MIHI BEAD Challenge

During the Challenge Process, residents, non-profits, and local and Tribal governments help MIHI identify areas needing broadband service by submitting challenges (non-profits and governments) or supporting data gathering (residents).  Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) like schools, libraries and healthcare facilities can also engage in the process by providing evidence of broadband needs.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) participate by challenging or defending challenges submitted by government agencies and non-profit organizations. All submitted challenges will be reviewed as they are received, and ISPs and CAIs will be notified of any challenges directed against them. ISPs and CAIs will have 30 days after receiving this notice to submit a rebuttal. MIHI’s Challenge Process will take place over 120 days.

• Challenge Process Begins - 3/25/2024
• Challenge Submission Phase Ends - 4/23/2024
• Rebuttal Period – Rebutters will have 30 days from notification of a challenge to submit a rebuttal
• Final Determination Phase ends and State Challenge Process is over - No later than 7/22/2024

You can participate in the MIHI Challenge Process as a Community Anchor Institution if you are a representative of a school; library; health clinic or center, hospital, or other medical provider; public safety entity; institutions of higher education; public housing organization; public-facing government facility; agricultural labor camp; or a community support organization. If your organization has a non-profit designation, then please go to the Non-Profit Organization page.

As a CAI, you can participate in the MIHI Challenge Process by:

• Verifying that your organization’s location is correctly identified as a CAI using the MIHI Portal.

Review our Recent Webinar

To learn more about the MIHI Challenge Process and your role, view the webinar recording.

View the presentation slides.

How to Set up an Account

Each organization or agency must be registered in the MIHI Challenge Portal to submit a challenge or rebuttal. Set up an account by completing the following steps:

1. Go to the MIHI Portal.
2. Select “Sign In” at the top right corner of the home page.
3. Select “Request a new account."
4. Enter in the necessary information.
5. Click “Request” to submit a request for an account.
6. Check your inbox for your request approval email. If the request is rejected, update your request form and resubmit.

Service availability challenges may be submitted through the MIHI portal. For non-profits organizations that have signed an FCC Tier 4 License and are looking to use larger files for bulk challenge submission, an NTIA Tier E license is required. The following materials will be requested for the license:

• FCC Registration Number (FRN), Organization Name and contact information, website link describing the organization, name of the federal broadband program (in this case, NTIA) and the counties in which the organization operates.

MIHI Portal Access Instructions

1. Go to the MIHI Portal.
2. Follow the step-by-step instructions to Submit or Track a Challenge or Submit a Rebuttal.

If users require accessibility assistance with the MIHI BEAD Challenge Portal, please contact MIHI at Leo-MIHighSpeedInternet@Michigan.gov.