The South Carolina Office of Broadband Coordinator, more commonly known as the South Carolina Broadband Office (SCBBO), within the Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS), is responsible for the administration of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program.
As a requirement of the BEAD program, a Five-Year Action Plan, and an initial proposal has been drafted. The public comment period concluded for the initial proposal draft whereby feedback from citizens, stakeholders, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) alike were integrated into a final set of documentation for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) review.
Volumes 1 and Volume 2 of initial proposal focus on detailing the SCBBO’s comprehensive approach toward administering South Carolina’s BEAD Grant Program. Copies of the draft documents can be found in the sections below. Requirements pertaining to the BEAD program are outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
The SCBBO BEAD Challenge Process has officially opened! ISPs, units of local and tribal government, and non-profit organizations can challenge Broadband Serviceable Location (BSL) maps. Click on the corresponding section below called “BEAD Challenge Process” to register and participate.
Questions regarding the BEAD grant program should be submitted to the SCBBO via the FAQ Form. Answers to questions will be posted as an update within the "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)" corresponding section below.
South Carolina BEAD Challenge Process Phases and Timeline
PHASE | DURATION AND DATES |
---|---|
Publication of Eligible Locations Public documentation shall be posted, including an explanation of the state’s Challenge Process, the classification of all locations and CAIs, and the timeline for the full Challenge Process. The SCBBO informs units of local government, non-profits, and internet service providers (ISPs) about the Challenge Process timeline, deadlines, and how each will be notified of challenges. |
7 days April 8, 2024 – April 15, 2024 |
Challenge Phase Challengers will be notified by the SCBBO as to whether their challenge is sustained (accepted) or rejected (declined). ISPs that were challenged will be pre-notified about any location challenges via email and file uploaded to their organization's prospective Citrix folder. |
30 days April 15, 2024 – May 14, 2024 |
Rebuttal The Rebuttal phase officially begins as set forth in the timeline. All service level challenges will be posted to Citrix for each respective ISP to officially rebut. Planned Service, Enforceable Commitment, and CAI challenges will be posted via web map for all registered challengers to submit a Rebuttal. |
30 days May 15, 2024 - June 14, 2024 |
Final Determination The SCBBO will post all submitted challenges and rebuttals before final challenge determinations are made. The SCBBO shall make final determinations and submit to the NTIA for their final review. |
30 days June 15, 2024 – July 14, 2024 |
Publication of Final Determinations The SCBBO publishes the final determinations after NTIA review. |
Early Summer 2024 based on approval from NTIA. |
What is the challenge process?
The challenge process gives South Carolinians an opportunity to correct inaccuracies in the state’s broadband map so it reflects the most up-to-date broadband access across the state. The updated map will determine which locations are eligible for funding through the BEAD program.
Who is eligible to submit a challenge?
NTIA rules allow units of local government, non-profit organizations, and internet service providers to submit challenges. Individuals in South Carolina can participate by coordinating with registered local governments to submit a challenge.
When is the challenge process happening?
The SCBBO will launch its challenge process on April 15th, and the Challenge Phase, including the Challenge Portal, will open a week prior.
How will the challenge process occur?
A user guide has been published that registrants may use to navigate the challenge and rebuttal process available at: Challenge Portal User Guide.
Help us make sure BEAD dollars go where they are needed most!
- Pre-Register: Pre-registration is required to participate in the challenge process. Click Here to Register.
- The SCBBO encourages pre-registration before the start of the challenge process, but will also accept registration during the challenge window through May 14th at 5 pm.
The files below include the Federal Communication Commission’s Broadband Availability Map Fabric (“Fabric”) Location IDs of served, unserved, underserved, and Community Anchor Institutions (CAI). As determined through initial analysis by the South Carolina Broadband Office (SCBBO) using version 3.2 of the fabric.
*Please note: the following CSV files may have record counts exceeding the viewable limits in Microsoft Excel and/or other applications.
Unserved.csv - A BSL that the broadband DATA and Maps shows as;
• Having no access to broadband service
• Lacking access to reliable broadband service
• A speed of less than 25/3 Mbps for download/upload
• Latency greater than or equal to 100 milliseconds
Underserved.csv - A BSL that the broadband DATA and Maps show as lacking access to Reliable Broadband Service offered with greater than Unserved (25/3) but;
• A speed less than 100/20 Mbps for download/upload
• Latency greater than or equal to 100 milliseconds
• Any location affected by the ORS modification (DSL and Cellular Fixed-Wireless)
Served.csv - A BSL that the broadband DATA and Maps shows access to Reliable Broadband Service offered with greater than or equal to (100/20 Mbps) or part of an existing federal or state funding commitment.
Cai.csv - A BSL from the broadband DATA and Maps that meets the SCBBO definition of a CAI.
Enforceable Commitment Template.csv - A Template file must be used for all Enforceable Commitment challenge submissions; modifications to the template will be rejected.
Planned Service Template.csv - A Template file must be used for all Planned Service challenge submissions; modifications to the template will be rejected.
The SCBBO created a public-facing web application to visualize the SC BEAD eligibility classification on a map. This map serves as an introduction to the Challenge Portal. South Carolina's BEAD Challenge Public Viewer: https://scors.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=44a173c7d7a34011903812f83b43975c
Please see the SCBBO Challenge Portal User Guide for definitions pertaining to each eligibility classification. https://ors.sc.gov/sites/scors/files/Documents/Broadband/BEAD/challenge-portal-user-guide-v3.pdf
Questions or concerns can be submitted through the SCBBO BEAD Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) form: https://arcg.is/1vrXK00
Draft Initial Proposal Volume II (3/8/2024) (PDF)
Draft Initial Proposal Volume II (1/26/2024) (PDF)
Draft Initial Proposal Volume II (12/20/2023) (PDF)
South Carolina BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 Draft (PDF)
2.15.1.1 Eligible Entity Regulatory Approach (PDF)
2.3.1.1 Local Coordination Tracker (PDF)
2.3.2.1 ORS BEAD Tribal Consultation (PDF)
2.4.11 SCBBO NTIA Line of Credit Waiver Request (PDF)
2.4.2.1 Subgrantee Selection Scoring Rubric (PDF)
BEAD Scoring Example (PDF)
2.4.9 SCBBO NTIA Extremely High Cost Waiver Request (PDF)
2.6 Eligible Entity Implementation Activities Attachments (PDF)
Comment Form [↗]
BEAD FAQs (PDF) - 5/2/2024