Broadband Projects and Planning Grants

Idaho Department of Commerce - Idaho Broadband Advisory Board

Agency: State

GrantWatch ID #206430

Grant Description

Grants to Idaho nonprofit organizations, government agencies, Tribes, and for-profits for infrastructure and planning projects relating to broadband. Funding is intended to meet the needs of underserved and unserved areas of the state, and improve access to the internet. Proposals may address planning purposes in addition to infrastructure.

Proposals shall meet the following eligibility criteria:

Expanding and extending middle mile or last mile infrastructure to connect unserved or underserved areas to the internet to improve access to telehealth, remote work, distance learning opportunities, or increasing public safety infrastructure, and or;
Planning proposals detailing how planning funds will be used for local planning purposes to improve access to telehealth, remote work, distance learning opportunities, or increasing public safety infrastructure.

Eligible costs in proposals include, but are not limited to:

Construction and materials.
New and rehabilitative construction contracts.
Architect, engineering, and legal services
Permitting fees.
Validation of service expenses.
Equipment related to broadband infrastructure.
Installation of equipment related to broadband infrastructure.
Administration costs not to exceed one percent (1%) of proposed funding
Local broadband planning, including contractor costs.

Broadband infrastructure proposals are submitted with the acknowledgment that the submission in no way guarantees funding now or in the future. The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board will award funds pursuant to future grant guidelines and application criteria, in correlation with the statewide broadband plan.

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Eligibility:

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Criteria:

Eligible entities include:
- Broadband service providers,
- Idaho nonprofit organizations,
- Limited liability companies,
- Cooperative entities,
- Political subdivisions and
- Idaho local or tribal governments.

Ineligible costs in proposals include, but are not limited to:
- Expenses related to providing broadband services.
- Ongoing overhead, operating costs, or staff costs.
- Political activities or lobbying.

Pre-Application Information:

Timeline:
1. Proposals may be submitted to the Idaho Office of Broadband immediately and ongoing thereafter. Proposals need to be submitted by December 1, 2022, to be considered for review by the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board. Proposals may be submitted after December 1, 2022 and will be reviewed on a monthly basis.

2. Idaho Commerce will collect and review all proposals (submitted by the December 1, 2022 deadline) by December 15, 2022, in preparation to present all submitted proposals to the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board.

3. Anticipated date the Idaho Department of Commerce will present proposals to the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board is December 20, 2022.

Contact Information:

Please submit your broadband infrastructure proposal to:

Mail: Idaho Department of Commerce
Attn: Ramón S. Hobdey-Sánchez,
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0093
Fax: 208-334-2631

Or by email: broadband@commerce.idaho.gov