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  "description": "State Broadband teams emphasized 90-day limit for the BEAD process.",
  "path": "/alabama-updates-companies-on-bead-pre-qualification-rules/",
  "publishedAt": "2025-06-20T16:58:50.000Z",
  "site": "https://broadbandbreakfast.com",
  "tags": [
    "_advised the state of Alabama on its BEAD process_",
    "All Videos from Speeding BEAD Summit",
    "_its website_",
    "_on June 6_",
    "_unlicensed fixed wireless providers in their states_",
    "_Alabama’s BEAD window ran through_"
  ],
  "textContent": "June 20, 2025 – Broadband providers seeking to apply for funds in Alabama under the federal government’s broadband infrastructure program have 10 days - until June 30 - to express their interest, broadband officials representing the state said Friday.\n\n“If you were prequalified in earlier rounds, you remain prequalified,” said **Joanne Hovis** , president of CTC Technology & Energy, speaking on behalf of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), in a Friday webinar hosted by the department. Hovis leads the CTC team that has _advised the state of Alabama on its BEAD process_.\n\nThe reopening of the prequalifying phase will “allow for additional entities that would like to participate in the program,” Hovis said.\n\n\n\n_****FROM SPEEDING BEAD SUMMIT****_\n _****Panel 1: How Are States Thinking About Reasonable Costs Now?****_\n_****Panel 2: Finding the State Versus Federal Balance in BEAD****_\n _****Panel 3: Reacting to the New BEAD NOFO Guidance****_\n _****Panel 4: Building, Maintaining and Adopting Digital Workforce Skills****_\n\n All Videos from Speeding BEAD Summit \n\nAlabama included language of this sort on _its website_, which also includes a list of pre-qualified companies.\n\nAs with other states, Alabama has opened its pre-qualification round to enable providers who did not apply under the old rules put forward by the Biden administration for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment grant program.\n\nThe Trump administration made sweeping changes to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program _on June 6_.\n\nAfter pre-qualification applications are submitted, the evaluation will take place in late July, and August will include the final proposal to the government for consideration on how the BEAD money will be used. These final proposals are to be submitted to the government by September 4.\n\nA variety of state broadband offices began soliciting input from _unlicensed fixed wireless providers in their states_, beginning on June 13, including giving them the chance to be included in coverage, or to shield their coverage areas from being eligible for funding.\n\nOn its website, the Alabama broadband office wrote:\n\n> If you are already prequalified, you do not need to submit another Prequalification Application. Your prequalified status will remain in place. ADECA will disregard the responses you submitted to any questions in the earlier Prequalification Phase that have been eliminated in compliance with the NTIA’s Policy Notice.\n\n### _Previous rules had different criteria_\n\nUnder the timetable governed by the previous rules, _Alabama’s BEAD window ran through_ May 22, 2025, with $1.4 billion available for broadband expansion. Applications were scored out of 75 points, with 40 points for cost efficiency, 20 points for affordable 1 Gbps service, and 15 for fair labor practices. Secondary criteria include local or Tribal support (10 points), network coverage or technical strength (10), and up to 4 bonus points for offering $30 monthly service to low-income households.\n\nAll of those criteria are thrown out the window with the Trump administration changes on June 6.",
  "title": "Alabama Updates Companies on BEAD Pre-Qualification Rules",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-11T03:27:24.310Z"
}