended strategies:
- Middle-Class Plan: Offer a plan that provides high-quality connectivity meeting the proposed broadband standard of 100/20 Mbps upload/download speeds and a latency of 100 ms.
- Reaching Unserved and Underserved Areas: Focus efforts on extending services to these areas.
- Fee-Free Service Tier: Provide broadband services without activation, installation, or security deposit fees.
- Pricing Transparency: Ensure clear and transparent pricing for consumers.
- Incentivizing Providers: Encourage participation by using a scoring rubric that rewards these strategies.