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Welcome to the New BroadbandUSA Grants Roundup!
In this special edition, NTIA is providing you all the latest news about our three new grants – the Broadband Infrastructure Program, the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, and the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program – all in one place. Stay tuned for information regarding Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), future rounds of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), upcoming grant program webinars, and more.
Broadband Infrastructure Program
Now Available: Session 3 Webinar Presentation, Transcripts, and Recordings
Thank you to all who were able to join us for our recent Broadband Infrastructure Program Session 3a and 3b webinars. Were you unable to attend? Or maybe you want to go back and review the information presented? You can check out the links below for copies of the presentations, transcripts, and webinar recordings:
Session 3a – Held June 9, 2021 at 2:30pm ET
Session 3b – Held June 10, 2021 at 2:30pm ET
Register Today for Next Month’s Webinars
Join NTIA staff for our upcoming Broadband Infrastructure Program Session 4 webinars on July 14 and 15. These webinars will build up on the previous month’s presentations, helping prospective applicants further understand the grant programs and assisting applicants to prepare high quality grant applications. Learn more and register today:
Session 4a – July 14, 2021 at 2:30pm ET
Session 4b – July 15, 2021 at 2:30pm ET
New Round of FAQs
NTIA has recently published its second round of FAQs regarding the Broadband Infrastructure Program. This document offers a deeper dive into some of the most commonly asked questions we have been receiving from prospective applicants regarding eligibility, other broadband funding programs and eligible service areas, application requirements/process, and post awards requirements. Subsequent FAQ rounds will be published periodically throughout the application window. See the new round of FAQs below:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 06-10-2021
ICYMI: Broadband Infrastructure Program Resources
In case you missed it, below are some helpful resources related to the Broadband Infrastructure Program:
Broadband Infrastructure Program Webpage
Official Broadband Infrastructure Program NOFO
Grants.gov Link to Opportunity
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Now Available: Session 3 Webinar Presentation, Transcripts, and Recordings
Thank you to all who were able to join us for our recent Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Session 3a and 3b webinars. Were you unable to attend? Or maybe you want to go back and review the information presented? You can check out the links below for copies of the presentations, transcripts, and webinar recordings:
Session 3a – June 16, 2021 at 2:30pm ET
Session 3b – June 17, 2021 at 2:30 pm ET
Register Today for Next Month’s Webinars
Join NTIA staff for our upcoming Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Session 4 webinars on July 21 and 22! These webinars will build up on the previous month’s presentations, helping prospective applicants further understand the grant programs and assisting applicants to prepare high quality grant applications. Learn more and register today:
Session 4a – July 21, 2021 at 2:30pm ET
Session 4b – July 22, 2021 at 2:30pm ET
First Round of FAQs Published
To accompany the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program NOFO, NTIA staff also released the first round of FAQs. The FAQ document will assist potential applicants with some of their preliminary questions related to the new grant program. Topics include eligibility, evaluation of applications, and grant award and reporting requirements. Subsequent FAQ rounds will be published periodically throughout the application window. See the FAQ document below:
ICYMI: Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Resources
In case you missed it, below are some helpful resources related to the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program:
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Webpage
Dear Tribal Letter (June 2021)
Official Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program NOFO
Grants.gov Link to Opportunity
Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program
Final Rule Released
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today released the Final Rule for the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program, which will direct $268 million for expanding broadband to eligible historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), and minority-serving institutions (MSIs). The Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Grants will be distributed to help HBCUs, TCUs and MSIs purchase broadband service or equipment, hire IT personnel, operate a minority business enterprise, and facilitate educational instruction. The Final Rule describes the programmatic scope and general guidelines for the program. As directed by the Act, the Final Rule also establishes a method to determine applicant eligibility and identify which eligible recipients have the greatest unmet financial needs. Requirements for grant applications and other information about the program will be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity that will be subsequently published on grants.gov later this summer.
Available Soon: Session 3 Webinar Presentation, Transcripts, and Recordings
Thank you to all who were able to join us for our recent Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program Session 3a and 3b webinars. Were you unable to attend? Or maybe you want to go back and review the information presented? The presentations, transcripts, and webinar recordings will be available on these webpages by Friday, July 2:
Session 3a – June 23, 2021 at 2:30pm ET
Session 3b – June 24, 2021 at 2:30pm ET
Register Today for Next Month’s Webinars
Join NTIA staff for our upcoming Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program Session 3 webinars on June 23 and 24, as well as our Session 4 webinars on July 21 and 22! These webinars will help prospective applicants further understand the grant programs and assist applicants to prepare high quality grant applications. Learn more and register today:
Session 4a – July 21, 2021 at 2:30pm ET
Session 4b – July 22, 2021 at 2:30pm ET
Call for Reviewers
Help America Advance its National Objective of Broadband Access for All!
NTIA is soliciting experts to evaluate grant proposals for three broadband connectivity programs that will award over $1.5 billion to further national broadband goals and assist with COVID response and recovery efforts.
NTIA will conduct a merit review of applications submitted to these programs. The merit review will involve teams of technical experts that evaluate applications against established review criteria specific to each program.
NTIA is seeking qualified volunteers with expertise and experience in infrastructure, broadband use and digital inclusion, including but not limited to:
- Broadband networks, using appropriate terrestrial or wireless technologies, and network sustainability
- Broadband network planning and design
- Broadband network construction and deployment costs and construction timeframes
- Broadband network workforce development
- Telehealth, distance learning, broadband adoption and digital inclusion programs including equipment, networks, training and outreach
- Telework, workforce development and online entrepreneurship programs
- Low-income discount and subsidized broadband programs
- Planning, program design and evaluation for telehealth, distance education, workforce development and digital inclusion programs
- Programs and activities noted above that are conducted by Minority Serving Institutions
NTIA expects to stagger the application deadlines for each program; however, we currently project that merit reviews for these programs will start in August and extend into October. We are committed to ensuring that reviewers come from diverse backgrounds and areas of the United States. Please feel free to circulate this “Call for Reviewers” to other individuals or organizations that may be sources of qualified reviewers.
To volunteer as a reviewer, please email a resume containing the information below to grantreviewer@ntia.gov:
- Name
- Residence (city and state)
- Email/phone number
- Employer(s) including states you were employed in
- Position/Title
- Years and types of experience and positions in fields related to broadband activities
- In your email, please also let us know which NTIA programs interest you or align best with your expertise.
Blandin on Broadband 