Broadband grants and funding opportunities

Who: Funding is to be directed to unserved and underserved communities across the U.S.

Fund allocations and highlights:
+ $42.5B for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). NTIA will distribute the funding to states, which in turn will distribute grants to operators and service providers to build in unserved areas.
+ $2.75B for digital equity grants to states.
+ $2B for broadband grants and loans. distributed by the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service.
+ $2B for Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program grants.
+ $1B for middle-mile network grants.
+ $600M in Private Activity Bonds for broadband projects.

Application Status: More details to come.

Who: Funding to be directed to Tribal governments and bodies to be used for broadband infrastructure on tribal lands.

Grants will be directed to tribal governments to be used for broadband infrastructure deployment on tribal lands; affordable broadband programs including free or reduced-cost broadband service and preventing disconnection of existing service; and telehealth, distance learning, digital inclusion, and broadband adoption activities.

Application Status: Applications closed September 1, 2021. Over 280 applications are being reviewed by NTIA, who will announce awards on a rolling basis.

Who: Partnerships between a state-owned and a fixed broadband service provider.

Win-win, shared-risk scenarios as between public and private entities: projects in which public entities fund, build, and maintain communications infrastructure assets and their private partners operate those networks and provide services to the public.

Application Status: Applications closed August 17, 2021. Over 230 applications are being reviewed using a three-stage process: Initial Administrative and Eligibility Review of Complete Application Packets, Merit Review, and Programmatic Review.

Who: 5.4m census blocks locations.

Ph 1: entirely unserved by voice and broadband, Ph 2: Remaining unserved and partially served census locations.
Funds are dispersed via reverse auction. A two-step application process includes a short and long-form, the latter needed after funds are awarded.
Ensure networks stand the test of time by prioritizing higher speeds and lower latency.

Application Status: Ph 1 allocated $9.2B, Ph 2: remaining $11.2B

Who: Eligible rural areas

ReConnect furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to deliver high-speed broadband. In Phase 3 this year, USDA is distributing the funding as grants — a departure from the first two rounds of ReConnect.

Application Status: The application window Reconnect Phase 3 will open on November 24, 2021. Review the eligibility information to determine your project's geographic eligibility and funding categories.

Who: States, territories and Tribal governments with critical capital needs.

The Capital Projects Fund allows for investment in high-quality broadband as well as other connectivity infrastructure, devices, and equipment. In addition to supporting broadband, it also provides flexibility for each state, territory, and Tribal government to make other investments in critical community hubs or capital assets that provide access jointly to work, education, and health monitoring.

Application Status: States, Territories & Freely Associated States have until December 27, 2021 to request funding and September 24, 2022 to submit grant plan. Tribal Governments have until June 1, 2022 to request funding. 

Who: Eligible state, territorial, metropolitan city, county, and Tribal governments. Local governments designated as non-entitlement units are eligible to receive this funding from their applicable state government.

The American Rescue Plan provides emergency funding, including:
$195 billion for states, (a minimum of $500 million for each State);
$130 billion for local governments
$20 billion for tribal governments
$4.5 billion for territories

The Rescue Plan will lay the foundation for a strong and equitable economic recovery, and provide resources for infrastructure, including water, sewer, and broadband services.

Application Status: Eligible governments may now request their allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds through the Treasury Submission Portal here.

Who: Eligible carriers who serve consumers in rural areas, insular, and high-cost areas.

Designed to ensure that consumers in these areas have access to modern communications networks capable of providing voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, at rates that are reasonably comparable to those in urban areas.

Application Status: CAF Phase II auction, 103 bidders won $1.49 billion over 10 years to provide fixed broadband and voice services to over 700,000 locations. Authorized service providers have six years to plan and offer broadband to consumers from the date of their authorization.