
New Jersey launches the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment challenge process
NEW JERSEY – The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) Office of Broadband Connectivity (OBC) Monday announced the launch of the New Jersey Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) challenge process portal.
This portal will enable internet service providers, local governments, non-profit organizations, and Tribal governments to challenge whether internet availability at a particular location is unserved or underserved.
“As we seek to expand high-speed internet coverage and quality throughout the state, it is imperative we hear from residents throughout New Jersey. We encourage residents to participate in the process by contacting a local government or nonprofit organization listed on the OBC website to submit a challenge on their behalf,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy.
Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the BEAD program is a federal program that provides funding nationwide to expand high-speed broadband access. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) allocated $263.7 million to New Jersey to develop and deploy improved access to affordable, high-speed, reliable internet in unserved and underserved communities.
Unserved (no internet or limited access under 25/3 Mbps) and underserved (internet access under 100/20 Mps) locations and community institutions are eligible to be served and ultimately implement New Jersey’s broadband infrastructure plan.
Under the NTIA mapping challenge process requirement, the NJBPU OBC used the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) National Broadband Map to create an initial list of unserved and underserved locations and modified the data based on its process outlined in the OBC’s approved Volume 1 proposal.
Eligible challengers (local and Tribal governments, non-profits, and internet service providers) have until Nov. 3, 2024, 11:59pm EST to register via the challenge portal. The challenge portal will begin accepting challenges on Nov. 4, 2024, for 30 calendar days, after which the rebuttal phase will begin. A challenged internet service provider will have 30 calendar days to either dispute the challenge with supporting evidence or sustain. Challenges that are disputed by the internet service provider will be reviewed by the OBC. The OBC will have 30 calendar days after the rebuttal phase closes to issue a final determination.
Challenges to inaccuracies in the map must be supported with evidence such as the location of the unserved and underserved locations and reported service data such as availability and latency. Registration and the list of eligible challengers are available on nj.gov/connect.
The NJBPU Office of Broadband Connectivity and the NTIA will be hosting a Public Outreach Meeting on October 31, 2024, to provide more information and discuss the challenge process. To register and learn more, please visit: www.nj.gov/connect.