SR 06-13-2017 3A
Ci ty Council
Report
City Council Meeting : June 13, 2017
Agenda Item: 3.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Joseph Cevetello, Chief Information Officer , Information Systems
Department, Broadband
Subject: Construction Contract for Santa Monica Utility Undergrounding and
Excavation
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the Ci ty Council:
1. Award RFB#UUC1006 to High Light Electric, Inc., a California based company
for Utility Undergrounding and Excavation construction services related to the
City’s fiber optic network;
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a c onstruction contract with
High Light Electric, Inc., for two years in an amount not to exceed $1,850,000
(including contingency) to provide utility undergrounding, excavation, and
construction services for extension of the Santa Monica City Net D igital I ncl usion
Pilot program.
Executive Summary
S anta Monica’s broadban d initiative, Santa Monica City Net, delivers network services,
and data communications to the City’s technology, entertainment, and healthcare
businesses, and to affordable housing residents pa rticipating in the City’s Digital
Inclusion Pilot program. In September 2015, the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) published approved federal grant funding sources,
including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, for broadband
infrastructure deployment. As a part of the City’s Digital Inclusion Pilot, the City
appropriated FY 2016 -17 and proposed using FY 2017 -18 CDBG funds for the utility
undergrounding construction phase of a project that would expand CityNet’s Gigabit
Broadband offering to an additional 500 families living in 29 multi -dwelling affordable
housing buildings, to further digital inclusion program goals. This phase of the
expansion project consists of utility undergrounding, conduit installation, f iber optic
cable installation, and construction services for the City’s fiber optic network in the
Public Right -of -Way. The utility undergrounding would add approximately 11,319 linear
feet of fiber optic infrastructure, expanding the City’s network to th e building parcels of
29 affordable housing buildings. Staff conducted a competitive bidding process in
February 2017 to select a contractor. One bid, from High Light Electric, was received
as a result of this process. At this time, staff recommends exe cuting a contract with
High Light Electric, Inc. to provide utility undergrounding, conduit installation, fiber optic
cable installation, and construction services for the City’s fiber optic network, at a total
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cost not to exceed $1,850,000 over a two -year period, including contingency .
Background
T he City of Santa Monica has built a Municipal Fiber Optic Network, CityNet, for
delivering voice, video, and data communications to City businesses, and to affordable
housing residents participating in the City’s Digital Inclusion Pilot. The Digital Inclusion
Pilot is a project supporting City Council’s Strategic Goals to provide community -wide
Gigabit speed fiber and maintaining an inclusive and diverse community, as established
on August 23, 2015 (Attachment A ). Construction for the original 10 affordable housing
buildings is complete, offering 425 families with an affordable Gigabit Broadband option.
In addition, the Community Room within each building is delivered free 10 Gigabit
Broadband for community eng agement and afterschool programs serving over 100
Santa Monica K -12 students. Staff is currently obtaining feedback on the onboarding,
online payment processing, and customer training from the initial pilot beta customers.
Seizing an opportunity to expan d the pilot with federal grant funds, in an effort to deliver
a Gigabit broadband offering to an additional 500 families, would provide a more
comprehensive pilot covering a total of 39 multi -dwelling building types, and operational
testing more representa tive of the assortment of residential building infrastructure
conditions within the city.
City staff has participated in broadband advocacy on a national level with several key
federal agencies during the Obama Administration, including the Government
Ac countability Office, NTIA, FCC, and the White House Office of Science & Tech Policy.
In September 2015, NTIA collaborated with US Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) and a number of federal agencies to formalize and publish
approved federall y funded grant sources for broadband infrastructure (Attachment E ).
HUD’s CDBG grant funding was identified as an approved grant funding source, and as
part of the FY 2016 -17 and Proposed FY 2017 -18 Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
budget development, Cit y staff leveraged available CDBG grant funding to build the
infrastructure for the City’s Digital Inclusion Pilot expansion.
In October 2016, the City issued a Request for Bids for a defined phase of Utility
Undergrounding and Excavation work for an expa nsion of the fiber network for the
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Digital Inclusion Pilot. The bid required interpretation of bid engineering drawings and
an active General “A” and Class C -10 Electrical Contractor license at the time of bid
submission in order to submit a bid on the pro ject. The bid (Bid#UUC1005), was
publicly opened on December 29, 2016, resulting in one bid submitted. The one bid
that was submitted was incomplete and therefore, staff recommended and Council
approved rejecting all incomplete bids on May 9, 2017 (Attac hment C).
A revised Notice of Inviting Bids for Utility Undergrounding and Excavation Work was
published in February 2017 .
Discussion
T he City issued a Request for Bids for utility construction required for the CDBG funded
project to extend the City’ fiber optic network. The project would construct a phase of
utility undergrounding to add 11,319 linear feet of infrastructure to the City’s fiber optic
network. The project comprises approximately 11,319 linear feet of directional boring
and conduit inst allation, installation of approximately 15,919 linear feet of fiber optic
cable, and excavation and installation of eighty -four (84) 24”x 36”x 24” pull boxes, along
with related restoration work and traffic control management.
Only one bid was received from High Light Electric as part of the bidding process. At
this time, staff recommends executing a contract with High Light Electric, Inc. to provide
utility undergrounding, conduit installation, fiber optic cable installation, and construction
services for a total contract not to exceed $1,850,000, including contingency.
Public Outreach
Public Outreach for this project would be provided by Information Systems Department
staff, consisting of public notifications to adjacent property owners, tenants, an d
surrounding community on the project scope, potential impacts, and schedule. Staff
would provide updates and contact information to inquiries during construction .
Vendor/Consultant Selection
On February 2, 2017, the City published Notices Inviting Bids to provide utility
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undergrounding, excavation, and construction services as required by the Information
Systems Department in accordance with City specifications. The bid was posted on the
City’s online bidding site, and notices were advertised in the Sa nta Monica Daily Press
in accordance with City Charter and Municipal code provisions. 1,399 vendors were
notified, 47 vendors downloaded the bid, and 8 vendors attended the mandatory pre -bid
job walk. One (1) bid was received by the City Clerk’s Office a nd publicly opened on
March 27, 2017. Staff from the City Clerk’s Office and the Information Systems
Department attended the public bid opening. The sole bidder, High Light Electric,
completed the mandatory pre -bid job walk and submitted all necessary bi d documents.
Staff conducted additional outreach to vendors who downloaded the bid and attended
the mandatory pre -bid job walk, to inquire as to why the vendors did not submit bids.
The vendors ’ responses varied; including general conflicts with current workload, project
schedule and/or project duration conflicts with larger projects, concerns with prevailing
wage compliance for a federally funded project, and one vendor had an active “A”
general contractor license, but did not have the Class C -10 Electri cal Contractor’s
license required to bid on the project.
A selection committee of Information Systems Department staff reviewed the bid. The
bid was evaluated based upon the criteria in SMMC 2.24.072, including price, ability,
capacity, and skill of th e bidder to perform services, capacity of the bidder to perform
the service promptly, within the time specified, without delay or interference, and
compliance with City specifications and scope of work.
High Light Electric, Inc. has completed utility un dergrounding for Southern California
public agency projects, including the County of Los Angeles and several CalTrans
projects. Reference agencies reported that the firm completed quality work, utilized
appropriate safety measures, and completed projects i n a timely manner. Staff also
verified with the Contractors State License Board that High Light Electric, Inc.
Contractor’s license is current, active, and in good standing. Based upon these criteria,
High Light Electric, Inc. is recommended as the best b idder to provide Utility
Undergrounding and Excavation services .
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Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
T he contract to be awarded to High Light Electric, Inc. is for an amount not to exceed
$1,850,000, including contingency. Funds are available in the FY 2016 -17 Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) budget and included in the FY 2017 -18 Proposed CIP
Budget and the Proposed FY 2017 -18 budget for the Information Systems Department.
The contract will be charged to accounts C199151.589000, C019151.589000, and
282 48.5 55010 . Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval .
Prepared By: Gary Carter, Community Broadband Manager
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. August 23, 2015 Staff Report (web link)
B. March 1, 2016 Staff Re port (web link)
C. May 9, 2017 Staff Report (web link)
D. High Light Electric, Inc. - Oaks Form
E. September 2015 NTIA Guide to F ederal Funding of Broadband Projects
SEPTEMBER 2015
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal
Funding of Broadband Projects
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 1 ii | National Telecommunications and Information Administration
U.S . Department of Commerce
Penny Pritzker
Secretary of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications
Doug Kinkoph
Associate Administrator
Disclaimer
Any reference in the BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects to any non-government entity,
product, service, or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Department of
Commerce, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or any of its employees.
