CPUC staff detail BEAD subgrantee selection process, maps, bonding and challenge rules in office hour

The California Public Utilities Commission held an online office hour (date not specified) to answer applicant questions about the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) subgrantee selection process, including timeline, mapping, bonding/guarantee options, project-area definition and how the commission will prioritize technologies.

CPUC program and project supervisor Ali Shaghi opened the session and introduced CPUC staff and contractors, saying the session would focus on questions from the first four BEAD webinars and that answers and the recording will be posted to the CPUC’s FAQ. Shaghi also directed attendees to submit questions by chat or email for inclusion in the FAQ document.

The session clarified several procedural and technical points applicants had raised. CPUC staff member Jonathan Vakritz said California’s BEAD allocation is “about $1,800,000,000,” and described a dynamic evaluation process in which the state will aim to reach 100% coverage while maximizing fiber deployment where feasible. As Vakritz summarized, the state will evaluate submitted projects, and then “optimize along two parameters. First and foremost, we have to reach a 100%. And then secondly, we’re going to try to maximize the amount of fiber that’s being deployed consistent with the NTIA requirements.”

CTC Technology and Energy representative Ziggy Lifting Fish answered technical questions about cost allocation…