[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6100071,"mediaKeyId","2814650-9ef9377f7909e9d368861cee5b218859","parentId",2814650,"title","CPUC clarifies application content, allowable pre‑application expenses and project area rules","audioSeconds",581,"startMs",556660,"endMs",1138050,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2814650-9ef9377f7909e9d368861cee5b218859&start=556&end=1138","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2814650-9ef9377f7909e9d368861cee5b218859/thumbnail_556660.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100071/California/CPUC-clarifies-application-content-allowable-preapplication-expenses-and-project-area-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100071-f97700d646cf0d1af369bfeac12a824f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770759899&Signature=IFVSOPSzcYunSUQ3Wg4QEDA9YBPYX5Owy3PTHe1qSL94QfqJNG~Hl445mVEBRb0qri7Dk31xVAUopBmtGWE4gaXM3OkxQ7DBzfge7UW631LEga0tKTE6ZvU2b3vFhmWQa0DiJKL6T-0Dgfh--4dX~hiJIj5~EC5opspSj6EMBXAoLL2gNXF5Em6BJDQNgzI9hsm7B2B1BCZFKQMLW6-0xRqkgbRtZTu1ENVT0vH~gplhA~-XF7oeu3nc4pHJbZXSMCP5Apoxc04qvNRxQG-mF8OQec3UbpMTurjOjQ6cE-IxQhYCct4P1cXzeyzhOIR5O0Q7oWX4Dao6ltvuDlKuYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California Public Utilities Commission","date","2025-03-29T04:47:18.363Z","article","CPUC staff addressed multiple applicant questions about what to include in prequalification and award packages, what pre‑application expenses are allowable, and how project areas and budgets will be handled.

On documentation timing, staff said applicants must have a cybersecurity and supply‑chain risk management plan by the time of award; if an applicant has the plan already they may upload it, otherwise they must certify they will have it at award. Ziggy, a CPUC staff member, said the application asks whether an applicant has a plan now or will have one by award and does not require uploading the plan at the time of application.

On allowable costs, staff said some pre‑application expenses that are actually project costs (for example, engineering work done to prepare an environmental assessment) can be allowable under NTIA rules; by contrast, pure application preparation expenses are not allowable. Staff said specifics on allowable pre‑application categories will be provided in the FAQ.

Regarding funding allocations, staff said the CPUC will not provide fixed funding allocations by census block group in advance. Instead, the commission will dynamically calculate available budgets for each census block group or project area as applications arrive, using application data and reference pricing described in IPV 2. Ziggy said applicants should consult IPV 2 for more detail.

On project area size and design, staff said the minimum unit applicants may propose is the census block group (CBG). Staff noted applicants can propose a 90% coverage option in limited cases where excluding a small sub‑area would still meet the program’s coverage threshold, but they cautioned that splitting a single CBG into separate project applications is not permitted.

Staff reiterated that administrative cost rules (for example, Buy American and eligibility requirements) apply to expenses and that CPUC will publish more detail in the forthcoming application materials and FAQ.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Office Hours 02/27/2025","oneSentenceSummary","CPUC staff said applicants must have a cybersecurity and supply‑chain risk management plan by award, some pre‑application expenses may be allowed if they are project costs, and the minimum project unit applicants may propose is a census block group.","taxTitle","California Public Utilities Commission, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California","taxId",77657,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6100075,"CPUC: BEAD awards will exclude some FFA locations; FCC fabric reconciled at post‑selection stage",56,374170,430610,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2814650-9ef9377f7909e9d368861cee5b218859&start=374&end=430","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2814650-9ef9377f7909e9d368861cee5b218859/thumbnail_374170.jpg","/articles/6100075/California/CPUC-BEAD-awards-will-exclude-some-FFA-locations-FCC-fabric-reconciled-at-postselection-stage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100075-45d7e1f943ca33df2b5234e7790964f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770759899&Signature=kBr6EwAf5s-Xs2Fo1il1wPmSFX531KpCpK7wo~pNLcOnXB4VGqc6eImg5pCFsPDRaaQ7usBJop7IySK8XufgAm1CwzOLqRher3EkPb57QnLxkaCIA6PzVEX4npRS67YtSKTRba9XlIJr5PKwPZpcT1aE1s1qSy-7mwCv0DOwc9sMby190hsoTbn0Cad7NxIBCfujdzKqU755T2NVDA78prd-wFAZ-Kr7ygu-rkVg0YrpphD9yKUwkJeKrMRTY3G7LPy49mWU2AupsMAK8kNfNiNZPLHIE2TJRRtHiRMVhuZJJcgBR1qPlTj8c4cumvL1Qdh0VXu4swZlry-OpuVXRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CPU C staff told attendees that the commission will exclude locations that are already subject to FFA grants from BEAD subgrantee awards when those overlap with program eligibility.

