Smiling J BEAD awards
Smiling J won $12.8 million in BEAD grants to serve 1,058 locations in Colorado, according to the state award lists below. These are wired builds, which means construction: placement, boring, splicing and drops.
Colorado
$12.8 million
Listed as Smiling J, LLC · 1,058 locations · Fiber · provider match $6.2 million · est. completion August 1, 2029 · about 102 mi buried + 159 mi aerial fiber (state estimate)
Source: Colorado Broadband Office, BEAD Final Proposal data uploads (files updated 2025-12-16)
BEAD grants
$12.8 million
Locations
1,058
Grant per location
$12,138
Fiber miles (est.)
102 buried · 159 aerial
Latest completion
August 1, 2029
What this build needs from crews
- Underground, about 102 miles. Directional boring, plowing or trenching, conduit and handholes, then restoration. Locates come first on every foot (utility locating).
- Aerial, about 159 miles. Make-ready, strand and lash, and pole attachments (aerial fiber), usually with traffic control on the road.
- Splicing and drops. Every one of the 1,058 locations needs a drop and a splice at the end (fiber splicing).
How subs usually get on a BEAD build
- Find out who is building. Providers often hand construction to a prime or an engineering and construction firm, and those firms hire the subs.
- Get your paperwork ready before you call: certificate of insurance, W-9, safety program, and proof you can do the footage.
- Ask what the state's BEAD rules mean for subs. Workforce, safety and reporting requirements vary by state and are often passed down.
- Be findable. List your crew with the states and trades you cover, and watch fiber work on the board.
Other wired BEAD winners in Colorado
Want to build for Smiling J?
Providers and their primes staff these builds with subcontractors. List your crew with the states and trades you cover so they can find you. Free.
Provisional awards can change as states finalize agreements. TrackOver isn't affiliated with Smiling J. All providers.