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 1
OVERVIEW
“Access to high-speed broadband
is no longer a luxury; it is a
necessity for American families,
businesses, and consumers.”1
The National Telecommunications and Information
Administration’s (NTIA) BroadbandUSA initiative
presents this guide to key federal programs that
offer funding for broadband-related projects.
NTIA intends this guide to answer questions from
communities on how to access federal funding to
support broadband planning, public access, digital
literacy, adoption, and deployment.
Funding for broadband projects, including
deployment, public access, adoption, and planning
initiatives, is available through a number of agencies
across the federal government. When reviewing
the funding sources in this guide, readers should pay
close attention to the following:
The purpose of each program
Potential restrictions on funding
Rules for eligibility
As this guide only provides an overview of funding
sources as of the time of publication, communities
should also examine the agency websites and
review the most recent funding announcements
to determine if a funding opportunity matches
their needs. NTIA intends to update this guide
periodically at www2.ntia.doc.gov/files/broadband_fed_
funding_guide.pdf .
NTIA’s BroadbandUSA initiative is dedicated to
helping communities achieve their broadband
missions. NTIA will assist communities in
working with the agencies to determine if funding
is available.
If you have additional questions about the
information contained in this guide, please contact
us at broadbandusa@ntia.doc.gov or 202-482-2048.
WHAT IS Broadband USA?
BroadbandUSA is NTIA’s initiative that provides
expert advice and field-proven tools for assessing
broadband adoption, planning new infrastructure,
and engaging a wide variety of partners in
infrastructure projects. BroadbandUSA also brings
stakeholders together to solve problems, improve
broadband policies, share best practices, connect
communities to other federal agencies and funding
sources, and improve coordination among agencies.
BroadbandUSA offers online and in-person technical
assistance to communities; hosts regional workshops
around the country; and publishes guides and tools
that provide communities with proven solutions to
address problems in broadband planning, financing,
construction, and operations. If you are interested
in receiving assistance from BroadbandUSA,
please contact us at broadbandusa@ntia.doc.gov
or 202-482-2048. For more information about
BroadbandUSA, visit our website at www.ntia.doc.gov/
broadbandusa .
BroadbandUSA is publishing a series of guides
and toolkits for communities determined to take
steps to secure the robust broadband services
and digital literacy skills needed to be competitive
in today’s global economy. These publications
provide practical advice for developing programs
that will successfully meet the current and future
broadband needs of communities. For example,
BroadbandUSA has published an Introduction to
Effective Public-Private Partnerships at http://www2.
ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia_ppp_010515.pdf , which provides
an overview of common broadband partnerships, the
factors communities should consider in developing
a successful partnership model, and tips and best
practices NTIA has observed through its oversight of
broadband grants to public, private and joint projects
across the country. BroadbandUSA also intends
to soon publish a toolkit series for local and tribal
governments, including:
Planning for a Community Broadband Roadmap,
Implementing the Community’s Broadband
Network Vision,
Strategizing for Broadband Network
Sustainability, and
The Power of Partnerships.
1. President Barack Obama,
“Presidential Memorandum
— Expanding Broadband
Deployment and Adoption by
Addressing Regulatory Barriers
and Encouraging Investment
and Training,” Mar. 23, 2015,
https://www.whitehouse.gov/
the-press-office/2015/03/23/
presidential-memorandum-
expanding-broadband-
deployment-and-adoption-addr .
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FEDERAL PROGRAMS
The following agencies have programs that may fund projects involving broadband infrastructure, adoption,
access, planning, or research.
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Appalachian Regional Commission
Telecommunications and Technology Program X X X X
Federal Communications Commission
Connect America Fund (High Cost Program)X
E-Rate (Schools and Libraries) Program X
Rural Health Care Program X
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service
Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program X
Farm Bill Broadband Loan Program X
Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA)
Provisions X
Community Connect Grant Program X
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program X*
U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration
Public Works X
Economic Adjustment Assistance X X
Partnership Planning X
Local Technical Assistance X
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Community Development Block Grants (including
Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program)X X X X**
Public Housing Capital Fund X
Public Housing Operating Fund X X
Multifamily Housing X X
Indian Community Development Block Grants X
Indian Housing Block Grants X
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 3
Federal Programs
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Title VI Loan Guarantee Program X
Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grants X
Choice Neighborhoods X X X
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
American Job Centers X X
Institute of Museum and Library Services, Office of Library Services
Native American Library Services Basic Grants X***X X
Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants X***X X X
Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants X***X X X
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program X X X
National Leadership Grants for Libraries X X X
Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries X
* = distance learning and telemedicine equipment
** = eligible for grantees only; not for subrecipients
***= internal wiring and routers only; no construction
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 5 4 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration
ADDITIONAL FUNDING
SOURCES
Additional Federal Support
Broadband deployment, access, adoption,
or planning can fall within the scope of other
federal programs, such as those focused on
economic development or education. The federal
government’s central funding portal, w ww.grants.gov ,
makes available information on all federal grant
programs. The portal allows a keyword search on
all posted funding opportunities. This portal also
allows users to narrow their search by the status
of the opportunity (open, closed, or archived),
funding instrument type, type of eligible applicant,
programmatic category, and federal agency. In
searching for opportunities on grants.gov , potential
applicants must think beyond the word “broadband”
and consider that broadband is a multi-purpose tool.
For example, if a program funds training for at-risk
youth, a community may propose to use broadband
as a tool to meet the purposes of that program.
Or, if a program funds assistance to businesses,
a business may propose broadband-related
activities within the purposes and requirements
of that program. The Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance at https://www.cfda.gov/ is also a good
source for all federal assistance programs.
Other Sources of Funding
There are many potential sources of funding for
broadband-related projects, and communities
should consider several funding sources to
complete projects. This guide is a starting point
that communities can use to explore federal
financing opportunities. If any program seems
relevant, a community should examine the most
current funding announcement to determine how
closely its purposes and scope match those of the
proposed project. Communities should consider
additional funding sources, including state grants
and local resources such as foundations and other
non-profits. Communities should also consider
Public-Private Partnerships (see NTIA’s paper at
http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia_ppp_010515.pdf ).
Just as with government funding, it may be useful
to consider the project scope broadly, knowing that
a targeted funder may support a broadband project
if the goals of the broadband project intersect
with the goals of that funder. Always remember
that broadband is not an end in and of itself; but
rather a tool for achieving other public policy goals
such as education, employment, and economic
development.
Regardless of the source, organizations that
provide funds — federal, state, local, non-profit
or private — usually share at least three common
concerns when evaluating applications for funding.
They all want to review proposals for projects that
are well-planned, broadly supported and likely to
succeed. While this funding guide is a first step for
communities trying to find a match between their
goals and the goals of a grant, it is critical for a
community to develop project plans that meet these
criteria before applying for funding.
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 5
FEDERAL FUNDING
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Federal Funding Program Information
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BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 7
Federal Funding Program Information
Telecommunications and Technology Program
The Appalachian Regional Commission is a regional economic
development agency that represents a partnership of
federal, state and local government. Established by an act of
Congress in 1965, ARC is composed of the governors of the 13
Appalachian states and a federal co-chair, who is appointed by
the president. Local participation is provided through multi-
county local development districts.
The Appalachian Region, as defined in ARC’s authorizing
legislation, is a 205,000 square mile region that follows the
spine of the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to
northern Mississippi. It includes all of West Virginia and parts
of 12 other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland,
Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. There are 420 counties
in the Region representing more than 25 million people. Forty-
two percent of the Region’s population is rural, compared with
twenty percent of the national population.
Each year, ARC provides grant funding for several hundred
projects in the Appalachian Region in areas such as
business development, education and job training, health,
telecommunications, infrastructure, community development
and transportation. These projects create thousands of
new jobs; improve local water and sewer systems; increase
school readiness; expand access to health care; assist local
communities with strategic planning; and provide technical and
managerial assistance to emerging businesses.
ARC grants are available to public sector entities and non-profit
501(c)(3) organizations within the Appalachian Region. Private
and for-profit companies are not eligible for ARC grants. Grant
funding for area development and distressed county funding
is allocated to each state and all grant applications must be
recommended for approval by the state ARC office.
In the Telecommunications and Technology segment, ARC
awards grants for a variety of activities. These include small
broadband deployment projects such as fiber runs to industrial
parks, installing wireless broadband in underserved and
unserved areas, assistance with tele-health projects involving
equipment, systems and networking, installing Wi-Fi networks
in downtown business districts, assisting with computers
and equipment in schools and libraries, assisting local
municipalities with technology related projects, conducting
numerous feasibility studies on community broadband
requirements, distance learning and many other applications.
Many projects involve fiber deployments to local schools that
capitalize on NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities
Program investments related to the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act
Those interested in an ARC grant are encouraged to work with
their designated Local Development District and the state ARC
office. Links to this information is available on the main ARC
website at www.arc.gov .
