The state’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Challenge Process begins on August 19, 2024. The Challenge Process is an opportunity for Hawaiʻi to correct information about locations that have no access (unserved) or have substandard access (underserved) to the Internet due to lack of infrastructure.
Official Challenge period has started!
Go to the portals to submit your challenge!
How will it work?
Hawaii’s BEAD Challenge Process begins on August 19, 2024 and contains three phases: Challenge, Rebuttal, Adjudication.
How to Participate
*Click on the green button for the challenge guide for nonprofits and the blue button for the individual submission guide.
How can I prepare?
Review our past training webinars
- Overview of the Challenge Process
- 2-part Zoom webinar on the Challenge Process and evidence required to file submissions
Review challenge instruction videos
- Nonprofit
- How to submit an availability challenge as an eligible entity
- How to submit a speed test challenge as an eligible entity
- Individual
Subscribe to our UH Broadband newsletter to stay informed.
Sign up for office hours
The University of Hawaiʻi hosted a number of in-person and virtual training sessions open to prospective challengers to learn more about the Hawaiʻi BEAD Challenge Process and how to submit challenges through the State’s Challenge Portal. Training sessions were held throughout June and July.
At this time, the official training have been concluded and no further training sessions scheduled.
Prospective challengers requesting further assistance in navigating and or troubleshooting the Hawaiʻi BEAD Challenge Portal may sign up for office hours. Once registered, you will automatically receive an email confirmation with a calendar invite and Zoom link to access the office hour time slot you have signed up for.
If the time and date you signed up for no longer works for you, please refer to your confirmation email to reschedule or cancel your reserved office hour session. This will open up the time slot again to others who might be interested.
Register Now to Participate
Who can be an “Eligible Entity” to file Challenges?
- Nonprofits, including IRS nonprofit organizations and Native Hawaiian Homestead & Beneficiary Associations registered with the U.S. Department of the Interior
- Units of local government
- Internet service providers
- *note: Information about how individuals may contribute information to help an Eligible Entity submit Challenges is forthcoming.
In addition to contact information, registrants will need to provide the following:
- IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Organization registration with the Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs or some other documentation to validate the organization’s identity
- FCC Registration Number (FRN) – Internet Service Providers only
FAQs
I have junk internet, will this Challenge Process help me get better Internet?
If you can only subscribe to the Internet through satellite or digital subscriber line (DSL), then yes! Otherwise, contact broadband@hawaii.edu to help troubleshoot your Internet situation.
I am a nonprofit, a unit of local government, or an ISP interested in participating in the Challenge Process; how do I get involved?
Mahalo for your interest! Please email broadband@hawaii.edu, and we will connect you to the right people to get involved.
I am a member of the public; how can I get involved?
Mahalo for your interest! Members of the public cannot directly submit challenges during the Challenge Process, however, individuals may contribute information through our web portal to help an Eligible Entity submit Challenges. Contact broadband@hawaii.edu or visit the Individual Submission page to learn more.
What is the difference between the BEAD Challenge Process and what the FCC is doing?
The FCC Broadband Data Collection is an ongoing initiative by the FCC to create the most accurate map of Internet access in the nation. Individuals can submit “FCC Challenges” or corrections to the FCC’s National Broadband Map on items like missing Internet locations, address information, or Internet service provider information. The FCC uses this data for various purposes. The Hawaiʻi Challenge Process is a 90-day period focused on identifying Community Anchor Institutions and locations without high-speed Internet infrastructure to build out Internet infrastructure to these locations eventually.
What are Community Anchor Institutions and how are they related to the BEAD Challenge Process?
Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) serve to provide a place for the community to have access to fast and reliable Internet. BEAD program supports the need of CAIs, in addition to the residential houses, and will provide funding for identified CAIs in need. You can learn more on CAIs and CAI related challenges here.
Resources
Challenge Portal Registration Instructions
Challenge Types & Evidence Requirements
Availability Challenge Guide
Speed & Latency Challenge Guide
Resource Guide
Challenge Process Data
Data based on FCC NBAM December 31, 2023. This is the set of location data that will be used in the Challenge Process.
BEAD Eligible Locations (Unserved & Underserved)
Served Locations
Due to the large file size, please download the served locations list here
Community Anchor Institutions (CAI)
See the bottom of the Initial Proposal page for the CAI list by County