In yesterday's Federal Register, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published
details for the 2014 Community Connect Grant Program. Applications are due
July 7, 2014. There is a total of $13 million in grant funding available.
Application guides and materials are available at
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_commconnect.html. Some WISPs have obtained
Community Connect Grant funding in the past to support efforts to provide
broadband service to rural and unserved areas, so this may be a useful
program for some members.
Below is an overview of the program requirements. This is not exhaustive,
so interested parties should rely on the RUS rules and materials and/or
consult with experts.
Grant Amounts - The minimum grant amount is $100,000 and the maximum grant
amount is $3 million. Applicants must propose a matching contribution of
15% of the proposed grant in cash (i.e., no like-kind contributions).
Eligibility - Corporations and limited liability companies can apply;
individuals are not eligible.
Proposed Funded Service Areas (PFSA) - Applicants can define their PFSAs by
using the RUS mapping tool. Eligible areas cannot have broadband service of
3 Mbps (download plus upload) and must propose to offer service of at least
5 Mbps (download plus upload) to all businesses and residences in the PFSA
(an example would be 4 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up). Applicants must also
provide a community center with at least two computer access points and
wireless access free of charge for at least two years.
Application Requirements - Applications must include the following: (1) an
executive summary, (2) scoring criteria documentation, (3) system design,
including design studies, technical specifications and system capabilities,
(3) map of the PFSA, (4) scope of work, (5) community-oriented connectivity
plan, (6) financial information and narrative description of sustainability,
(7) statement of experience, (8) evidence of legal authority, and (9) any
additional funding sources.
Eligible Grant Purposes - Eligible grant purposes include (1) construction,
acquisition or leasing of facilities, including spectrum, land or buildings
to deploy service at the 5 Mbps broadband speed, (2) improvement, expansion,
construction or acquisition of a community center, and (3) cost of
bandwidth. Funds cannot be used to finance the duplication of incumbent
broadband service or operating expenses other than the cost of bandwidth for
two years to provide service at the broadband speed to critical community
facilities.
Selection - RUS will use a point system to select from among applications.
The maximum points and a description of each category are as follows:
50 points - analysis of the challenges of the community of
the following criteria, and how the project proposes to address economic
characteristics, educational challenges, health care needs, public safety
issues and small area income and poverty estimates.
40 points - extent of the project's planning, development
and support by local residents, institutions and critical community
facilities
10 points - experience and past success in operating
broadband systems
It is recommended that interested WISPs begin the due diligence and
application preparation process soon given the level of detail and community
involvement that the application requires. WISPs who have participated in
the past, grant consultants, engineers and attorneys are available to assist
companies interested in filing applications for this program.
Stephen E. Coran
Lerman Senter, PLLC
2000 K Street, N.W., Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20006-1809
(202) 416-6744 - office
(202) 669-3288 -mobile
@stevecoran - twitter
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
<http://www.wispapalooza.net/> Join us at WISPAPALOOZA 2014 in Las Vegas,
Oct. 11th - 18th
Respectfully,
Rick Harnish
Executive Director
WISPA
260-622-5699 Cell
866-317-2851 Ext. 101 WISPA Office
260-622-5774 Direct Line
Skype: rick.harnish.
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> (Rick and Trina)
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