Welcome to the American Samoa Broadband Coordination Office

The Broadband Coordination Office is dedicated to driving the digital future of American Samoa. Our mission is to expand and enhance broadband access across the territory, ensuring that every resident has the opportunity to thrive in a connected world.

Key Focus Areas:

Broadband Funding: We actively pursue and manage funding opportunities to support broadband initiatives that benefit the people of American Samoa.
Infrastructure Development: Our team works to implement innovative strategies for building broadband infrastructure to achieve universal internet access across the territory.
Affordable Connectivity: We champion policies that prioritize accessibility, affordability, and reliability, ensuring that high-quality broadband services are within reach for all communities.

Together, we aim to bridge the digital divide and empower American Samoa with the tools to succeed in the modern age.

American Samoa BEAD Final Proposal Draft

Public Comment Period

August 28, 2025 - September 4, 2025

The Broadband Coordination Opportunities Redevelopment and Deployment (BCORD) Office of American Samoa Department of Commerce welcomes comments and input on the American Samoa BEAD Final Proposal.

Funding amounts and locations may be adjusted after location verification and prior to subgrantee agreement finalization.

Submit a Comment in one of two ways:

Email your comments to bcord@doc.as.gov
Submit Comments via our Google Form: https://forms.gle/8uSGTUUncf2REkws7

American Samoa BEAD Final Proposal Draft

Join us in our BEAD Virtual Town Hall

Join us on Tuesday, September 2nd for a virtual townhall as the BCORD Office presents the BEAD Final Proposal for the territory, welcoming any comments and/or input from the public.

Event: BEAD Virtual Town Hall

Date: September 2, 2025

Time: 10:00 am

Click Link to Register: https://forms.gle/xfZgPYHdwav2NeXJ6

BEAD Program

Applications Closed

Applicants must create a simpligov account to submit a BOB deployment application. Up to three (3) users can be created per organization and can be added as a collaborator to your application.

Contact bcord@doc.as.gov if you have any issues include "BEAD" in your subject line.

(Only for Registered Users)

Broadband Equity Access and Deployment

The American Samoa BEAD Subgrantee Selection is subject to change based on the June 6, 2025 NTIA BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice. Please check back for updates.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access across the U.S. states and territories.

American Samoa has been allocated BEAD funding totaling approximately $37 million to support expansion of broadband access to unserved and underserved locations. The Broadband Coordination, Opportunities, Redevelopment and Deployment (BCORD) Office, housed within the American Samoa Department of Commerce (ASDOC), is the prime recipient of American Samoa’s BEAD funding, responsible for the delivery, reporting, and compliance related to the funding.The BEAD program in the US Territory of American Samoa aims to provide access to universal broadband service and support digital equity initiatives

Join us in our Weekly BCORD Office Hours

Date: Every Thursday

Time: 10:00 am

Click Here for link to Past Office Hour Slides

BEAD TENTATIVE TIMELINE:

June 6, 2025 BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice

June 18, 2025 Notice to ULFW for Notice of Intent Open

June 25, 2025 ULFW for Notice of Intent Close

June 30, 2025 BEAD Pre-Qualification Closes

July 3, 2025 ULFW BSL & Technical Documentation Due

July 11, 2025 Benefit of the Bargain Round Opens

July 28, 2025 Benefit of the Bargain Round Closes

August 8, 2025 BEAD Middle Mile Deployment Application Open

August 18, 2025 BEAD Middle Mile Deployment Application Close

August, 19 2025 BEAD Application Review Opens

August 25, 2025 BEAD Application Review Closes

August 28, 2025 Final Proposal Public Comment Period Opens

September 4, 2025 Final Proposal Public Comment Period Closes

September 4, 2025 BEAD Final Proposal Submission Deadline to NTIA

BEAD Resources

BEAD Deployment Application Guide

Click Here Templates

Click Here BEAD Middle Mile Guide

Click here for BEAD NOFO

Click here for BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice - June 6, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Link: FAQ - Latest Version

Please submit your questions via email to bcord@doc.as.gov, when you send an email include BEAD in the subject line. Thanks.

