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Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program

ID: NTIA-TBC-TBCPO-2021-2006948 • Type: Posted

Description

NTIA issues this NOFO to describe the requirements under which it will award grants for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Division N, Title IX, Section 905(c), Public Law 116-260, 134 Stat. 1182 (Dec. 27, 2020) (Act). The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program provides new federal funding for grants to eligible entities to expand access to and adoption of: (i) broadband service on Tribal Land; or (ii) for programs that promote the use of broadband to access remote learning, telework, or telehealth resources during the COVID 19 pandemic. See Section A. of this NOFO for the full description of this program.

Additionally, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 appropriated $10 billion to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) to establish the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund to provide funding to states, territories, and Tribal Governments to carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).1 NTIA is coordinating with Treasury to allow Tribal Governments to indicate their interest in receiving funding under the Treasury program when they submit their application for NTIA's Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program in accordance with the process outlined in this NOFO. See Sections B.1 and D.2.d.3 of this NOFO for more information.

Background
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issues this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to describe the requirements under which it will award grants for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Division N, Title IX, Section 905(c), Public Law 116-260. The program provides new federal funding for grants to eligible entities to expand access to and adoption of broadband service on Tribal Land and for programs that promote the use of broadband to access remote learning, telework, or telehealth resources during the COVID–19 pandemic.

Grant Details
The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program makes grants available to eligible entities for the deployment and adoption of broadband service on Tribal Land. Grant funds may be used for broadband infrastructure deployment projects and projects that promote the adoption and use of broadband services. The program encourages efforts to develop programs and resources that address immediate COVID-19-related concerns and build capacity for sustainable benefits to Native American communities. The Act specifies that eligible entities must complete their projects within one year of receiving grant funds.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible entities include Tribal Governments, Tribal Colleges or Universities, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on behalf of the Native Hawaiian Community, Tribal organizations, or Alaska Native Corporations. Applicants will need to obtain a Tribal Government Resolution in several instances. Each eligible entity must coordinate internally in submitting a single application. The Act does not contain a statutory cost sharing or matching funds requirement.

Period of Performance
The award period for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is one year from the receipt of grant funds. Extensions are available for infrastructure projects if certain conditions are met. However, extensions are not available for Broadband Use and Adoption Projects.

Grant Value
NTIA will make up to $980,000,000 available for federal assistance under the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. Additionally, NTIA will allocate not less than 3% of the funds, or not less than $30,000,000, for Native Hawaiians and up to $500,000 to each Federally Recognized Tribe delineated by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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Overview

Agency
Department of Commerce (DOC)
Category of Funding
Environment
Natural Resources
Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Funding Instruments
Grant
Grant Program (CFDA)
11.029 - Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Grant Category
Discretionary
Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement
False
Source
Grants.gov
On 6/3/21 the Department of Commerce posted grant opportunity NTIA-TBC-TBCPO-2021-2006948 for Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program with funding of $980.0 million. The grant will be issued under grant program 11.029 Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. It is expected that 400 total grants will be made worth between $50,000 and $50.0 million.

Timing

Posted Date
June 3, 2021, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Closing Date
Sept. 1, 2021, 12:00 a.m. EDT Past Due
Last Updated
June 3, 2021, 12:13 p.m. EDT
Version
1
Archive Date
Oct. 1, 2021

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional Info
Section 905(a)(8) of the Act specifies the following entities as eligible to receive grants pursuant to the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program: (i) a Tribal Government; (ii) a Tribal College or University; (iii) the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on behalf of the Native Hawaiian Community, including Native Hawaiian Education Programs; (iv) a Tribal organization; or (v) an Alaska Native Corporation. There are several instances where applicants will need to obtain a Tribal Government Resolution. Each “eligible entity” must coordinate internally (which includes all departments, subsidiaries, etc.) in submitting its single application. In an instance where one “eligible entity” is a subsidiary of another (e.g., a Tribal Government and a subsidiary Tribal College or University), this shall not affect the subsidiary’s eligibility to submit its own application, so long as it includes the requisite Tribal Government Resolution. See Section C of this NOFO for additional information concerning the eligibility requirements for this program.

Award Sizing

Ceiling
$50,000,000
Floor
$50,000
Estimated Program Funding
$980,000,000
Estimated Number of Grants
400

Contacts

Contact
Nicola R Bell Grants Officer
Contact Email
adam.geisler@firstnet.gov   Profile
Email Description
Work email address
Contact Phone
(301) 628-1328

Documents

Posted documents for NTIA-TBC-TBCPO-2021-2006948

Grant Awards

Grants awarded through NTIA-TBC-TBCPO-2021-2006948

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