Help us improve internet speed and reliability in Navajo County.
Arizona has been allocated $993 million in BEAD Program funds to connect all homes and businesses to modern high-speed internet. Arizona’s state broadband map determines what locations are eligible for BEAD funding. The challenge process allows us the opportunity to correct any inaccuracies in the state map.
This is a can’t miss opportunity to improve internet access and performance in Navajo County. The more locations eligible for funding, the more funding we are likely to receive to make those improvements. We need to make sure that all locations that should be eligible for these funds are.
If you have experienced difficulties accessing high-speed internet, please review the three options below to see which best describes your issue and click on the button beneath it.
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Take the speed test survey
Some providers are unable to provide advertised speeds due to equipment issues or network traffic congestion during peak periods. A speed test provides evidence to the state broadband office of slower-than-advertised speeds, which may make your neighborhood eligible for new service options.
Before taking the speed test survey, please be aware you will need to:
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Connect to your home internet, preferably close to your router, using a desktop or laptop computer (cell phones and tablets are not supported).
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Find your location using the address search bar or map and take a speed test. If your speed results are qualifying, you will be asked to provide your contact information.
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Take two additional tests. You will receive a follow up email for each test within 48 hours after the previous test. Please note that the reminder emails may appear in your junk/spam folder.
Click the button above then follow these steps:
Use the address search bar to select your location.
Verify that your location says SERVED.
(If your location is unserved or underserved, no further action is required—your location is already eligible!)
Click the "Take a Speed Test" button and follow the prompts.
Report a service denial
Some providers may have overstated their service areas in their reporting to the federal government used to make funding eligibility decisions. If any of these conditions applies within the last 180 days, please report the issue (if the denial was more than 180 days ago, please consider requesting service again).
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Failed to schedule a service installation within 10 days of a request
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Did not complete the installation
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Requested more than the standard installation fee to connect your location
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Denied the request for service
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Does not offer the advertised speed or technology at your location
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Required new, non-standard equipment
Before you begin you will need documentation in the form of a letter, an email, or a screenshot showing that you have been denied service.
Click the button above then follow these steps:
Use the address search bar to select your location.
Verify that your location says SERVED and that the provider who denied you service is listed.
Click the "Report Service Issue" button.
Choose "Availability - The provider listed on the map doesn't provide this service."
Fill in the form. Make sure to select the provider who denied you service from the Provider - Technology - Speed drop down. (If the provider is not listed, no reporting is required.)
Upload your documentation. This can be a scanned or written letter, an email, a screenshot, or other documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BEAD Program?
The federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program ensures that all U.S. households, small businesses, and community anchor institutions have access to high-speed internet.
Community anchor institutions include schools, libraries, institutions of higher education, health care facilities, public safety entities, public housing organizations, and community organizations such as job placement centers that rely on internet access.
Arizona will receive $993 million in BEAD grant funding to build infrastructure and deploy technology to expand high-speed internet access across the state.
What is the BEAD Challenge Process?
The following locations will be eligible for BEAD funding and funds will be prioritized in this order:
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Unserved locations (available download/upload speed is 25/3 megabits per second (Mbps) or less.)
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Underserved locations (available service is at least 25/3 Mbps but less than 100/20 Mbps)
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Community Anchor institutions to gigabit symmetrical service (1,000/1,000 Mbps)
Arizona’s state broadband map determines what locations are eligible for BEAD funding. The challenge process allows Navajo County the opportunity to correct any inaccuracies in the state map.
If we successfully prove that locations currently listed as ineligible for funding should be eligible, the state map will be updated increasing our opportunities to receive more BEAD funding to improve access in Navajo County.
Why does this process matter?
This is a can’t miss opportunity to improve internet access and performance in Navajo County. The more locations eligible for funding, the more funding we are likely to receive to make those improvements. We need to make sure that all locations that should be eligible for these funds are.
Lack of high-speed internet access limits people’s access to essential services like telehealth and job opportunities.
When does the Challenge Process occur?
The challenge portal opens on March 14, 2024 and closes on May 15, 2024.
Who can submit BEAD Challenges?
Local governments, tribal governments, nonprofit organizations and internet service providers (ISPs).
How many locations in Navajo County are currently listed as ineligible for BEAD funds but should be eligible (i.e., potential BEAD challenges)?
There are approximately 31,000 locations in Navajo County potentially eligible to challenge because the ISP offers speed greater than 100/20 Mbps, but subscribers actual speeds are less.
A location may potentially challenge if covered by a prior grant from another broadband program, but that grant will not result in the locations being served with speeds of 100/20 Mbps or greater. There are approximately 5,000 locations in Navajo County covered by existing grants that could potentially be challenged.
What data is required to successfully challenge?
To provide necessary data, residents must complete 3 speed tests on different days. Additionally, they will need to:
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Connect to their home internet for each test.
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Use a wired connection preferably or be close to their router if using a wireless connection.
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Provide a copy of their internet bill.
My internet is slow/poor. Why am I not in a challenge area?
To challenge successfully, users must prove that no internet service providers offer high speed internet in their area or that their internet performance does not match the speeds they are subscribed to receive. Users should first check to make sure they are subscribed to speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload.
The BEAD program excludes areas that have already received/are selected for grant funding to improve internet performance. Users located in these areas will not be eligible, such as those covered by a Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) grant.
I can't find the "Take a Speed Test" button on my mobile device.
The Arizona Commerce Authority only accepts speed test evidence from desktop or labtop computers. Speed tests from mobile devices are not accepted.
My address doesn't show up when I search for it.
The Arizona Commerce Authority speed test portal uses address information provided by the FCC. If your address is not listed on the map, you can have it added by creating a Location challenge through the FCC's National Broadband Map. Find your location using the map, then click on the map where your location should be shown. Click the "Challenge Location" button and provide the requested information. Your location will be updated in the next release of the FCC data which will be published in July of 2024.