North Carolina BEAD Challenge Process
Introduction
Welcome to the Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment (BEAD) Map Challenge Portal. Access resources around the map challenge, see the broadband map, and register to submit challenges. Per the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, you must represent a high-speed internet service provider, local or tribal government, or nonprofit organization to submit a challenge. Register now in less than two minutes to get started. After your identity has been confirmed, you will be granted credentials to the platform from which you can submit challenges and rebuttals as applicable.
Review the program overview below to see the different challenge categories and types to ensure you submit the appropriate evidence for each. After the challenge window closes, the rebuttal window will open for you to provide any counter evidence to a challenge. After the rebuttal window closes, challenges will be adjudicated, and the updated map will be used as the basis for allocating BEAD program funding across the state. For a full overview, see the BEAD Challenge Process User Guide.
Program Overview
Challenge Categories and Types
Challenges may be submitted to establish that high-speed internet service is provided/will be provided to a given set of locations (Planned or Existing Service, Enforceable Commitment), outline that high-speed internet service is inadequate/unreliable/not offered to a given set of locations (Provider Service Level, Not Part of an Enforceable Commitment), or identify Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs), entities such as schools, community support organizations, hospitals, etc. that facilitate greater use of high-speed internet service.
To submit a challenge, you will be required to select from the following challenge options:
- Planned or Existing Service
- Planned Service: High-speed internet service is going to be deployed to the locations selected by December 31, 2024
- Existing Service: High-speed internet service is already provided to the locations selected but is not yet reflected in the FCC National Broadband Map
- Enforceable Commitment
- Enforceable Commitment: High-speed internet service is going to be provided to the locations selected under an enforceable commitment
- Not Part of an Enforceable Commitment: High-speed internet service is not going to be provided to the locations selected under an enforceable commitment
- Provider Service Level (Reported Service)
- Availability: The broadband service identified is not offered at the location, including a unit of a multiple dwelling unit (MDU)
- Latency: The round-trip latency of the broadband service exceeds 100 ms.
- Data Cap: The only service plans marketed to consumers impose a capacity allowance (“data cap”) of less than 600 GB/month on the consumer.
- Technology: The technology of the broadband service indicated for this location is incorrect.
- Business Service Only: The location is residential, but the service offered is marketed or available only to businesses.
- Community Anchor Institution Challenge
- Location is a CAI: The location should be classified as a CAI.
- Location is not a CAI: The location is currently labeled as a CAI but is a residence, a non-CAI business, or is no longer in operation.
- CAI: Qualifying broadband unavailable - The CAI cannot obtain qualifying high-speed internet service
- CAI: Qualifying broadband available – The CAI can obtain qualifying high-speed internet service
Evidence Submission
Each challenge type requires a different type of evidence and lists different questions during the challenge submission process. Evidence may be submitted in the form of file uploads or narrative support or both. Evidence may be added after the challenge has been submitted until the challenge window closes. After a challenge passes initial review, challenged entities will be notified and may submit a rebuttal when the rebuttal window opens.
