The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) released several resources to assist with the application development for funding under Round Two of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. These resources include a revised list of BEAD eligible locations, updated Frequently Asked Questions, an overview of program changes, and an update to Round Two scoring criteria. BEAD Round Two will open for applications July 18 through August 1, 2025. Application review, scoring, and public comment will take place throughout August, with a final proposal due to National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) by September 4. 

The BEAD program recently made significant changes per NTIA revised guidelines, including reconsiderations of communities that are unserved and underserved by broadband. These changes will shift previous target allocations from high population urban areas to the rest of the state, including rural and remote locations.  

The PBDA is charged with distributing more than $1 billion to provide broadband for unserved and underserved areas. However, none of the BEAD funds have been distributed to date since the original program details released over two years ago. For more information, see PBDA’s BEAD Program Page.