About Us

The DC State Broadband and Digital Equity Office (DC SBDEO) is a department within the DC’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO). DC SBDEO will utilize federal funding to realize a vision for DC in which every resident, every business, in every corner of DC can live, work, and thrive in the digital age—without bias or barriers. To realize this vision, the DC SBDEO works to ensure that every DC resident and business has access to affordable, high-speed internet in their homes, and in their local Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs). DC SBDEO also works to ensure that every DC resident has the skills to effectively use internet access devices, and to be both productive and safe online. DC SBDEO works to enable residents to gain this connectivity and these skills, both in their daily life journeys, and in their journeys over time. The DC SBDEO intends to close the digital divide within the district.

DC SBDEO has oversight of the District of Columbia’s BEAD and Digital Equity grant funding implementation efforts. The BEAD Grant provides $42.45 billion to all 50 states and U.S. territories to fund planning, infrastructure, deployment, and adoption programs for expanding broadband connectivity throughout the next five years. The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs to promote digital opportunity – ensuring all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity to fully participate in the modern world.  Additionally, DC SBDEO also has oversight of the District’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF) which provides $15 million for the implementation of fiber-optic infrastructure within Ward 5 of the District.

Upcoming Deadlines

  1. DC SBDEO - Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program - Deployment Pre-Application due date is Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 11:59pm.
  2. DC SBDEO - Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program - Non-Deployment Pre-Application due date is Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Get in contact with The DC State Broadband and Digital Equity Office 

Email us at octo.grants@dc.gov

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Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program - Non-Deployment Pre-Application
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Submit to Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program - Non-Deployment Pre-Application

DC BEAD Non-Deployment Pre-Application

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (“BEAD”) program was created when President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (popularly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or “BIL”), Pub. L. 117-58, 135 Stat. 429, and is administered by the United States Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”). This program makes available to DC $100,694,786.93 for projects and activities related to broadband planning, infrastructure deployment, mapping, equity, and adoption, which will enable the DC’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (“OCTO”) and its DC State Broadband and Digital Equity Office (“SBDEO”) to execute its vision for transformative, equitable and sustainable investments to close the digital divide.

Access to a reliable internet connection is essential to full participation in the community and economy. A reliable internet connection enables work, learning, healthcare, and more equitable access to government services. In the District of Columbia, the need for broadband infrastructure investment is deepest in Wards 7 and 8—those areas within DC which have the lowest broadband adoption rates and highest rates of poverty according to American Community Survey (“ACS”) data, and the NTIA’s publicly available Indicators of Broadband Need Map. OCTO/SBDEO proposes to address this need by coordinating resources from the BEAD grant to affect transformative, equitable, sustainable, and achievable improvements in DC’s broadband infrastructure primarily in Wards 7 and 8, and also execute Digital Equity related non-deployment activities. 

Overview of Subgrantee Selection Process

DC’s distribution of BEAD funding involves a two-phase process, beginning with Phase 1: Pre-Application, where prospective Applicants must submit organizational-level information to demonstrate their ability to meet the program’s technical, financial, operational, and managerial requirements. This phase ensures that only qualified Applicants move forward. Within a set review period, SBDEO will assess whether Applicants meet minimum qualifications, including financial stability, technical capability, and compliance with federal and DC laws. Only those who successfully pass Phase 1 will be invited to participate in Phase 2: BEAD Project Application Period, where they will submit detailed project applications for specific service areas. Applicants must successfully complete Phase 1 to be eligible for Phase 2, ensuring that the process remains competitive and compliant with BEAD and SBDEO standards. The following sections summarize how prospective applicants must submit the information required to complete their pre-qualification process. 

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants 

The following are eligible to apply:

  • Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
  • Nonprofit organizations, including those with IRS 501I(3) or 501(c)(4) determinations
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Government agencies
  • Universities/educational institutions
  • Private Enterprises 

Continuing conditions of eligibility include: that the information in the application is complete and truthful; and that the Applicant, at all times, is able to meet material conditions stated in its application. Ineligible applicants or applications will not be considered for review.

A material condition can be an eligibility condition, or it can be some other condition that a reasonable OCTO evaluator would conclude is necessary to the Applicant for carrying out the proposed project.

For instance, consider a hypothetical case where an Applicant’s nonprofit status was a condition of eligibility, and the Applicant lost its nonprofit tax status. That would be a material change in condition and would require immediate communication. Another example of such a material change in condition would include an Applicant whose ability to fulfill the terms of the grant is based on the availability of skilled staff. If such skilled staff are no longer available, the Applicant must immediately inform OCTO and follow up in writing.

Resources

  1. Live Webinar
  2. DC Project Areas
  3. FAQs

Office Contact information

Email us at octo.grants@dc.gov 

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