Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 12 - Finance and Administration › Part 12 - Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) › Chapter 2 - BEAM Fund Grant Programs - General Information › Rule 12-12-2.2 - Categories of Grants

Current through June 25, 2024
The BEAM Fund Grant Programs will provide grants in
				  different categories to provide opportunities for the variety of circumstances,
				  subscribers, and providers in Mississippi. The categories existing as of the
				  time of the adoption of this rule are as discussed herein. Any additional
				  categories will be addressed through amendment to this rule in accordance with
				  the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, Miss. Code Ann. §
									25-43-1.101 et seq.
(1)
Broadband
				Infrastructure
: This category will provide grants to fund large
				scale projects designed to serve sizable numbers of targeted addresses and will
				reimburse awardees for actual capital expenses up to a maximum project cost
				identified in the award. Costs must be a directly related upfront investment
				associated with installing or upgrading existing broadband facilities on the
				proposed project on a one-time, capital improvement basis. Funding from the
				American Rescue Plan Capital Projects Fund will provide the sole source of
				funding for the initial round of awards in this category. Matching funds of at
				least 20% are required and additional matching funds will have a positive
				impact on application scoring.
(2)
Line Extension and Deployment
: This category will
				provide grants for the extension of existing last-mile cable modem and fiber
				broadband networks, provided the extension can be constructed quickly. Internet
				service providers are eligible if they have an existing fiber to the premises
				or an existing cable network offering service of at least 100 Mbps download and
				20 Mbps upload to mass-market users that can be extended to unserved premises.
				Funding from the American Rescue Plan Capital Projects Fund will provide the
				sole source of funding for the initial round of awards in this category.
				Matching funds of at least $500 per address passed by fiber or cable lines
				funded by the program are required.
(3)
ARPA Broadband
				Communities
: This category will promote private and public
				partnerships for projects where the applicant partners with a county,
				municipality, or an affiliated organization (economic development corporation,
				regional planning and development council, etc.) that dedicates funds through
				the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), or other funding, to a broadband
				development initiative. Before applying for such grants, the applicant must
				have in place a written agreement with the county, municipal government, or
				affiliated organization and provide appropriate documentation, including
				official board action of the county, municipality, or affiliated organization
				authorizing said agreement and reflecting the commitment of ARPA or other
				funding. Funding from the American Rescue Plan Capital Projects Fund will
				provide the sole source of funding for the initial round of awards in this
				category. Matching funds of at least 50% are required and additional matching
				funds will have a positive impact on application scoring.
(4)
Digital Connectivity
				Technology
: The digital connectivity category of the BEAM Fund
				Grant Programs will provide funds for technology projects installed as part of
				public wi-fi infrastructure (e.g., access points, repeaters, routers). Before
				applying for such grants, applicants must have in place a written agreement
				with a county, municipality, or an affiliated organization (economic
				development corporation, regional planning and development council, etc.)
				seeking to provide public wi-fi service and must provide appropriate
				documentation, including official board action of the county, municipality, or
				affiliated organization authorizing said agreement. Applicants must also
				demonstrate affordability as a barrier to local broadband adoption and use.
				Funding from the American Rescue Plan Capital Projects Fund will provide the
				sole source of funding for the initial round of awards in this category. A
				match of 20% of total project costs is required and additional matching funds
				will have a positive impact on application scoring.
2022 Miss.
				  Laws, Ch. 397 (H.B. No. 1029)