Grants and Funding

As the ConnectingALABAMA initiative moves forward and the regional ACTION teams begin to establish priorities it is important to identify and leverage all available funding sources for both demand-side and supply-side programs. For example, on the supply side, infrastructure development and service delivery efforts in rural areas may require non-commercial sources of funding such as government and foundation grants. Likewise, demand-side initiatives designed to advance health care, education, agricultural and other economic development opportunities may require non-traditional funding to support the design, launch and sustainability of each initiative. To help in this regard your ConnectingALABAMA team has developed a Stewardship program designed to ensure those people and organizations working on Alabama initiatives are well informed on all relevant grant/loan opportunities. Throughout 2010 there will be a number of Alabama-specific workshops (both in person and online) and supporting material made available to funding applicants.

The following information is provided relative to immediate federal, state and private funding options:

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) represents a unique opportunity to fund broadband deployment and adoption initiatives in that it has appropriated $7.2 billion and directed the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the U.S.. The ARRA’s goal is to increase jobs, spur investment in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits. (Note: see www.recovery.gov for a full explanation of the ARRA.)

Two new broadband programs were created as a result of the ARRA: the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

BIP will make loans and grants for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas. BTOP will provide grants and loans to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects. Both programs released an initial Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) in July, 2009 and are currently making awards under that NOFA. A second NOFA was released in January 2010 (see related information in the links below.

For information regarding the State’s ongoing support for BTOP and BIP applications please refer to the ARRA Support section of the site. Details on the requirements for the first round of BIP and BTOP funding can be found at the following locations:

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Broadband Initiatives Program and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. For details on the "Buy American" waiver for the NTIA broadband initiative please refer to the July 1 Federal Register notice.

RUS has posted a list of project summaries for the 33 first tranche BIP awards announced to date.

BTOP FAQ

USDA Community Connect Program
Overview: the Community-Oriented Connectivity Broadband Grant Program is designed to provide financial assistance to furnish broadband service in rural, economically challenged communities where such service does not currently exist. Grant funds may be utilized to deploy broadband transmission service to critical community facilities, rural residents, and rural businesses and to construct, acquire or expand, equip, and operate a community center that provides free access to broadband services to community residents for at least two years. Grants will be awarded, on a competitive basis, to entities serving communities of up to 20,000 inhabitants to ensure rural consumers enjoy the same quality and range of telecommunications service as are available in urban and suburban communities.

Through the Stewardship program, the ConnectingALABAMA team will continue to monitor these and other relevant funding options in their ongoing efforts to support the state and the regional ACTION teams in their efforts to secure grants and funds.