Questions regarding the Telecommunications and
Technology Program can also be directed to Mark DeFalco at
md efalco@arc.go v .
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
Federal Funding Program Information
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Connect America Fund (High-Cost) Program
(~$3.75 billion disbursed in 2014; capped at $4.5 billion/year)
Focus:
Subsidizes the cost of operating and extending infrastructure
(both fixed and mobile) to serve consumers and small
businesses in rural, high cost areas. Recipients of funding must
be designated an “eligible telecommunications carrier” by
the relevant state or, in cases where the state does not have
jurisdiction over a particular type of provider, the FCC.
Recent Actions:
In 2011, the Commission comprehensively reformed and
modernized the high-cost program to focus support on voice
and broadband capable networks. These reforms included
establishing an overall budget for the program, requiring
recipients to meet defined broadband performance standards,
and targeting funding to geographic areas that are not served
by unsubsidized competitors. Of the $4.5 billion annual budget,
the Commission allocated up to $1.8 billion to geographic areas
served by the larger telecommunications carriers (known as
Phase II of the Connect America Fund), up to $2 billion to those
areas served by the smaller carriers, $500 million to the Mobility
Fund, and at least $100 million for remote areas.
The FCC is currently working to implement Phase II of Connect
America. The Commission made the offer of Phase II support
to incumbent providers in April 2015, with those companies
required to accept or decline support offer by August 27,
2015. Ten telecommunications carriers accepted $1.5 billion in
annual support for rural broadband deployment. Most of the
ten carriers are major national carriers, and their acceptance
will infuse over $9 billion from the Connect America Fund
into rural broadband over the next six years. To the extent a
larger incumbent provider has declined to commit to specified
broadband deployment requirements in a given state,
Connect America Phase II will award funding through a future
competitive process. That auction will include remote areas of
the country.
The 2011 Order largely maintained existing support mechanisms
for the smaller carriers, but phased out some forms of legacy
high-cost support and limited support to $250/month/line.
In December 2014, the Commission adopted certain near-
term reforms for smaller rural carriers, who are required to
provide broadband to customers upon reasonable request.
The Commission is currently considering various proposals
for longer-term reforms for these smaller carriers, including a
voluntary path for the carriers to receive support calculated
using a cost model.
In April 2014, the Commission proposed rules for Phase II of
the Mobility Fund, which will provide up to $500 million each
year to provide ongoing support to deploy and maintain mobile
broadband and voice service in high-cost areas. The FCC is
studying the exact amount to be allocated for services on Tribal
lands in future years. As of the date of this publication, the
Commission has not yet adopted final rules for Phase II of the
Mobility Fund.
Broadband Benefits:
As of December 31, 2013, approximately 23 million Americans
lacked access to infrastructure capable of providing 10/1
Mbps fixed broadband. Phase I of the Connect America Fund
authorized nearly $440 million in funding to serve over 1.66
million previously unserved individuals in 45 states and Puerto
Rico. Phase I of the Mobility Fund is making available up to $300
million to address gaps in mobile coverage in rural areas, with
recipients extending mobile service to up to 83,000 road miles in
31 states and 1 territory. Phase II of the Connect America Fund
aims to bring broadband service to the Americans living in rural
areas lacking broadband through a combination of wireline,
fixed wireless and satellite technologies.
Additional Information:
General Information about the Connect America Fund:
http ://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/connecting-amer ica
E-Rate (Schools and Libraries) Program
(Annual cap is $3.9 billion, cap adjusted annually for inflation)
Focus:
Provides discounts of up to 90 percent for broadband to and
within elementary and secondary schools (public and private)
and public libraries in rural and non-rural areas. Funding is
provided through an annual application process; schools,
libraries and consortia of schools and libraries apply for funding.
A discount increase of up to 10 percentage points is available
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 9
Federal Funding Program Information
for schools and libraries in rural areas depending on the poverty
level of the applicant. The Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) administers the program on behalf of the FCC.
Recent Actions:
In 2014 the Commission adopted two orders modernizing the
E-rate program. The First E-rate Modernization Order focused
on expanding funding for Wi-Fi networks, maximizing the cost-
effectiveness of spending, and streamlining and simplifying the
application process and overall program administration. The
Second E-rate Modernization Order raised the annual cap from
$2.4 billion to $3.9 billion, and provided additional construction
options for schools and libraries seeking to deploy high-speed
broadband to their buildings. For example, beginning in 2016,
schools and libraries can seek E-rate support to construct their
own networks, subject to specific requirements.
Broadband Benefits:
The program improvements adopted in the 2014 Orders will
make it possible for all eligible schools and libraries to purchase
high-speed connectivity to their premises and to deploy Wi-Fi
within their buildings.
Additional Information:
FCC e-Rate page: http://www.fcc.gov/e-rate-update
Universal Service Administrative Company:
http ://www.universalservice.o rg/sl/
Rural Health Care (RHC) Program
(~$193 million disbursed in 2014; capped at $400 million/year)
Focus:
Subsidizes connectivity for public and non-profit health care
providers, with a focus on rural areas. Funding provided
through an application process; eligible applicants can be
(1) post-secondary educational institutions offering health
care instruction, teaching hospitals, and medical schools; (2)
community health centers or health centers providing health
care to migrants; (3) local health departments or agencies; (4)
community mental health centers; (5) not-for-profit hospitals;
(6) rural health clinics; and (7) consortia of one or more of such
entities. Eligible Health Care Providers must be non-profit or
public. Supports recurring expenses as well as non-recurring
expenses associated with constructing, maintaining, and
upgrading broadband infrastructure. The Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC) administers the program on
behalf of the FCC.
Most Recent Action:
In 2012, the Commission reformed the Rural Health Care
Program, establishing the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) to
expand health care provider access to broadband, especially
in rural areas, encourage the creation of state and regional
broadband health care networks (consortia), and maximize
cost-effectiveness of the RHC Program. The Healthcare
Connect Program provides support for 65 percent of the cost
of broadband connectivity; eligible health care providers
must provide a 35 percent contribution. A consortium must be
composed of a majority of rural sites.
Broadband Benefits:
Since January 1, 2014, more than 4,773 individual applicants and
95 new consortia have been approved to receive HCF support.
Approximately 6,675 rural sites currently participate in the RHC
program, with roughly $171.3 million annually going to rural
sites.
Additional Information:
Healthcare Connect Fund Order: http://www.fcc.gov/document/
fcc-releases-healthcare-connect-order
General information about the RHC Program:
ht tp://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/rural-health -care
Universal Service Administrative Company Information:
http://www.universalservice.org/rhc/healthcare-connect/default.aspx
Additional Information
For additional information about the FCC’s programs that
support broadband deployment and adoption, please
contact Ryan B. Palmer, Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau,
Telecommunications Access Policy Division, at (202) 418-1442
or Ryan.Palmer@fcc.gov .
Federal Funding Program Information
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The Rural Utilities Services (RUS) is an Agency within the US
Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development (RD) mission
area. RUS includes three departments, all of which serve rural
Americans’ utility needs; these departments are water and
waste water, electric, and telecommunications. In the 1930s,
Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive order to create the Rural
Electrification Administration (REA) to bring electricity to rural
Americans. REA provided financing to local utility companies
and co-ops who then built and managed the infrastructure. In
the 1940s, REA’s authority was expanded to include loans for
telephone services. As technology evolved, so did the Telecom
Program, which began requiring all networks financed to be
broadband capable starting in 1995.
Currently, the Telecom Program offers two distinct loan
programs and one grant program for broadband infrastructure,
as well as one grant program for the purchasing of distance
learning and telemedicine equipment. Additionally, the Telecom
Program administered over $3.5 billion in financing through loan
and grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA) of 2009. That program is now closed, but progress on
build out of the funded projects is ongoing. The four programs
currently offered through the Telecom Program, as well as
special funding provisions for tribes, are detailed below.
The Telecommunications Infrastructure
Loan Program
The Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program, often
called just the Infrastructure Program, is the oldest of the
Telecom loans. This program is designed to provide financing for
new and improved telecommunications infrastructure in rural
communities of 5,000 or less, and can be used for construction,
expansion, and improvements, as well as acquisitions and
refinancing (with restrictions). Loan applications are accepted
year round for this program, and for the past several years
RUS has had $690 million available each fiscal year for this
program. This program contains hardship, cost-of-money, and
Federal Financing Bank (FFB) loans. Eligible entities include
most entities that provide telecommunications in qualified
rural areas, including state and local government entities,
federally recognized Tribes, non-profits (including cooperatives
and limited dividend or mutual associations), and for-profit
businesses (corporations and limited liability companies).
