|
| August 2021 Newsletter |
August 10, 2021 |
|
|
What's inside:
 The new Colorado Broadband Office website is now live! Launched on August 3 in tandem with the Governor’s Office of Information Technology new site, our team focused on getting you what you need quickly through a user-centered, mobile-first and accessible experience. Explore the site and its new features, including:
- Tailored resources for consumers, ISPs and community organizations that help you find what you need fast, with everything front and center on the homepage
- Our new funding page is a central hub for all federal and state broadband funding programs, news and deadlines
- Learn about the collaborative approach we’re taking to broadband in Colorado
We also want to hear from you so that we can continue to improve the experience. Each page has an "Is this page useful?" button on the bottom right (or email us: oit_broadband@state.co.us), so please share your feedback as we work to be collaborative in everything we do. Thank you!
|
|
Long-term planning is essential to manage future broadband funding
We are in a historic time for federal, state and local broadband investment. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the high costs of being offline, and current infrastructure legislation in Washington, D.C, is poised to address these concerns. Congress, over the past year, passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) with unprecedented amounts of funding devoted to promoting broadband deployment and digital equity. The current draft of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) includes $65 billion to expand broadband internet access nationwide.
Included in the Act is a Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program ($42 billion), which contemplates grants being made to states. In Colorado, significant local coordination will be required. States would use grant funds to competitively award subgrants for qualifying broadband infrastructure, mapping and adoption projects. The program would be administered by The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Also included in the Act is funding for Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure ($1 billion), which directs NTIA to make available grants for construction, improvement or acquisition of middle-mile infrastructure. Additionally, the Digital Equity Act of 2021 ($1.3 billion) funds state-level digital equity planning and establishes a competitive digital equity grant program available to a wide range of public-sector and not-for-profit entities. To address the costs of connectivity, the Act also addresses broadband affordability, including several initiatives relating to affordable broadband such as an extension of the existing Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program (including renaming it as the “Affordable Connectivity Program”); adoption of a “consumer broadband label” requirement, originally put forth by the FCC in 2016; and digital discrimination that would require the FCC to adopt rules within two years to address digital discrimination (i.e., redlining). Source: Benton.org, from the Washington Post and Keller and Heckman LLP
The infrastructure bill currently moving through Congress also requires internet service providers (ISPs) to offer a low-cost option. The NTIA would vet low-cost broadband plans for aspects such as cost and speed of service. The low-cost measure could help families that don’t qualify for company programs yet are strapped for funds. In Colorado, this means an increase in accessibility for our citizens. Communities should be engaged now to help craft successful long-term connectivity infrastructure investment planning and goals, while ensuring diverse voices are part of the discussion.
|
|
Broadband Advisory Board Meeting
Tuesday, August 17 at 11 a.m.
This month’s meeting will feature a presentation from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) focused on the ARPA funding programs. Under the ARP, the EDA was allocated $3 billion in supplemental funding to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better. By accelerating economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, local economies will build resilience to future economic shocks. Visit the Broadband Advisory Board page on our website for the agenda, public comment policy and information on future meetings.
August Lunch & Learn: Colorado Department of Transportation
Tuesday, August 24 at Noon
Our next Lunch & Learn will feature the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Bob Fifer of CDOT will provide an update about the work CDOT is doing around the state to support broadband infrastructure.
|
|
|
On July 19, the Broadband Advisory Board announced the release of its inaugural annual report, highlighting its first six months and priorities for the year ahead as it works to bring fast, reliable and affordable broadband service to all Coloradans.
Read the Annual Report
Upon the signing of HB21-1109 on July 7, the Broadband Deployment Board (BDB) officially moved to the CBO within OIT. The BDB support staff, Brian Martin and Stephen Gould, have also transitioned to the CBO and continue to support the BDB and Broadband Fund as usual. The CBO is working to make this transition simple for the BDB, grant recipients, grant applicants and all other stakeholders. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
New Website
The BDB and the Broadband Fund are included on the new CBO website. Visit the Broadband Deployment Board & Fund page for up-to-date information.
Grant Cycles
Grant cycles will proceed as planned, with no changes to the schedule. The Summer 2021 Grant Cycle closed for applications on July 15. The 60-day comment period ends on September 13 and the BDB is scheduled to review the applications on October 7.