Permitting Requirements

Link to NTIA Permitting Resources click here

NTIA Guidance

Link to Shared Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CzSxgJfJEe8ozOuzMJEAQFcbsdMmzPYQ?usp=sharing

Whats New with BEAD?

PUBLIC NOTICE: American Samoa BEAD Final Proposal Comment Period

BEAD

Aug 282 min read

Public Notice: American Samoa BEAD Middle Mile Application Round Opens

BEAD

Aug 82 min read

Public Notice: BEAD Deployment Application Open

BEAD

Jul 91 min read

American Samoa Broadband Serviceable Location Map

American Samoa's Map of NTIA Approved Broadband Service Locations (BSLs) and Community Anchor Institutes (CAIs). To view the map at full screen click here. To view the approved American Samoa BSL and CAI listings in result of the 2024 Challenge Process click here.

Broadband Map Resources:

Project Funded Area Summary

Broadband Map Flyer

Digital Equity Program

Termination of the Digital Equity Act

Effective May 9, 2025, the Digital Equity Act has been officially terminated by the U.S. Department of Commerce under the administration of President Donald Trump and Secretary Howard Lutnick. This decision, communicated through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), requires that all remaining grant funds be returned to the federal government.

As a result, the American Samoa Department of Commerce, through the Broadband Coordination Opportunities Redevelopment and Deployment (BCORD) Office, must discontinue all current Digital Equity activities, including application evaluations, project planning, and stakeholder engagement under this federal program.

If you have any questions about the DEA Termination please contact Gloryana Akapo at gloryana.akapo@doc.as.gov

Resource & Materials:

Termination Notice

Notice of Termination Slides

AS DE Fact Sheet

Fraud, Waste & Abuse Reporting

Talofa, The BCORD Office is accepting complaints and reports for allegations of fraud, waste and abuse in BCORD programs or operations, including any organization or entity receiving BCORD funds. Allegations may be reported 24 hours a day, seven days a week by BCORD contractors or the public. Our Online Complaint Form can be accessed to file a complaint. In addition we have also included contact information to both the American Samoa Government Legal Aid (Attorney General) Office as well as the Territorial Audit Office.

Attorney General Contact Information:

info@la.as.gov
(684) 633-4163
2nd Floor, GHC Reid Bldg, Fagatogo
Pago Pago, AS 96799

Territorial Audit Office:

Form
(684) 633-5191
Territorial Audit Office,
2nd Floor, Tedi of Samoa Building, Fagatogo
Pago Pago, AS 96799

BCORD Programs & Initiatves
"BROADBANDiNEI"

The BCORD Office is home to several programs and initiatives:

ARPA - BroadbandiNEI

In 2022, the BCORD office received funding under ARPA for the initial BROADBANDiNEI initiative - which focuses on building broadband capacity in the Territory facing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and building capacity for future potential pandemics. The $10m in funding was sub-granted to eligible entities for the improvement of broadband infrastructure, including 5G Cellular networks and domestic submarine fiber-optic cable repairs.

Tech Park (Capital Funds Project)

A $14.3m multi-purpose community facility to improve resources for communities that enable work, education and health monitoring. Funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury - Capital Funds Project

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD)

Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) set up a $42.45b fund to expand high-speed internet access. American Samoa has thus far received $1.2m in planning funds with the announcement of an allocation of $37.56m. The BCORD office and its partners have also released the BroadbandiNEI - BEAD 5 Year Action Plan.

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program is administered by the USAC with oversight from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - to provide eligible participants a discount on their monthly internet services.

Digital Equity

Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) set up a $2.75b fund to establish three grant programs to support digital equity. American Samoa has thus far received $150k in planning funds, and has been awarded $2.1 million to implement Digital Equity activities.

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American Samoa Territorial Broadband Strategy

A "living" strategic plan to help the territory create digital inclusion plans to reduce the digital divide and prioritize digital equity for its residents (2021-2026)