For more information on this program, visit our website at:
htt p://www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_infrastructure.ht ml
The Farm Bill Broadband Loan Program
The Farm Bill Broadband Loan Program, referred to as the
Farm Bill program because of its authorization in the Food and
Agricultural Act or “Farm Bill”, is the second loan program
offered through the RUS Telecommunications Program.
This program was created under the 2002 Farm Bill and
reauthorized under the 2008 and 2014 Farm Bills. It is designed
to provide loans for funding, on a technology neutral basis,
for the costs of construction, improvement and acquisition
of facilities and equipment to provide broadband service to
eligible rural communities. The program’s goal is to ensure
that rural consumers benefit from the same quality and range
of telecommunications services that are available in urban
and suburban communities. In general, the program reaches
consumers in rural areas, excluding suburbs, where households
are unserved or underserved. Networks built must meet a
certain minimum required broadband speed which is defined
by RUS. Eligible entities include most entities that provide
telecommunications in qualified rural areas, including state and
local government entities, federally recognized Tribes, non-
profits (including cooperatives and limited dividend or mutual
associations) and for-profit businesses (corporations and limited
liability companies).
For more information on this program, visit our website at:
ht tp://www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_farmbill.ht ml
Substantially Underserved Trust Areas
(SUTA) Provisions
Both of the two Telecom Loan Programs—the Infrastructure
Program and the Farm Bill Program—have special provisions
for projects serving trust lands as laid out in the SUTA Final Rule
published in the Federal Register on June 13, 2012 and effective
July 13, 2012. These provisions allow the RUS Administrator
to provide special consideration—including but not limited
to lower interest rates and extended loan terms—to projects
serving tribal lands.
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Telecommunications Program,
U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Federal Funding Program Information
For information on what qualifies as a trust land, how to apply
for SUTA consideration, the benefits of the provisions, and
other questions, please visit the SUTA FAQ, the SUTA Fact
Sheet, and the SUTA Final rule at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/
initiatives/substantially-underserved-trust-area-suta
The Community-Oriented Connectivity
Grant Program
The Community Connect Grant Program is Telecom’s only
grant program for broadband infrastructure. It is a nationally-
competitive grant program for providing broadband service
to the most rural and economically challenged communities.
Grants are accepted during a grant application window,
usually sixty days long and announced in the winter. Eligible
areas for this program must contain a population of less than
20,000 and a broadband speed less than the speed defined in
the annual NOFA (Notice of Funds Availability). The maximum
grant amount under this program is $3 million, and grantees
must provide 15% matching funds. Additionally, grantees must
provide a community center that provides free internet access
to everyone in the service area for two years, and must provide
free broadband services to critical community facilities—such
as government buildings, fire stations, and libraries—in its
service territory for two years as well. Eligible applicants
include most state and local governments, federally recognized
tribes, non-profits, and for-profit corporations. In fiscal year
2015, the program had $10.4 million in appropriations.
For more information on this program, visit our website at:
ht tp://www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_commconnect .html
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT)
Grant Program
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine or DLT Grant Program
is the only Telecom program that does not fund infrastructure.
This program has a focus on using the unique capabilities of
telecommunications to connect rural areas to each other and to
the world, thus overcoming the effects of remoteness and low
population density. To this end, the program funds equipment
for the construction of networks for distance learning—
defined as curriculum delivered via telecommunications and
stresses the connection of students and teachers at remote
sites—and telemedicine—defined as the delivery of health
care from medical professionals at one site to patients at other
sites via telecommunications. Equipment for this program
can only be purchased if its primary purpose is for distance
learning or telemedicine. This is a competitive grant program
whose funding window is usually announced in the spring.
Eligible applicants include most entities that provide education
or health care through telecommunications, including most
State and local governmental entities, federally-recognized
Tribes, non-profits, for-profit businesses, and consortia of
eligible entities.
For more information on this program, visit our website at:
ht tp://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_D LT.html
General Field Representatives (GFRs)
For the most part, the Telecommunications Program is run
by national office staff in Washington, DC. However, each
State has a General Field Representative or GFR who is the
local expert on all Telecom programs. The GFR should be any
prospective applicant’s first point of contact for all questions
regarding any Telecom program.
The contact information for the GFRs for each State can
be found on our website at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/UTP_
TelecomGFRs.pdf .
National Office Staff can be contacted using information here:
http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/UTP_ContactStaff4Feb.pdf .
Federal Funding Program Information
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Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance
EDA’s mission is to lead the federal economic development
agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness,
preparing American regions for growth and success in the
worldwide economy. Given that broadband is an important
ingredient in economic development strategies, EDA funding
may be used to support broadband infrastructure projects
under EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance
competitive grant programs, within certain parameters.
EDA’s Public Works program helps distressed communities
revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure.
This program enables communities to attract new industry;
encourage business expansion; diversify local economies;
and generate or retain long-term, private-sector jobs and
investment through the acquisition or development of land
and infrastructure improvements needed for the successful
establishment or expansion of industrial or commercial
enterprises.
EDA’s Economic Adjustment Assistance program provides
a wide range of technical, planning, and public works and
infrastructure assistance in regions experiencing adverse
economic changes that may occur suddenly or over time. These
adverse economic impacts may result from a steep decline in
manufacturing employment following a plant closure, changing
trade patterns, catastrophic natural disaster, a military base
closure, or environmental changes and regulations.
Eligible applicants for either program must be a state, a
political subdivision of a state, district organization, Indian
tribe, institution of higher education, or a non-profit acting in
coordination with a political subdivision of a state. Also, in order
for a project to be eligible for EDA support under these programs , the
region needs to demonstrate that it is experiencing economic
distress, defined as:
an unemployment rate that is, for the most recent twenty-
four (24) month period of which data is available, at least one
(1) percent greater than the national average unemployment
rate; or
per capita income that is, for the most recent period for
which data is available, eighty (80) percent or less of the
national average per capita income; or
a “special need” (certain unemployment or economic
adjustment problems) as determined by EDA.
Proposals must be based on a locally developed Comprehensive
Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) or equivalent
document. Applicants also must demonstrate that the
investment will help the community grow or strengthen its
economy. Generally, the amount of the EDA investment may not
exceed fifty (50) percent of the total cost of the project.
Some examples of EDA support of broadband include:
In 2004, EDA awarded $6 million to Mid-Atlantic Broadband
Cooperative (MBC) to support an advanced open-access
fiber-optic network for Southern Virginia to facilitate the
growth and attraction of technology-related businesses and
industries to the region. EDA’s investment assisted in the $12
million construction of a 300-mile internet backbone for the
region.
In 2006 and 2009, EDA invested a total of $1.8 million in the
Sandia Science and Technology Park in Albuquerque, New
Mexico, to fund infrastructure improvements including new,
high-speed fiber optic lines that help the businesses located
there leverage advances in technology that have been
generated by nearby universities and federal labs.
In 2009, EDA invested $2.3 million to support a new fiber-
optic backbone in Virginia’s Eastern Shore with a grant to
the Eastern Shore of Virginia Broadband Authority. The
new lines provided more affordable high-speed broadband
access to support existing businesses and encourage
expansion. This investment consists of the construction of
approximately 66 miles of new fiber optic broadband lines
commencing at the NASA Wallops Island Flight Facility and
extending to Cape Charles, Virginia.
Economic Development Administration (EDA),
U.S. Department of Commerce
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Federal Funding Program Information
In 2010, EDA awarded $820,550 to the Standing Rock Sioux
Tribe in North Dakota to fund the acquisition of high speed
broadband and backhaul equipment. The project provided
fully provisional, mobile and fixed wireless broadband
service to the population of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Reservation. By providing voice and broadband services for
small and home-based businesses, educational institutions,
health care facilities and government, the project provided
an opportunity to build the tribe’s economy through business
development, while also building out infrastructure that
provides critical communication services to residents,
schools, government, healthcare facilities and public safety.
In 2012, EDA made a $2.1 million grant to San Leandro,
California, to support the construction of the conduit for
a fiber optic network in the City. A community broadband
project constructed 7.5 miles of conduit, which connected
to the City’s existing infrastructure. The new conduit will
make 21st Century broadband available to almost all of San
Leandro’s developable industrial land.
In 2014, EDA awarded approximately $700,000 to
OneCommunity in Cleveland, Ohio to help fund the
construction of a high-speed 100 gigabit fiber network
through Cleveland’s Health-Tech Corridor. This public-
private partnership is designed to provide Cleveland with
the advanced infrastructure it needs to drive innovation and
job creation.
Each of these investments contributed to significant job growth
and private investment for the region.
Planning and Local Technical Assistance
EDA also provides grants under its Planning and Local Technical
Assistance programs, which may be of interest to those
considering a broadband project.
