Florida Administrative Code › 73 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE › 73C - Division of Community Development › Chapter 73C-50 - BROADBAND OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM › Section 73C-50.003 - Application Requirements and Process

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1)
				This rule applies to Applicants seeking grant funding under the
				Program.
(2) The Program is a cost
				reimbursement program. Therefore, funding will be provided at regular intervals
				to grant recipients after expenses have been incurred to reimburse for those
				expenses. The period(s) when reimbursement may be requested and the methods to
				request reimbursement will be set forth in the grant agreement between the
				Office and awardee and follow all statutory requirements.
(3) Applicants eligible for grant awards from
				the Program are listed in Section
				 288.9962(3),
				F.S.
(4) To be considered for grant
				funding under the Program, Applicants must show community support from the
				local community within and near the project area and/or engagement with the
				county's Local Technology Planning Team when submitting a Broadband Opportunity
				Program Grant Application, which is incorporated by reference in Rule
				 73C-50.001, F.A.C., and
				available on the Office's website, www.floridajobs.org/broadband, to the Office
				within the noticed application window.
(5) Applications will be accepted for at
				least seven and no more than 45 days from the date the application window
				opens. The application window opening and closing dates will be noticed in the
				Florida Administrative Register and also announced on the Office's website,
				www.floridajobs.org/broadband, at least five days before the opening date of
				the application window. Within three business days of the application window
				closing date, the Office will post the list of submitted potential projects to
				begin the 45-day challenge window.
(6) Applications shall be submitted to the
				Office using the Broadband Opportunity Program Grant Application. Any and all
				confidential business information or proprietary information provided on the
				Broadband Opportunity Program Grant Application and/or supporting documentation
				provided along with the application must be identified upon submission and a
				redacted copy of the same material provided to the Office concurrent with when
				the claim of confidentiality or proprietary protection is asserted. Each
				individual portion of the redacted copy that the Applicant asserts as
				confidential must contain a citation to the specific law making the content of
				the redacted portion confidential.
(7) Applications must be received by the
				Office by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the closing date of the application
				window. Late applications may not be reviewed unless funding remains after all
				eligible applications have been funded. Whether or not a late application will
				be reviewed will be based on the total dollars requested by all Applicants from
				the Program for all eligible projects as compared to the total funding
				appropriated to the Office for the Program.
(8) Applications should be submitted through
				the portal on the Office's website, www.floridajobs.org/broadband. The Office
				will also accept applications submitted via mail or hand-delivery to the
				Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida Office of Broadband, 107 East
				Madison Street, Mail Station #160, Caldwell Building, Tallahassee, Florida
				32399-4128, or via e-mail to Broadband@deo.myflorida.com.
(9) The Office will not process applications
				that are not submitted using the Broadband Opportunity Program Grant
				Application.
Rulemaking Authority
					 288.9961(5)(d)
					 FS. Law Implemented 288.9961(4)(b),
					 288.9962
					 FS.
New 11-30-22.