During the webinar, staff said they will update the challenge map on the CPUC website when they launch the grant application window to reflect most, but not necessarily all, FFA grant locations. Anir Shragi, program and project supervisor, said some FFA locations were under commission consideration after a cutoff used to build the map; those few may not appear immediately.

Jonathan Lackers explained the NTIA requires a reconciliation step after subgrantee selection to prevent funding locations that already have service or that are covered by enforceable commitments. “We will be going through an NTIA‑mandated reconciliation process at the end of this process…after we've conducted the subgrantee selection process to make sure that we are not either funding locations that already have service or funding locations that are subject to other enforceable commitments,” Lackers said.

CPUC staff said they accept the FCC fabric data (the national broadband map) as delivered and cannot change the underlying FCC information in this process; parties concerned about missing or incorrect units (for example, buildings or address points) must use the FCC’s map update process. The CPUC will provide information later in the process about how ISPs can participate in the reconciliation step.

For challenge‑map questions CPUC directed attendees to the program email addresses listed on the slides and the FAQ; staff said they will post updated FAQs and the recording to the CPUC website.","CPUC staff said the commission will exclude eligible locations covered by certain FFA grants and will follow an NTIA‑mandated reconciliation process after subgrantee selection to avoid funding served locations or those with enforceable commitments; challenges to the FCC fabric must be taken through the FCC process.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6100080,"CPUC sets portal-based BEAD subgrantee process with 30-day application window; extensions unlikely",1092,3680,1096300,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2814650-9ef9377f7909e9d368861cee5b218859&start=3&end=1096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2814650-9ef9377f7909e9d368861cee5b218859/thumbnail_3680.jpg","/articles/6100080/California/CPUC-sets-portal-based-BEAD-subgrantee-process-with-30-day-application-window-extensions-unlikely","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100080-c38dd2c89908aa5139b9a571a73cfbe1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770759899&Signature=C946opvNWGLDgLkj7fXS1tP8MzuCsM~I-OUyY4QYNL-lJauh41YdsXRgA-~-D8ZuxRKaFzffzcQOCZH9SQ6qqj~NCXhNNNnZgjgzxbP6flgufv4Rnzu77-9xVsu3zL0RKXFe3c2EIo0NzxrEKte5NsMuzCsMYkFMjavNjjsIwvse~XscHjZw6T3uM90YaibzPUCFQ-Xpw3LsuKAJTTlOnaZxZBd5gon8xQIrNJFXoKrK5N~9sovOIJhgWYJsxPymVkETx8T6tOZu4hBN4lCYKSohqqMd2Z6QbrpFESlCn5ymiLTA8XHA7BJ7RMFT9Xk3~wB1lQWCqVSAAgDl9glh5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The California Public Utilities Commission said during an office‑hour webinar that it will open a subgrantee prequalification period and launch a grant management portal as the sole method to submit applications for the state’s BEAD subgrantee process.

The portal and prequalification will be the primary channels for communications with applicants, including requests for additional information and any correction opportunities, CPUC Program and Project Supervisor Anir Shragi said at the start of the session. The commission plans to post informational application materials — described as the application questions and draft guides — by mid‑March.

The informational materials are not the application itself, Shragi said; they are meant to help applicants prepare. Jonathan Lackers, program manager, told attendees the commission’s timetable was built to meet a required final proposal submission to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on or before Oct. 2, 2025. “Based upon that endpoint goal…and number of steps that we need to conduct… I do not anticipate and strongly believe that we will keep the application deadline to the 30 days,” Lackers said, adding that only a change from NTIA could force a different schedule.

Shragi and Lackers said the portal will also be the mechanism the CPUC uses to communicate with applicants during review, including any requests to cure deficiencies. Prequalification is required: applicants must submit the prequalification package once (it is not project‑specific) before applying for a project award, Shragi said.

The commission said it will pause office hours the week it publishes the materials to allow staff time to finalize and post them, then resume webinars and office hours to walk through the documents. The CPUC encouraged stakeholders to sign up for email updates and said a revised FAQ document will be posted to the program website with answers from the office hours.

The session did not include any formal votes or changes to the BEAD policy; speakers described the timeline and communications plan for the subgrantee selection process.","The California Public Utilities Commission said it will open a subgrantee prequalification period and a portal to accept BEAD applications, release informational application materials by mid‑March, and plan for a 30‑day submission window the agency does not expect to extend.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

CPUC clarifies application content, allowable pre‑application expenses and project area rules

CPUC: BEAD awards will exclude some FFA locations; FCC fabric reconciled at post‑selection stage

CPUC sets portal-based BEAD subgrantee process with 30-day application window; extensions unlikely