Grant Application Related Broadband Grants News

Dec 01, 2022

President Joe Biden has pledged that every American will have access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. Digital equity—devices, skills and affordability that bring the internet to life—are a critical part of that mission. As part of that work, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, subject to the availability of funding. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a FY 2023 Appropriations Act in order to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, prepare and submit their applications, and give RUS time to process applications within FY 2023. Based on FY 2022 appropriated funding, RUS estimates that approximately $64 million will be available for FY 2023. Successful applications will be selected by RUS for funding and subsequently awarded to the extent that funding may ultimately be made available through appropriations. All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their applications. Applications must be submitted through https://www.grants.gov/ and received no later than January 30, 2023 to be eligible for funding under this grant opportunity.

Dec 15, 2022

The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an order (C-5368) awarding 37 grants totaling $20,351,778.01 from the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program (NBBP). During the 2022 grant cycle, the PSC received 115 applications for funding through the NBBP. As part of the grant review process, the PSC also received challenges from parties stating that they already served an area covered by a grant application or they plan to provide service to the area in the near future. The PSC determined 37 grants submitted by 14 providers would be approved and receive a total of $20,351,778.01 in funding. Projects funded through today’s award must be completed by June 6, 2024. Providers may apply for an extension of this deadline for good cause.

Jan 20, 2023

The Maine Connectivity Authority announced more than $34 million in grant funding to expand access to high-speed, reliable and affordable internet across Maine. The Connect the Ready grants are the single largest investment in Maine’s broadband infrastructure to date, will provide broadband service to more than 16,000 homes and businesses and will leverage over $17 million in private investment from communities and service providers. The 12 funded projects cover 31 communities across nine counties. Connect the Ready is a competitive grant program that encourages public/private partnerships and collaboration to build broadband infrastructure in unserved or underserved areas of the state. The Maine Connectivity Authority received 29 grant applications for this round of funding, with requests of more than $102 million. MCA will announce the next Connect the Ready grant round later in 2023.[more at the link below]

Jan 13, 2023

Several documents will improve application competitiveness, said Paul Garnett of Vernonburg Group.

Mar 31, 2023

The lengthy grant application process can be a barrier for Tribes with limited resources.

Apr 28, 2023

Financial requirements for broadband grant applications include audited financials and letter of credit requirements.

May 31, 2023

The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board (IBAB) and the Idaho Office of Broadband are now accepting grant applications for the Idaho Capital Projects Fund (CPF) Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program. The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board and the State of Idaho seek to fund broadband projects across the state that assist with or improve distance learning, telehealth, telework, and public safety. This grant program is designed to meet the CPF criteria and improve internet connectivity in unserved and underserved locations. The grant opened on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. MST. The application period will end on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. MST.Applications must be submitted via the Idaho Department of Commerce’s online portal, here.

Jun 01, 2023

The program instructs applicants on best practices to write winning grant applications.

Jun 28, 2023

The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an Order in docket CPF-1 awarding 65 grants totaling more than $61 million from the 2023 Capital Projects Fund (CPF) Grant Program. CPF grants are awarded by the PSC by in Congressional Districts One and Three. At least $40 million in grant funding was available in each congressional district for eligible broadband projects. During the 2023 CPF grant cycle, the PSC received 130 applications for funding. As part of the grant review process, the PSC also received challenges from parties stating that they already served an area covered by a grant application, or they plan to provide service to the area in the near future. Upon review of the applications and challenges received the PSC determined 65 submissions would be funded. Of the 65 grants awarded 27 were awarded in Congressional District One, totaling $40.3 million. In Congressional District Three, 38 grants were awarded totaling $21.03 million.

Jul 19, 2023

We have extended the deadline to submit an Advance-CPF grant application to Friday, Sept. 22 at 11:59 p.m. to make sure that all applicants have adequate time to review data and prepare grant applications. Please direct any questions to Advance_CBO@state.co.us or check the Advance-CPF webpage.

Aug 25, 2023

State can offer grant application points and recognition for adhering to permitting guidance.

Sep 28, 2022

The Project Information section is the second major section of the National Telecommunication and Information Administration's (NTIA) middle mile grant application. This portion provides space for applicants to describe the details and timeline of their project. It includes an executive summary, a “level of need narrative”, and a description of government and community involvement. For a successful application, an applicant must make a binding commitment to prioritize at least one of the following:Additionally, applicants will be prioritized for Programmatic Review if they average an 80+ in merit and commit to at least 2 of the following 5 criteria:The application window will close on September 30, 2022. You can find more details here.

Oct 05, 2022

The Nobles County (MN) Board of Commissioners boosted a local “Fiber to Home” broadband effort by reaffirming its $2 million commitment and kicking in another $2 million after a grant application for US Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding was denied. Mark Loosbrock, secretary and treasurer of Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company which is spearheading the project, explained that in applying for the grant, engineers and consultants used maps to assess the area already served by broadband, and given that information believed they would be given a high number of points on the grant’s scoring rubric. However, those assessing the application had maps not available to the co-op’s engineers, Loosbrock said. The co-op was told it could apply for a grant in the next round of funding — which has a November deadline, driving co-op representatives to return to the county board to ask for direction and, potentially, enough local matching funding to reapply for the grant. In the end, commissioners reaffirmed their prior commitment of $2 million, once again contingent on the grant being accepted, and then voted to put $1 million of its federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money into the project.

Nov 16, 2022

In 2019, Texas Rural Funders, a statewide philanthropic collaborative of 39 funders focused on bringing attention and resources to rural Texas, learned that Texas was one of six states in the United States that had neither a statewide broadband plan nor a broadband office. This put Texas communities at a disadvantage; federal agencies deducted points when scoring broadband grant applications, lowering communities’ chances of receiving the critical funding needed. This is crucial in a state where 83 percent of the land mass is rural and state and federal funds and policy solutions are required to achieve the scale needed to reach as many rural Texans as possible. Texas Rural Funders sprang into action to gather data, engage in marketing and communications efforts, form coalitions, create resources, and support rural leaders to affirm the need for a statewide broadband office. House Bill 5, forming the Broadband Development Office at the Texas Comptroller’s office, passed in 2021.