Oklahoma’s $148M Fiber-Only BEAD Application’s

Oklahoma Pushes BEAD Fiber Program Deadline to May 26 2025

Oklahoma has officially opened its application window for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Pool 1. This round focuses exclusively on fiber projects. Applications opened yesterday and will remain open through May 26.

More application windows are just around the corner. Pool 2, which supports non-fiber technologies, opens April 28. For Pool 3, the focus is fiber in remaining areas, and starts May 5. Pool 4, which targets other reliable technologies in those same areas, launches May 12. All four pools close on May 26.

The state will award points based on specific criteria. The primary scoring system totals 140 points. Key categories include:

• Outlay per location after match (up to 65 points)
• Affordability (up to 44 points)
• Fair labor practices (up to 11 points)

Lower costs per location earn higher scores. For example, applicants spending under $1,000 per location after match get the full 65 points. As costs rise, scores drop accordingly. A $15,000+ spend resets the score to 32.5 points.

Affordability matters, too. A monthly rate under $30 earns all 44 points. Higher rates receive fewer points, with no points given for plans over $100.

Applicants can also gain points through fair labor practices. Full compliance over the past five years, plus a strong commitment to continuing that compliance, secures the full 11 points.

Scoring Criteria

Secondary criteria add another 40 points. These include:

• Speed of deployment (up to 8 points)
• Sustainability (up to 10 points)
• Local and Tribal coordination (up to 6 points)
• Low-cost service options (up to 7 points)
• Speed and latency (up to 9 points)

A wide range of groups can apply. Eligible entities include cooperatives, nonprofits, private companies, public utilities, local governments, and more.

Oklahoma continues to invest heavily in broadband. Just last September, the state approved over $148 million in expansion projects. Those 45 projects are backed by the American Rescue Plan Act’s Capital Project Funds.

More on Public Broadband

• Application Details available at the Oklahoma Broadband Office
• More of our recent stories about BEAD and public broadband programs
• For up-to-date information on the $42 billion BEAD Program, check Brander Group’s BEAD funding progress dashboard