Rhode Island Commerce Kicks-Off BEAD Program in the Ocean State

Published on Wednesday, April 02, 2025

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island Commerce has kicked-off the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program by issuing the first Request for Proposals (RFP) to design and build broadband infrastructure projects across the state. The project is funded with Rhode Island’s $108.7 million BEAD Program allocation from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and follows the NTIA’s approval of Rhode Island’s BEAD Challenge Process earlier this year. 

“The BEAD Program will ensure that every home and business —regardless of where they’re located—has access to reliable, high-speed internet,” said Secretary of Commerce Liz Tanner. “We’re eager to start these investments in Rhode Island, which strengthen our communities and support Rhode Island’s economic future.” 

Eligible applicants include private companies, local governments, nonprofits, utilities, cooperatives, and public-private partnerships with the technical and financial capacity to complete broadband deployment projects. Eligible locations span more than 30 municipalities across Rhode Island; locations are listed in the RFP. 

Proposed projects must comply with federal BEAD requirements and deliver internet service speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload with latency under 100 milliseconds.Consistent with BEAD rules, any BEAD funds remaining after the eligible Rhode Island locations have access to 100/20 Mbps service can be used to serve Community Anchor Institutions and for eligible nondeployment purposes.

The launch of Rhode Island’s BEAD Program comes on the heels of early success with the state’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF) broadband investment program. Through the U.S. Department of Treasury, Rhode Island Commerce’s $25 million investment generated $27 million in private matching funds, bringing total investment for this program to $52 million. The CPF program will improve broadband service for more than 16,000 locations across the Ocean State.

A pre-bid webinar will be held on April 7, 2025, at 10 a.m. Proposals will be accepted by May 9, 2025. For more information and to access the full RFP, visit commerceri.com/broadband. 

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