[1st-mile-nm] NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement

[Richard Lowenberg]

Commerce Department's NTIA Announces $288 Million in Funding Available
to States to Build Broadband Infrastructure

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333684

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Commerce's National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today
the availability of $288 million in grant funding [1] for the deployment
of broadband infrastructure. Grants will be awarded to partnerships
between a state, or political subdivisions of a state, and providers of
fixed broadband service.

NTIA's Broadband Infrastructure Program was established by the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. In the priority order defined by
the Act, NTIA will accept applications for projects that are designed
to:

  1.       Provide broadband service to the greatest number of households
in an eligible service area;

  2.       Provide broadband service to rural areas;

  3.       Be most cost-effective in providing broadband service; or

  4.       Provide broadband service with a download speed of at least
100 Mbps and an upload speed of at least 20 Mbps.

NTIA will group applications based on the priority above that each
application addresses, and will sequence its review of application
groups in the statutory order listed above.

"As a former governor, I know that state and local leaders have the best
understanding of the gaps in their broadband infrastructure. This
program will allow states and localities to partner with providers to
target this funding toward the areas where it is most needed and can do
the most good," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. "While
these grants will lay the foundation, we know that we need even bolder
investments in broadband expansion to finish the job. President Biden's
American Jobs Plan will provide the resources to continue these
broadband infrastructure buildouts until one hundred percent of
Americans have access to high-speed, affordable, and reliable
broadband."

"NTIA has built durable partnerships with the states through our State
Broadband Leaders Network, and with local governments and their
broadband initiatives through our technical assistance offerings and
other efforts," said Acting NTIA Administrator Evelyn Remaley. "We are
eager to put these relationships to work to ensure a successful program
that expands broadband infrastructure in communities that need it most."


More information about the program, including requirements for grant
applications, can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity
published today on grants.gov . NTIA is also holding a series of
webinars to further inform the public about the program. The next
Broadband Infrastructure webinars will be held on June 9 and 10.


---------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
---------------------------------------------------------------