BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

Background
NTIA issues this NOFO to describe the requirements under which it will award grants for the Broadband Infrastructure Program, authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Division N, Title IX, Section 905, Public Law 116-260, 134 Stat. 1182 (Dec. 27, 2020) (Act). The Broadband Infrastructure Program provides new federal funding for the Assistant Secretary to make grants on a competitive basis for the deployment of broadband infrastructure.

Grant Details
The Broadband Infrastructure Program makes grants on a competitive basis to covered partnerships for covered broadband projects. A covered partnership is eligible for a grant under the Broadband Infrastructure Program if it is a partnership between a State or one or more political subdivisions of a State and a provider of fixed broadband service. The program aims to deploy broadband infrastructure to eligible service areas of the country.

The Act authorizes grants to covered partnerships for competitively and technologically neutral projects for the deployment of fixed broadband service that provides qualifying broadband service in an eligible service area. The program gives priority to applications for covered broadband projects designed to provide broadband service to the greatest number of households in an eligible service area, and also prioritizes cost-effective projects in rural areas and those designed to provide high-speed broadband service.

Eligibility Requirements
A covered partnership is eligible for a grant under the Broadband Infrastructure Program if it is a partnership between a State or one or more political subdivisions of a State and a provider of fixed broadband service. Additionally, the Act requires the applicant to disclose any other federal or state support that the broadband service provider that is part of the covered partnership has received to deploy broadband service in the proposed service area.

Period of Performance
The award period for the Broadband Infrastructure Program is one year from the initial receipt of grant funds. The Assistant Secretary may extend the award period if extenuating circumstances require an extension of time to allow the project to be completed.

Grant Value
NTIA will make up to $288,000,000 available for federal assistance under the Broadband Infrastructure Program. NTIA expects to make awards within the funding range of $5,000,000 to $30,000,000.