Through the Planning program, EDA provides assistance to
eligible recipients to create regional economic development
plans in order to stimulate and guide the economic
development efforts of a community or region. To facilitate
a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS),
EDA provides Partnership Planning grants to the designated
planning organization (e.g., District Organization) serving
EDA-designated Economic Development Districts (EDDs)
throughout the Nation. These planning organizations are
typically recognized by the State in which they reside as multi-
jurisdictional councils of governments, regional commissions,
or planning and development centers. The two categories of the
Planning Assistance program are: (a) planning investments for
District Organizations, Indian Tribes and other eligible entities;
and (b) short-term planning investments to states, sub-state
planning regions and urban areas. Eligible activities under this
program include developing, maintaining, and implementing a
CEDS and related short-term planning activities.
The Local Technical Assistance program strengthens the
capacity of local or State organizations and institutions to
undertake and promote effective economic development
programs through projects such as feasibility studies, impact
analyses, disaster resiliency plans, and project planning. The
program helps analyze the feasibility of potential economic
development projects, such as an industrial park or a high-
technology business incubator. Feasibility studies are an
effective tool for determining whether the market will support a
particular activity or site. Because of these feasibility studies,
many communities have subsequently received funding under
EDA’s Public Works or Economic Development Assistance
programs, or other federal and state programs, to implement
those projects.
For both Planning and Technical Assistance awards, the
minimum EDA investment rate is 50 percent, and the maximum
allowable EDA investment rate generally may not exceed
80 percent.
Contact EDA staff
EDA has staff in its six regional offices that can provide
information about whether a project might be eligible, offer
application assistance, or connect communities with other
resources. Contact information by region is available at
h ttp://www.eda.gov/cont act/.
Additional Information
Current Funding Opportunities: http://www.eda.gov/funding-
opportunities/
EDA Investment Priorities: http://www.eda.gov/about/
investment-priorities.htm
CEDS Content Guidelines: http://www.eda.gov/ceds/
Public Works: http://www.eda.gov/pdf/about/Public-Works-
Program-1-Pager.pdf
Economic Adjustment Assistance: http://www.eda.gov/pdf/
about/Economic-Adjustment-Assistance-Program-1-Pager.pdf
Planning: http://www.eda.gov/pdf/about/Planning-Program-1-
Pager.pdf
Local Technical Assistance: http://www.eda.gov/pdf/about/Local-
TA-and-UC-Program-1-Pager.pdf
Federal Funding Program Information
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Community Development Block Grants and
Section 108 Loan Guarantees
The Community Development Block Grant Program
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program
provides a critical funding stream for local development efforts
and enables communities to leverage Federal funds to stimulate
private investment. The CDBG program’s primary objective is
to develop viable urban and rural communities, by providing
decent housing, providing a suitable living environment, and
expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons
of low- and moderate-income. Authorized by Title I of the
Housing and Community Development (HCD) Act of 1974,
CDBG provides grants to units of general local government
and states to create locally driven solutions to community and
economic development challenges. CDBG activities are initiated
and developed at the local level based upon a community’s
perceptions of its local needs, priorities, and benefits to
the community.
For Fiscal Year 2015, the CDBG program received $3 billion in
funding. Eligible CDBG grant recipients include states, units of
general local government (cities, counties, towns, townships,
parishes, villages), and the Insular Areas. By law, 70% of the
funds are provided to larger metropolitan governments under
the Entitlement CDBG program; 30% of the funds are awarded
to states for areas that do not qualify for Entitlement program
funding. The four U.S. Insular Areas receive a total of $7 million
from the annual appropriation.
The Entitlement CDBG program provides annual, formula-based
funding to over 1,200 metropolitan cities (principal cities of
metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), or cities with populations
of 50,000 or more) and urban counties (counties in metropolitan
areas with populations of 200,000 or more, excluding the
population within metropolitan cities). Each entitlement
community receiving CDBG funds determines the activities it
chooses to fund with its annual allocations, and describes those
activities in its annual Action Plan submission to HUD.
For other areas that do not qualify for Entitlement program
funding, HUD awards annual, formula based grants under the
State CDBG program to 49 states plus Puerto Rico. States then
distribute the funds to local governments for activities to be
carried out at the local level. States are given broad flexibility
to design and administer their own programs, within statutory
and regulatory parameters. The State of Hawaii permanently
elected not to administer the State CDBG program, and, as
a result, HUD awards CDBG funds directly to the three non-
entitlement units of government in Hawaii.
CDBG recipients are able to choose from 28 different eligible
activities, with the major categories being public facilities
and improvements, public services, economic development,
acquisition/clearance, housing, and general administration and
planning. In addition to being eligible, all CDBG-funded activities
(other than general administration and planning) must also meet
one of three statutorily-established national objectives:
1. Benefit low- and moderate-income persons;
2. Prevent or eliminate slums or blighting conditions; or
3. Address other urgent needs affecting community health
and safety.
The primary national objective of the CDBG program is to
benefit low- and moderate-income persons. By law, at least
70 percent of all CDBG funds expended by each Entitlement
grantee, state or Insular Area, during a period of up to 3 years
established by the grantee, must go toward activities that
principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons.
Broadband infrastructure development may be eligible in the
CDBG program as a public facility or improvement, as a private
utility, or as a public service, depending on the nature and
design of the project. Grants or loans to for-profit businesses to
support job creation or retention, including businesses involved
in broadband deployment or other technologies, are eligible as
economic development activities.
Broadband investments are most likely to meet the low- and
moderate-income benefit national objective, either by serving
all the residents of a primarily residential area in which at
least 51% of the residents are low- and moderate-income, or
by creating or retaining jobs of which at least 51% are held by
or made available to low- and moderate-income persons. (In
the CDBG program, low- and moderate-income is defined as
80% of the area median income, as adjusted for family size.)
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Federal Funding Program Information
Projects serving the residents of specific units of government
or individual neighborhoods therein are generally more able
to meet the low- and moderate-income benefit national
objective criteria than are large-scale projects serving an entire
metropolitan area or region of a state. It is generally difficult for
a broadband telecommunications project to meet the national
objective criteria for elimination of slum or blight or addressing
an urgent need.
The Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program
Section 108 is the loan guarantee component of the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Section 108
provides communities with a source of financing for economic
development, housing rehabilitation, public facilities, and large-
scale physical development projects. This flexibility makes
it one of the most potent and important public investment
tools that HUD offers to local governments. The Section
108 loan guarantee program allows local governments to
transform a small portion of their CDBG funds into federally
guaranteed loans large enough to pursue physical and
economic revitalization projects capable of renewing entire
neighborhoods. Such public investment is often needed to
inspire private economic activity, providing the initial resources
or simply the confidence that private firms and individuals may
need to invest in distressed areas.
States and units of general local government eligible to receive
CDBG funds, and certain public entities designated by them,
are eligible to apply for Section 108 loan guarantees. Eligible
uses of funding include most activities eligible under the CDBG
program. For purposes of determining eligibility, the CDBG rules
and requirements also apply. All projects and activities must
principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons, aid in
the elimination or prevention of slums and blight, or meet urgent
needs of the community.
An entitlement public entity (and nonentitlement counties in
Hawaii) may apply for up to five times the public entity’s latest
approved CDBG entitlement amount, minus any outstanding
Section 108 commitments and/or principal balances of Section
108 loans. A state or nonentitlement public entity may apply
for up to five times the latest approved CDBG amount received
by its state, minus any outstanding Section 108 commitments
and/or principal balances on Section 108 loans for which the
state has pledged its CDBG funds as security. The maximum
repayment period for a Section 108 loan is twenty years. HUD
has the ability to structure the principal amortization to match
the needs of the project and borrower.
The principal security for the loan guarantee is a pledge
by the applicant public entity or the state (in the case of a
nonentitlement public entity) of its current and future CDBG
funds. Additional security will also be required to properly
collateralize the guaranteed obligations. The additional security
requirements will be determined on a case-by-case basis,
depending on the nature of the Section 108 loan and the project
financed. Section 108 obligations are permanently financed
through periodic underwritten public offerings. Financing
between public offerings is provided through an interim lending
facility established by HUD.
For Fiscal Year 2015, the Section 108 Loan Guarantee
program received $500 million in loan guarantee authority.
For Fiscal Year 2015, the Section 108 program will begin to
collect fees from borrowers to offset the costs of Section 108
loan guarantees. The fee in the first year is estimated to be
approximately 2.42% of the principal amount of the loan, which
borrowers can pay upfront in the guaranteed loan amount, with
CDBG funds, or with guaranteed loan proceeds.
