SEPTEMBER 2015

BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal 

Funding of Broadband Projects 
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 BroadbandUSA? 

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-memorandumexpanding-broadbanddeployment-and-adoption-addr.
2 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

FEDERAL PROGRAMS

The following agencies have programs that may fund projects involving broadband infrastructure, adoption, 

access, planning, or research.

Infrastructure DeploymentAdoption and Digital LiteracyPublic Computer AccessPlanningResearchOther

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

Infrastructure DeploymentAdoption and Digital LiteracyPublic Computer AccessPlanningResearchOther

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
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, www.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

6 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

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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 multicounty 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. Fortytwo 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 

mdefalco@arc.gov.

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
Federal Funding Program Information

8 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

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 nearterm 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-america

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 costeffectiveness 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.org/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: 

http://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

10 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

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: 

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_infrastructure.html

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, nonprofits (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: 

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_farmbill.html

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
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 11

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 nationallycompetitive 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: 

http://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: 

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLT.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

12 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

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 twentyfour (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 fiberoptic 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
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 13

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 publicprivate 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 multijurisdictional 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 hightechnology 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 

http://www.eda.gov/contact/. 

Additional Information

 Current Funding Opportunities: http://www.eda.gov/fundingopportunities/

 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-WorksProgram-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/LocalTA-and-UC-Program-1-Pager.pdf
Federal Funding Program Information

14 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

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 nonentitlement 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.) 
BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects | September 2015 | 15

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 largescale 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-fieldoffice-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

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/USCODE2010-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/publichousing-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 incomegenerating 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 nonrepayable 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_35335.pdf)

 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

18 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

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.orcacomm.com/) 

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 CoApplicant, 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 highquality 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

20 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

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-servicesenhancement-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

22 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

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/

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 

$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 

http://www.imls.gov/applicants/libraries.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