Broadband Navigator – Automating the BEAD Challenge Process

Helping state broadband offices securely host and process state challenges submitted by ISPs

Multiple States

The Challenge

Several states have selected Sanborn’s Broadband Navigator to meet Office of Broadband Development requirements for communicating broadband availability data to a broad range of stakeholders and users. This solution needs to support the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program) challenge process and enable BEAD-eligible challengers to submit challenges. These challenges are later used to determine where BEAD funding should be allocated.

The Outcome

These states have worked with Sanborn to launch interactive broadband maps that display internet availability, speed, and equity statewide. These maps, built with Sanborn’s location-based services expertise and Google Cloud infrastructure, support the NTIA-mandated BEAD Challenge process by enabling challengers to log in and contest reported service data. Broadband Navigator™ provides the tools and dashboards each state’s Office of Broadband Development needs to efficiently manage, track, and review submitted challenges.

The Details

Broadband Navigator enables broadband stakeholders to access high-level broadband data alongside key socio-economic indicators. Powered by Google Cloud technologies such as BigQuery and Cloud Storage, the solution provides the scalability, security, and the advanced analytics needed to support state broadband offices adjudicating the NTIA-mandated BEAD state challenge process.

Objectives and Milestones

Multiple states are actively implementing their State Broadband Plans, which aim to make reliable, affordable, high-speed internet available to all residents. As part of this effort, state Offices of Broadband Development (OBDs) create and administer grant funding programs to achieve their broadband expansion goals—many of which are targeted for completion by 2028.

Collaborative Governance and Interagency Coordination

Broadband Navigator™ plays a key role in supporting these initiatives by enabling a collaborative environment for state broadband staff. Hosted securely on Google Cloud, the platform provides the scalability and reliability needed for critical broadband operations. It allows team members to sequentially or jointly review broadband service challenges submitted through the BEAD process.

Streamlined Collaboration and Decision-Making

With Broadband Navigator, reviewers can update challenge statuses, make internal notes, assess submitted evidence, assign tasks, and communicate with one another—all within a centralized workspace that streamlines decision-making and improves accountability across agencies. The platform is designed to align with data governance standards and ensures that all actions are based on authoritative, up-to-date broadband and location-based datasets.

Key Results

Broadband Navigator guides users through the process of uploading or creating data to support the state challenge process, including speed testing. All data is logged, data stamped, secured, and available for review.