For Further Information
For more information on the CDBG and Section 108 programs,
visit HUD’s website at: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/
program_offices/comm_planning/communitydevelopment/programs
For a list of all CDBG recipients and their Fiscal Year 2015 award
amounts, go to: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_
offices/comm_planning/about/budget/budget15
Staff in HUD’s network of field offices work with local
communities to assist communities in implementing their CDBG
and Section 108 funding. For a list of HUD field office contacts,
go to: https://www.hudexchange.info/manage-a-program/cpd-field-
office-directory/
Funds for Public Housing Authorities
The Public Housing Capital Fund can be used to open a
Neighborhood Networks (NN) computer lab. Equipment,
Internet connectivity, space renovation/remodeling, staff
salary, and insurance costs can be paid for using Capital Funds
for the first year of the center’s operation. Subsequently, PHAs
can use their Operating Funds for the continued operation of
the NN center. However, any equipment upgrades over the life
of the NN center would come from the Capital Fund. Similarly,
PHAs can use their Capital Funds to purchase routers for
individual units. However, neither Capital Funds nor Operating
Funds can be used to pay for residents’ in-unit Internet access.
Federal Funding Program Information
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 17 16 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Please see below for a comprehensive list of activities that may
be paid for out of each fund.
Capital Fund may be used for the establishment and initial
operation of a Neighborhood Networks computer center for
such things as:
Computer equipment (Capital Fund management
improvement or Operating Fund)
Equipment upgrades (over the life of the center from Capital
Fund management improvement or Operating Fund)
Space renovations (could be initial Capital Fund and later
Capital Fund modernization expense)
Internet connection and utilities (for initial operation of
NN center)
Staff salary (for initial operation of NN center)
Insurance (for initial operation of NN center)
Routers for individual units (not Internet connectivity)
– initial CF expense, ongoing maintenance costs from
Operating Fund. Installation of in-unit routers may not
be targeted for a specific tenant or category of tenants,
but must be provided uniformly across one or more
developments.
Statutory Authority: Capital Funds may be used for the initial
operation of a Neighborhood Networks center per Section
9 (d) Capital Fund (of the 1937 Housing Act as amended) —
subparagraph (1)(E). The statute can be found by going here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/USCODE-2010-title42/USCODE-
2010-title42-chap8-subchapI-sec1437g/content-detail.html
Capital Fund Rule References:
Federal Register Notice — New Capital Fund Rule: https://
www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/10/24/2013-23230/public-
housing-capital-fund-program
New Capital Fund Rule, Overview Training: http://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=CWpULWyDx9E
Operating Fund must be used for the ongoing costs of operating
computer centers in public housing
Ongoing Internet connection fees and utilities
Staff salary
Insurance
Ongoing maintenance of in-unit routers
Other activities related to the computer center (e.g., training
programs) would be an Operating Fund expense
Statutory Authority: Costs associated with the ongoing
operation of a Neighborhood Networks/computer lab are
specifically cited in the HUD statute as follows:
Section 9 (e) Operating Fund (of the 1937 Housing Act
as amended) — subparagraph (1)(K): the costs of
operating computer centers in public housing through
a Neighborhood Networks initiative described in
subsection (d)(1)(E) of this section.
The statute can be found here: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/
granule/USCODE-2010-title42/USCODE-2010-title42-chap8-
subchapI-sec1437g/content-detail.html
Multifamily Housing
To utilize HUD funding for a Neighborhood Networks center,
talk with a HUD Account Executive in a Multifamily regional or
satellite office. (See http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/states .)
Multifamily Neighborhood Networks centers rely primarily
on local support. The Initiative encourages partnership
development, business opportunities, and other income-
generating activities. To help support and sustain a center, HUD
funding can be obtained from one or more of the following:
Residual Receipts account. Residual Receipts accounts are
found in properties owned by nonprofit and limited dividend
owners. Funds from the Residual Receipts account may be
used to fund a center to the extent that HUD determines
that these funds are not required to maintain the habitability
of units or to meet other building needs or to off-set the
Housing Assistance Payments contract. To the extent that
Residual Receipts are available at a new regulation project,
owners are allowed an initial reserve (“Retained Balance”)
in an amount equivalent to $250 per unit to use for project
purposes. Please refer to: Notice 2012-14 (http://portal.hud.gov/
hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=12-14hsgn.pdf ) and Chapter 25
of the Multifamily Asset Management and Project Servicing
Handbook 4350.1 (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/
huddoc?id=DOC_35309.pdf )
Owner’s Equity. The owner of a limited distribution property
can increase the amount of the initial equity investment
(and, in turn, the yield on distribution) by investing non-
repayable funds in the center. A rent increase, however, will
not be approved to provide for additional yield.
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 17
Federal Funding Program Information
Other Multifamily funding options include:
Funds borrowed from the Reserve for Replacement
Account . Funds from the Reserve for Replacement Account
may be used to fund a center as long as HUD determines
that these funds are not required to meet anticipated
repair and replacement needs. If this source of funding
is used, a scheduled repayment plan that illustrates how
the Reserve for Replacement Account will be replenished
must be submitted. Please see Chapter 4 of the HUD
Multifamily Asset Management and Project Servicing
Handbook 4350.1 (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/
huddoc?id=DOC_3 5335.pd f )
Rent increase. The owner of a property where rents are
set under the budgeted rent increase process may request
an increase to cover center costs. These increases may
be approved at HUD’s discretion. For properties with
Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability
Act (MAHRA) contracts, there may be limitations on
HUD’s ability to raise rents. Please go to Chapter 7 of the
Multifamily Asset Management and Project Servicing
Handbook 4350.1: (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/
huddoc?id=DOC_25304.pdf )
Requesting a special rent adjustment. Properties with
rents that are set using the annual adjustment factor may
request a special adjustment rent increase to cover costs of
a Neighborhood Networks center. These increases may be
approved at HUD’s discretion and are subject to guidance
in the Multifamily Asset Management and Project Servicing
Handbook, 4350.1, Chapter 34 (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/
documents/huddoc?id=DOC_35329.pdf ).
Excess income. For properties that generate excess
income, HUD Notice 01-07 (Guidelines For Calculating
and Retaining Section 236 Excess Income) authorizes the
retention of excess income to help develop a Neighborhood
Networks center. (http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/
notices/hsg/files/01-07h.doc ).
Office of Native American Programs (ONAP)
The three ONAP programs listed below could potentially be
used to fund broadband projects.
Indian Community Development Block Grant
(ICDBG)
Awarded under an annual competition, ICDBG provides funds
to eligible grantees for housing rehabilitation, land acquisition,
community facilities, infrastructure construction, and economic
development activities that benefit primarily low and moderate
income persons. Eligible applicants for assistance include
any Indian tribe, band, group, or nation (including Alaska
Indians, Aleut, and Eskimos) or Alaska Native village which
has established a relationship to the Federal government as
defined in the program regulations. In certain instances, tribal
organizations may be eligible to apply.
Congress sets aside certain amounts of each year’s
appropriation for noncompetitive, first come-first served
funding of grants to eliminate or lessen problems which pose an
imminent threat to public health or safety. See: http://portal.hud.
gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/ih/
grants/icdbg .
Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG)
Established by the Native American Housing Assistance and
Self Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA – see http://portal.
hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/
ih/codetalk/nahasda ), the IHBG program is a formula based grant
program provided to Federally recognized Indian tribes or their
tribally designated housing entity (TDHE), and a limited number
of state recognized tribes who were funded under the Indian
Housing Program authorized by the United States Housing
Act of 1937. The grant amount received is determined annually
based upon the tribe’s current assisted housing stock and the
need for additional low-income housing, as determined by
population. Eligible activities include housing development,
assistance to housing developed under the Indian Housing
Program, housing services to eligible families and individuals,
crime prevention and safety, and model activities that provide
creative approaches to solving affordable housing problems.
See: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_
indian_housing/ih/grants/ihbg .
Federal Funding Program Information
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Title VI Loan Guarantee Program
Also authorized under NAHASDA, the Title VI Loan Guarantee
Program assists IHBG recipients (borrower) who want to
finance eligible affordable housing activities, but are unable to
secure financing without the assistance of a federal guarantee.
Borrowers pledge future IHBG grant funds as security for
repayment of the loan obligation to a private lender or investor
who then provides lump sum project financing. HUD provides
a guarantee to the lender or investor to repay all or a portion of
the unpaid principal balance and accrued interest if a borrower
fails to repay the debt and a default is declared. See: http://portal.
hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/
ih/homeownership/titlevi .
Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG)
NAHASDA was amended in 2000 to add a program similar
to NAHASDA for Native Hawaiians who reside on Hawaiian
Home Lands to the IHBG. See: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/
HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/ih/codetalk/onap/
nhhbgprogram .