Changes to the BDB
Effective September 1, HB21-1109 decreases the size of the BDB from 16 to 11 members and includes changes to the board composition.
|
|
|
Our fall data collection is underway! The data submission deadline is September 3. Please contact us if your company has not yet submitted data. Visit our website for data submission guidelines.
New this year: Granular data submission is required for all internet service providers (ISPs) that participate or intend to participate in any State of Colorado broadband grants programs.
|
|
|
A bipartisan group of legislators continue to work on legislation proposing historic levels of broadband investments to support and expand the nation’s economy. Broadband access and adoption programs could receive up to $65 billion of the $1.2 trillion in proposed program funding if current draft legislation passes. The earmarked programs include $45.75 billion to be administered by NTIA, funding state, tribal, middle mile and digital equity programs. Additionally, over $14 billion is currently targeted to affordability and device voucher programs to be administered by the FCC, as well as a $2 billion supplemental appropriation to the USDA for the ReConnect grant and loan program. None of this is final, and we will keep you posted as the legislative negotiations advance.
We continue to monitor Federal programs. Recent developments are highlighted below; please visit our website for summaries and updates on the various programs and funding opportunities.
Upcoming Deadlines
-
FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF): The ECF program’s 45-day application filing window closes Aug. 13. The $7.2 billion program will provide support to schools and libraries for the purchase of laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers and broadband connectivity for off-campus use by students, school staff and library patrons for purchases made between July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022. Additional resources: FAQs & Getting Started Guide
-
NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP): Applications are due Aug. 17 for the $288 million BIP. For application details, see the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Grant awards are anticipated in fall 2021. Additional resources: BIP FAQs & Webinar Recordings
-
Tribal Connectivity Program (TCBP): Applications are due Sept. 1 for the $1 billion TCBP. For application details, see the NOFO. Grant awards are anticipated in fall 2021. Additional resources: TCBP FAQs & Webinar Recordings
-
Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC): Applications are due Dec.1 for the $268 million CMC program. For application details see the NOFO. Additional resources: CMC FAQs & Webinars
-
Economic Development Administration (EDA) $3 Billion ARPA Funding: The EDA announced six NOFOs on July 22. Programs and application deadlines are listed below. Additional resources: Fact Sheet & Webinars
-
Build Back Better Regional Challenge ($1 billion): Oct. 19, 2021
-
Statewide Planning, Research, and Networks Grants ($90 million): Oct. 31, 2021
-
Good Jobs Challenge ($500 million): Jan. 26, 2022
-
Economic Adjustment Assistance Challenge ($500 million): March 15, 2022
-
Indigenous Communities Challenge ($100 million): March 15, 2022
-
Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Grants ($750 million): March 15, 2022
Federal Program Updates
-
U.S. Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRFs): The comment cycle for the $350 billion SLFRF made $350 billion in emergency funding available for eligible recipients to make necessary investments that provide unserved or underserved locations with new or expanded broadband access. Interim Final Rules (IFR) comments are due on July 15, 2021. We anticipate the U.S. Treasury will issue final rules for the SLFRF in the coming weeks. If you have questions about the IFR, or if you want to respond to questions in the IFR, email SLFRP@treasury.gov. Additional resources: Fact Sheet, FAQs, Tribal Government Info and Compliance and Reporting
-
U.S. Treasury Capital Projects Fund (CPF) provides $10 billion for states, territories and Tribal governments to invest in critical broadband connectivity projects. The U.S. Treasury will begin accepting applications for review in the summer of 2021, following the release of final rules. To receive updates on the CPF, sign up at this link.
-
FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program provides a temporary discount of $50-$75 on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households. Over 4.4 million households in the U.S.—approximately 49,000 in Colorado—have enrolled since May 12, representing 1 out of 11 eligible U.S. households. Additional resources: Enroll, EBB Program Tracker (participation metrics and fund balance), EBB Outreach Toolkit, Colorado EBB Providers
-
FCC Rural Health Care (RHC) Program: The FY 2022 funding request filing window will open on December 1, 2021, and close on April 1, 2022. View the FY2022 Program Calendar.
|
|
|
|
|
