FAQ Categories Connectivity Emergency Response Grants

Will Affordability And Speed Be Taken Into Account In The Scoring For The Connectivity Emergency Response Grant?

Aug 31, 2020

Applicants will be asked to provide pricing and speed offerings for the grant project area in the application. The level of service and price options will be taken into account during scoring. Because this factors into scoring, grantees will be expected to provide at least that level of service for…

What Happens Once A Grantee Is Selected For A Connectivity Emergency Response Grant? How Are The Grant Funds Disbursed?

Aug 31, 2020

If selected, the grantee will expend funds, submit a completed invoice template and proof of payment (paid invoices, receipts) to the program office and will be reimbursed the amounts on those invoices based on the match percentage. Costs are reimbursed up to 85% of the total grant award. The final…

Are There Technologies That Are Given Preference Over Others In The Application Process?

Aug 31, 2020

No. The application process is technology neutral. However, preference is given for better performing technical ability such as a speed and scalability.

Will An “In-Kind” Match Be Allowed Within The Connectivity Emergency Response Grant Application?

Aug 31, 2020

A 20% match for the total project cost is required. In-kind match is allowable up to 50% of the required match and must be included in the budget. The value of the in-kind match must be verified and certified by the applicant before any funds can be released.

Can An Applicant Use Its Own Employees To Lay Fiber and Include That Cost Toward The Connectivity Emergency Response Grant Amount?

Aug 31, 2020

Yes. The applicant may use its own employees and request reimbursement for those hours under the appropriate line item.

Would Costs Incurred By A Provider To Maintain New Infrastructure Be Considered An Eligible Expense Or A Cash Match?

Aug 31, 2020

No. The program will pay for capital expenses related to the infrastructure but will not pay operating expenses related to maintaining the infrastructure. Additionally, this cannot be used as a cash match.

How Far From Existing Infrastructure Must An Area Be In Order To Be Considered Unserved?

Aug 31, 2020

The appropriate distance depends on the technology and the provider. If a provider is willing to run the service and can do so quickly, a large distance could still be considered served and vice versa. We recommend the applicant explains why it is using a specific distance in its application…

Connectivity Emergency Response Grant Application?

Aug 31, 2020

The last mile refers to network infrastructure that carries signals from the network to and from the end-user premise. Depending on network design and density of the area served, the actual distance of the last mile can be relatively short or may be considerably longer than a mile. Middle mile…

What Does “Scalability” Mean In The Connectivity Emergency Response Grant Application?

Aug 31, 2020

While 25 Mbps/3 Mbps is the minimum required speed that must be provided to submit a grant application, we will prioritize both higher speeds and the scalability of the technology. The application process will score for both the initial speeds offerings and the capability of the technology to support higher…

What Level Of Detail Is Required For The Connectivity Emergency Response Grant Application In Terms Of The Network Design?

Aug 31, 2020

A preliminary technical evaluation of the project is required. It must include a summary of the project and a description of network architecture. It should demonstrate that the applicant has completed a planning phase of the project. The evaluation is intended to understand why the applicant chose the proposed service…