Examples of broadband projects in tribal communities using
ONAP funding sources
The Coquille Tribe of Oregon received a 2005 ICDBG grant of
$421,354 for broadband technology and infrastructure. Created
in 2002, Orca Communications (see http://www.orcacom m.co m/)
is an Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
company whose over 40 miles of fiber optics in Coos Bay and
North Bend, Oregon are dedicated to bringing competitive
high-speed broadband services to Oregon’s south coast. ORCA
Communications is the trade name of Tribal One Broadband
Technologies, LLC, which is an SBA-certified 8(a) ICT company
that can apply its diverse technological experience to create
innovative broadband solutions anywhere in the United States.
Choice Neighborhoods
Choice Neighborhoods is HUD’s signature place-based initiative
and is a central element of the White House’s Promise Zones
Initiative, which builds on a federal partnership to transform
high poverty neighborhoods into places of opportunity and
economic growth. Choice Neighborhoods enables communities
to revitalize struggling neighborhoods with distressed public
housing or HUD-assisted housing. Local leaders, residents, and
stakeholders, such as public housing authorities, cities, schools,
police, business owners, nonprofits, and private developers,
create a plan that revitalizes distressed HUD housing and
addresses the challenges in the surrounding neighborhood.
Through these grants, communities are replacing obsolete,
distressed housing with vibrant mixed-income communities,
leveraging investments to develop new retail and businesses,
turning around failing schools, strengthening early education,
preventing crime, improving transportation, ensuring basic
neighborhood assets, and increasing access to jobs.
Choice Neighborhoods offers Planning Grants and
Implementation Grants.
1. Planning Grants assist communities in developing a
successful neighborhood transformation plan and building
support necessary for that plan to be successfully
implemented.
2. Implementation Grants support those communities that have
undergone a comprehensive local planning process and are
ready to implement their “Transformation Plan” to redevelop
the neighborhood.
In the 2014 Implementation Grant Notice of Funding Availability,
eligible applicants for Choice Neighborhoods grants are Public
Housing Authorities (PHAs), tribal entities, local governments,
for-profit entities, nonprofit entities and tribal entities.
For a nonprofit to demonstrate eligibility as a Lead or Co-
Applicant, either an Internal Revenue Service determination
letter indicating the organization’s 501(c) status or the letter
from the state government designating the organization’s
nonprofit status must be submitted in the attachments. Choice
Neighborhoods has been funded since 2010, and it was funded
at $80 million in Fiscal Year 2015.
As part of this neighborhood revitalization, Choice
Neighborhoods strongly encourages grantees to increase
broadband connectivity. Grantees are required to build the
infrastructure to support broadband internet in all new units.
Grantees can also use their funds to install broadband in these
units and establish neighborhood broadband programs. To learn
more about Choice Neighborhoods, visit www.hud.gov/cn .
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 19
Federal Funding Program Information
Employment and Training Administration,
U.S. Department of Labor
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) within the
U.S. Department of Labor administers and oversees a number
of programs designed to assist youth, adults and dislocated
workers who are unemployed, underemployed, low-skilled, or
economically disadvantaged to obtain career services and job
training needed to enter or progress in the labor market. These
programs are also designed to ensure that American business
has the skilled workforce needed to compete in the 21st
century economy.
ETA fulfills a wide range of leadership and administrative
responsibilities relating to employment services, job training,
and unemployment insurance. ETA funds a number of
employment and training programs (through annual allocation
formula and periodic discretionary grant competitions) which
enable workers to attain the skills needed for employment,
and administers a Federal-State employment service system
which helps people find jobs and employers find workers. The
agency also offers wage replacement programs for workers
who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, such as
the Unemployment Insurance (UI) and the Trade Adjustment
Assistance (TAA) programs.
Special efforts are also made to address the unique job market
problems of groups having difficulty entering or returning
to the work force, such as transitioning service members,
older workers, out-of-school youth, displaced homemakers
and individuals with disabilities. ETA also is responsible
for promoting apprenticeship standards and programs and
conducting programs of research, development and evaluation.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed
into law on July 22, 2014, represents the first legislative reform
of the public workforce system in 15 years. The law supersedes
the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and amends the Adult
Education and Family Literacy Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
WIOA presents a significant opportunity to improve job and
career options for our nation’s workers and jobseekers through
an integrated, job-driven public workforce system that links
diverse talent to businesses. In its drafting of the new law,
Congress reaffirmed the role of the American Job Center (AJC)
system, a cornerstone of the public workforce investment
system, and brought together and enhanced several key
employment, education, and training programs. In recent years
over 16 million people annually turn to these programs to obtain
good jobs and a pathway to the middle class. The services are
provided to jobseekers and employers through a network of
nearly 2,500 American Job Centers. America’s Service Locator
offers a profile of each of these Centers, describing location,
hours of operation, and services provided.
WIOA reinforces the partnerships and strategies necessary for
the Centers to provide job seekers and workers with the high-
quality career services, education and training, and supportive
services they need to get good jobs and stay employed, and to
help businesses find skilled workers and access other supports,
including education and training for their current workforce.
The new law became effective on July 1, 2015. The
Departments of Labor and Education have drafted five Notices
of Proposed Rulemaking which will govern WIOA. These were
published in the Federal Register in April 2015. Based on the
comments received, the Departments anticipate publication
of the final regulations in January 2016. In advance of the final
regulations, the Departments will be publishing operational
guidance to assist the State and local governments in
implementing various aspects of the new law.
Use of Technology and Broadband
The American Job Centers rely on technology to ensure that
the customers and patrons of the “resource rooms” have
access to the Internet for quality workforce information,
resume preparation, job search, and exploration of careers. As
their funding permits, some Centers have installed broadband
connections to accelerate and expedite these processes.
For many low-income customers who cannot afford Internet
access, these Centers — along with public libraries in the
community — have become a destination for navigating and
discovering opportunities in the local labor market.
Broadband can be both an asset and beneficiary under
ETA’s investments. For example, ETA’s discretionary grant
Federal Funding Program Information
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competitions have recognized that various industries are being
transformed by technology and innovation, requiring new
skill sets for workers. Several of the agency’s solicitations in
recent years have noted: “Fields like information technology,
advanced manufacturing, wireless and broadband deployment ,
transportation and warehousing, and biotechnology may
be high growth and emerging industries in specific regional
economies, offering jobs and solid career paths left vacant due
to a lack of qualified workers.” If a consortium of applicants,
for example, seeks funding for training at risk-youth under
a discretionary grant competition, it may propose to use
broadband as a tool to meet the purposes of the training and
education component of that program. Broadband and distance
learning have both supply and demand implication in America’s
labor market — they can support preparation of a new
generation of workers, retraining of current workers, and the
expanding requirement to meet the needs of employers in the
information technology sector.
The Department recognizes the importance of broadband and
information technology as regions of the country are impacted
by declining employment in particular industries. In Eastern
Kentucky, for example, Bit Source has an initial mission to
recruit dislocated former coal industry workers, retrain them
as computer coders, and put them to work in coding jobs.
Once successfully trained as junior coders, these workers will
then work full-time at Bit Source doing coding work that the
company secures under contracts with outside clients. Bit
Source reflects the principles of the Administration’s TechHire
initiative — it is an example of the type of innovation that can
occur through the strength of public-private partnerships
and calculated risk taking. A group of private investors have
invested in the development of the company and Department
of Labor resources are helping to pay for the worker/trainee
wages and training costs — united in a strategy of “insourcing”
IT jobs to rural America. These types of targeted investments
under “Coal to Coding” — and many others like them — will
both support and benefit broadband extension.
Contact ETA Staff
To meet the needs of both the jobseeker and business, the
public workforce system is a decentralized one built on
the partnerships and shared “best practices” of the major
principals at the local, regional, State and Federal levels. The
Employment and Training Administration has staff located in
its six regional offices (Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago,
Dallas, and San Francisco) that closely work with the State
and local jurisdictions in the implementation of WIOA as well
as manage the discretionary grant recipients. The regional
office staff can refer you to key personnel in the States and
local board level for discussions concerning the application and
leveraging of technology and broadband. The listing of contacts
may be found at http://www.doleta.gov/regions/regoffices/Pages/
eta_default.cfm?CFID=502760150&CFTOKEN=76540577
For More Information
ETA’s principal webpage for the public: www.doleta.gov/
ETA policy guidance / information notices for the workforce
system: http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/
WIOA resources (law, regulations, policy guidance,
technical assistance): www.doleta.gov/wioa
Description of ETA’s seven budget accounts: http://www.
doleta.gov/budget/acctstr2.cfm
ETA’s FY 2016 budget request: http://www.doleta.gov/
budget/16bud.cfm
ETA partnership with the Institute of Institute of Museum
and Library Services (IMLS): http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/
attach/TEN/ten2009/ten50-09acc.pdf
Available ETA funding opportunities: http://www.doleta.gov/
grants/find_grants.cfm . These solicitations can be reviewed for
references to infrastructure, technology and broadband.
