Grant Management Portal
The Utah Broadband Center (UBC) has contracted Ready.net to develop a grant management portal for BEAD subgrantees. This portal will be the repository of all subgrantee reports, disbursement requests, and other documentation related to BEAD award administration and compliance. The portal has been activated and is available for subgrantees to access. An orientation and overview training for subgrantees was held on April 28. Additional training and technical assistance will be provided to subgrantees as they navigate the portal.
NGA Broadband Leaders Workshop
Rebecca Dilg moderated a panel on workforce development at the NGA Broadband Leaders Workshop
UBC’s Director, Rebecca Dilg, and Financial Manager, Robert Busch, attended the National Governor’s Association Broadband Leaders Workshop. This meeting convened state broadband officials and other stakeholders from around the country to discuss BEAD deployment, potential uses of non-deployment funds, and other topical broadband issues. Rebecca moderated a panel discussing the need for workforce development for the timely completion of BEAD projects.
UAC Building Utah Conference
Steve Greene, Technical Program Manager, attended the Utah Association of Counties Building Utah Conference with Lynne Yocom, UDOT Fiber Optics Director, in Richfield, Utah on April 13 to present on the importance of preparing for broadband deployment in local communities. His presentation provided resources to help communities get ready for broadband infrastructure deployment. Some of the steps communities can take to prepare include mapping their underground utilities, identifying utility poles that need maintenance or replacement, and streamlining permitting processes including ensuring the permit fees are reasonable and fair.
Technical Program Manager Steve Greene at the Building Utah Conference
Provider Spotlight: Beehive Broadband
Beehive Broadband traces its roots to 1963, when it began connecting rural communities in Utah and Nevada. Over the past six decades, the company has grown from its early telecommunications beginnings into a regional broadband provider focused on reliable service, long-term infrastructure investment, and strong community relationships. Today, Beehive serves both rural and growing urban and suburban areas while continuing its mission of expanding high-quality connectivity across the region.
Beehive Broadband’s service area spans approximately 12,000 square miles, reaching around 50 rural communities and 40 urban and suburban communities, with facilities in 16 Utah counties and two Nevada counties. Its footprint reflects a long-standing commitment to serving communities that are often overlooked while also supporting growth in more populated areas.
With more than 60 years of experience, Beehive continues to invest in broadband infrastructure that supports homes, businesses, and local communities throughout Utah and Nevada. Its history, broad service area, and community-focused approach position Beehive Broadband as a trusted provider dedicated to expanding dependable connectivity across the places it serves.
Financial Insight
To date, Utah’s Broadband Access Grant program has disbursed $12,021,155.27 to seven recipients. These funds were awarded to serve over 3,600 locations with reliable broadband service. Five of the seven projects have been completed, and the remaining two are scheduled to be completed by December 2026.
BEAD Technical Assistance Corner
UBC has developed a Technical Assistance (TA) webpage for BEAD award recipients. The page includes Frequently Asked Questions, training materials on compliance topics such as NEPA and BABA, and recorded presentations from our in-person training event from February 2026. This new BEAD Technical Assistance Corner section of our newsletter will highlight one technical assistance resource from that webpage each month.
As recipients prepare for subgrantee agreement execution, they must decide whether to secure an irrevocable standby letter of credit or a performance bond as a financial guarantee for their BEAD awards. UBC has created a training video outlining the financial guarantee requirements to help recipients understand the impacts of both letters of credit and performance bonds.
Upcoming Events
Broadband Alliance Meeting: May 20, 2026
Connecting Utah Call: June 17, 2026