Webinars and other content related to the National
Broadband Plan can be found at www.workforce3one.org and
www.doleta.gov/usworkforce .
State strategic plans and annual reports referencing
infrastructure, technology and broadband can be found
at http://www.doleta.gov/performance/results/AnnualReports/
annual_report.cfm
Note: Under the Workforce Investment Act (and now
under WIOA) States are obligated to report to ETA on an
annual basis on the various activities conducted under the
Federal funding. States often comment on initiatives or
projects in these reports which benefit from the application
of technology.
America’s Service Locator: www.servicelocator.org
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 21
Federal Funding Program Information
Office of Library Services
Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services, Office of Library
Services, offers a number of funding opportunities to local and
tribal governments that can be used to support technology
development and deployment, broadband adoption, and digital
literacy. See Notices of Funding Opportunity for deadlines.
Native American and Native Hawaiian
Library Services Grants
Native American Library Services Basic Grants
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=15
The Native American Library Services Basic Grant is
noncompetitive and distributed in equal amounts among eligible
applicants. Basic Grants are available to support existing
library operations and to maintain core library services. Indian
tribes, Alaska native villages, regional corporations, and village
corporations are eligible to apply for funding under the Native
American Library Services grant program. The Education/
Assessment Option is supplemental to the Basic Grants. It
is also noncompetitive and must be requested. The purpose
of the Education/Assessment Option is to provide funding
for library staff to attend continuing education courses and
training workshops on- or off-site, for library staff to attend or
give presentations at conferences related to library services,
and/or to hire a consultant for an on-site professional library
assessment. The estimated Basic Grant one-year award for
FY 2015 is $6,000. The estimated Basic Grant with Education/
Assessment Option award amount is $7,000, which includes the
$6,000 Basic Grant and the supplemental amount of $1,000 for
eligible education and assessment activities.
Native American Library Services
Enhancement Grants
https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/native-american-library-services-
enhancement-grants
The Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants
are competitive and available to support activities that advance
the operations of eligible Native American libraries to new
levels of service. Indian tribes, Alaska native villages, regional
corporations, and village corporations are eligible to apply
for funding under the Native American Library Services grant
program. Enhancement Grant awards are up to $150,000,
subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion.
Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants
https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/native-hawaiian-library-services
The Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants are competitive
grants available to support activities that enhance existing
library services or implement new library services. Grants are
available to nonprofit organizations that primarily serve and
represent Native Hawaiians. Grant awards are anticipated
to be up to $150,000, subject to the availability of funds and
IMLS discretion.
What types of activities can be funded by these
three programs?
Native American Library Services Basic and Enhancement
Grant, and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grant projects
may enhance existing library services or implement new library
services, particularly as they relate to the following goals in the
updated Museum and Libraries Services Act (20 U.S.C. §9141):
1. Expanding services for learning and access to information
and educational resources in a variety of formats, in all
types of libraries, for individuals of all ages in order to
support such individuals’ needs for education, lifelong
learning, workforce development, and digital literacy skills
2. Establishing or enhancing electronic and other linkages
and improved coordination among and between libraries
and entities, as described in 20 U.S.C. §9134(b)(6), for the
purpose of improving the quality of and access to library and
information services
3. (A) Providing training and professional development,
including continuing education, to enhance the skills of the
current library workforce and leadership, and advance the
delivery of library and information services, and
(B) Enhancing efforts to recruit future professionals to the
field of library and information services
Federal Funding Program Information
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4. Developing public and private partnerships with other
agencies and community-based organizations
5. Targeting library services to individuals of diverse
geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to
individuals with disabilities, and to individuals with limited
functional literacy or information skills
6. Targeting library and information services to persons having
difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and
rural communities, including children (from birth through
age 17) from families with incomes below the poverty line
(as defined by the Office of Management and Budget and
revised annually in accordance with section 9902(2) of title
42) applicable to a family of the size involved
7. Developing library services that provide all users access
to information through local, state, regional, national, and
international collaborations and networks
8. Carrying out other activities consistent with the purposes of
the Library Services and Technology subchapter of the IMLS
statute (20 U.S.C. §9121).
Other Programs
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=9
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program supports
professional development, graduate education and continuing
education to help libraries and archives develop the human
capital capacity they need to meet the changing learning
and information needs of the American public. Libraries that
fulfill the general criteria for libraries (see http://www.imls.
gov/applicants/libraries.aspx ) may apply. See Notice of Funding
Opportunity for special conditions of eligibility for this program.
The funding categories are: 1) Project Grants; 2) Research
Grants; 3) Planning Grants: up to $50,000; and 4) National Forum
Grants: up to $100,000. Project and research awards are from
$50,000 to $500,000, subject to the availability of funds and
IMLS discretion.
There are six project categories: 1) Continuing Education;
2) Programs to Build Institutional Capacity (Only eligible
graduate programs in Library and Information Science or
School Library Media may apply to this category); 3) Doctoral
Programs; 4) Master’s Programs; 5) Research; and 6) Early
Career Development.
IMLS encourages internships and residency programs and is
especially interested in increasing diversity in professional
employment in libraries and archives.
National Leadership Grants for Libraries
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=14
National Leadership Grants for Libraries support projects that
address challenges faced by the library and archive fields and
that have the potential to advance practice in those fields.
Successful proposals will generate results such as new tools,
research findings, models, services, practices, or alliances that
can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend
the benefits of federal investment. Libraries that fulfill the
general criteria for libraries (see http://www.imls.gov/applicants/
librari es.as px ) may apply. See Notice of Funding Opportunity for
special conditions of eligibility for this program.
The funding categories are: 1) Project Grants; 2) Research
Grants; 3) Planning Grants: up to $50,000; and 4) National Forum
Grants: up to $100,000. Project and research awards are from
$10,000-$2,000,000, subject to the availability of funds and
IMLS discretion.
The two project categories/funding priorities: 1) National digital
platform; and 2) Learning spaces in libraries.
What types of activities can be funded under National
Digital Platform?
IMLS is interested in proposals that will support a national
digital platform, providing expanded and improved digital
content and services to all users in the United States. Libraries
have made important advancements in this area over the past
20 years, but much of that work was experimental or isolated.
IMLS wants to bridge gaps between disparate pieces of the
existing digital library infrastructure, for increased efficiencies,
cost-savings, access and services.
What types of activities can be funded under Learning Spaces
in Libraries?
IMLS is interested in work that builds institutional capacity,
engages community and encourages partnerships to support
all types of learning and inquiry, including participatory and
hands-on learning, in libraries. Since IMLS cannot fund the
development and installation of learning spaces, proposals
should focus on how to support and enhance libraries’ ability to
make their own decisions and investments.
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 23
Federal Funding Program Information
Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=19
Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries are a special funding
opportunity within the IMLS National Leadership Grants for
Libraries program. These small grants encourage libraries and
archives to prototype and evaluate specific innovations in the
ways they operate and the services they provide, resulting
in new tools, products, services, or organizational practices.
Applicants may propose activities or approaches that involve
risk, but the project results — be they success, failure, or a
combination thereof — must offer valuable information to
the library or archives fields, promise an impact beyond the
applicant’s institution and provide the potential for improvement
in the ways libraries and archives serve their communities.
Grantees are required to submit a short white paper, which will
be publicly posted and shared.
Libraries that fulfill the general criteria for libraries (see
htt p://www.imls.gov/applicants/librarie s.aspx ) may apply. See Notice
of Funding Opportunity for special conditions of eligibility for
this program.
The characteristics of successful Sparks Grants projects are: 1)
Broad Impact; 2) In-depth Knowledge; 3) Innovative Approach;
and 4) Shared Results.
Sparks Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000, subject to the
availability of funds and IMLS discretion.
There are no specific project categories within the Sparks
Grants program. Examples of activities that may be funded by
this program are listed on the IMLS website at http://www.imls.
gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=19 .
CONTACT US
NTIA’s BroadbandUSA initiative is dedicated to helping communities achieve their broadband missions. NTIA will assist
communities in working with the agencies to determine if funding is available. If you have additional questions about the
information contained in this guide, please contact us at broadbandusa@ntia.doc.gov or 202-482-2048.
ABOUT NTIA
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is the Executive Branch agency principally responsible
for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely
on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users and ensuring that
the Internet remains an engine for continued innovation and economic growth.
SEPTEMBER 2015
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
1401 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20230
W: www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandusa
E: broadbandusa@ntia.doc.gov
T: @NTIAgov
REFERENCE:
Contract No. 10463
(CCS)