Office of Broadband

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity 

Rural Infrastructure Fund

• Program Website: Rural Infrastructure Fund
• Program Overview: Facilitates the planning, preparing and financing of traditional economic development or nature-based tourism infrastructure projects that encourages job creation and capital investment in rural communities.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Eligible projects and uses of funds may include improving access to and the availability of broadband Internet service. Eligible uses of funds shall include improvements to broadband Internet service and access in unserved or underserved rural communities. Improvements to broadband Internet service and access must be conducted through a partnership(s) with one or more dealers registered with the Department of Revenue as a provider of communications services in Florida. Partnership(s) must be established through a competitive selection process that is publicly noticed.
• Eligible Entities: Eligible Applicants are units of local government within an area designated as a Rural Area of Opportunity or a rural county or community as defined by Section 288.0656, Florida Statutes.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: Rural Infrastructure Fund base funding ($3.6 million) application cycle is open-ended through June 30, 2021, or until all available funds are awarded.

Florida Department of Education

General Resources - Internet

• Program Website: General Resources - Internet
• Program Overview: Internet resources for families and teachers to support students returning to school.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Internet access.
• Eligible Entities: Teachers and families.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: Programs are available year-round.

Florida Internet and Television (FIT)

Linking Florida

• Program Website: Linking Florida
• Program Overview: FIT members have programs to further bridge the digital divide by offering Floridians discounted internet service for around $15 per month.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: FIT, representing Florida’s five major internet providers, is finding ways to further provide essential internet services that are critical for students to continue another year of education — whether that is learning from home or completing homework at the kitchen table at the end of the school day.
• Eligible Entities: Public housing residents, low-income veterans, seniors, students and low-income households may qualify.

Federal Communications Commission

Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

• Program Website: Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
• Program Overview: The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program was established to help lower the cost of high-speed internet for eligible households during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Offers up to $50/month discount for broadband services; up to $75/month discount for broadband services for households on Tribal lands; and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per eligible household.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Broadband services and equipment discounts. 
• Eligible Entities: A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below: qualifies for the Lifeline program; receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020; meets the eligibility criteria for a participating providers' existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: The program has been authorized by the Federal Communications Commission, but the start date has not yet been established. Continue to check the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program webpage regularly for the latest information.

COVID-19 Telehealth Program

• Program Website: COVID-19 Telehealth Program 
• Program Overview: The COVID-19 Telehealth Program was established to help eligible health care providers in the hardest hit areas to make sure that funding continues to support health care providers in areas most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Telecommunications services and broadband connectivity services for up to 12 months; Connected devices, such as smart phones, telehealth exam scopes, telehealth carts and other digital health devices(e.g., broadband, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth enabled blood pressure monitors; pulse-oximeters); funding for future purchases or for eligible purchases made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on or after March 13, 2020.  
• Eligible Entities: Post-secondary educational institutions offering health care instruction teaching hospitals, and medical schools; community health centers or health centers providing health care to migrants; local health departments or agencies; community mental health centers; not-for-profit hospitals; rural health clinics; consortia of health care providers consisting of one or more entities described above.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: Approximately $250M. The FCC is expected to begin accepting applications within 30 days of March 30th, 2021.       

E-Rate Program

• Program Website: E-Rate Program
• Program Overview: The schools and libraries universal service support program, commonly known as the E-Rate program, helps schools and libraries obtain affordable broadband. Discounts for support depend on the level of poverty and whether the school or library is located in an urban or rural area. The discounts range from 20 percent to 90 percent of the costs of eligible services.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Funding may be requested under two categories of service: services to a school or library (telecommunications, telecommunications services and Internet access), and services that deliver Internet access within schools and libraries (internal connections, basic maintenance of internal connections, and managed internal broadband services).
• Eligible Entities: Libraries and K-12 schools.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: E-rate program funding is based on demand up to an annual Commission-established cap of $4.15 billion.  Funding will be fixed five-year budget cycle with no roll over for unspent funds.  

United States Department of Education

General Resources - Internet

• Program Website: General Resources - Internet
• Program Overview: Internet resources for families and teachers to support students returning to school. 
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Internet access. 
• Eligible Entities: Teachers and families.

Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies, Title 1, Part A

• Program Website: Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies, Title 1, Part A
• Program Overview: The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title I, Part A, provides financial assistance for Local Education Agencies and schools with high numbers/percentages of children from low-income families to help meet state academic standards.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Minor remodeling, consistent with 34 CFR Part 77, to improve the academic achievement of students served by Title I. 7.
• Eligible Entities: State/local governments and rural recipients.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: $16 billion for Fiscal Year 2020. Not available currently.

Promise Neighborhoods

• Program Website: Promise Neighborhoods
• Program Overview: The program provides funding to support eligible entities for broadband infrastructure, adoption and other broadband purposes.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Broadband infrastructure (e.g., construction), broadband adoption, digital skills training, mobile hotspots and hotspot data plans.
• Eligible Entities: Libraries, K-12 schools, higher education institutions and tribal entities.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: $16 billion for Fiscal Year 2020. Not available currently. 

Rural and Low-Income School Program and the Small, Rural School Achievement Program

• Program Website: Rural and Low-Income School Program and the Small, Rural School Achievement Program
• Program Overview: The purpose of these two grant programs are to provide poor, rural districts with financial assistance to address the unique needs of rural school districts that frequently lack the personnel and resources needed to compete effectively for Federal competitive grants and receive formula grant allocations in amounts too small to be effective in meeting their intended purposes.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Broadband infrastructure (e.g., construction), digital skills training, mobile hotspots and mobile hotspot data plans, minor remodeling, consistent with 34 CFR Part 77, to improve the academic achievement of students served by the program.
• Eligible Entities: K-12 schools and rural recipients who are under the local education agencies for the rural and low-income school program.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: $93 million for Fiscal Year 2020. For more information about funding in 2021, view the Small Rural School Achievement Program Applicant Information. 

Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program, Title IV, Part A

• Program Website: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program, Title IV, Part A
• Program Overview: To help eligible Institutions of Higher Education to become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low- income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of eligible institutions.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Broadband infrastructure (e.g., construction), digital skills training, mobile hotspots and mobile hotspot data plans, minor remodeling, consistent with 34 CFR Part 77, to improve the academic achievement of students served by the program.
• Eligible Entities: K-12 schools and state/local governments.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: $1.8 million for Fiscal Year 2020. Not available currently. 

Strengthening Institutions, Title III, Part A

• Program Website: Strengthening Institutions, Title III, Part A
• Program Overview: To promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Broadband infrastructure (e.g., construction), broadband adoption, digital skills training, mobile hotspots and hotspot data plans.
• Eligible Entities: K-12 schools and higher education institutions.
• Funding Amount: $1.2 billion for Fiscal Year 2020. Not available currently. 

Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, Title III, Part B

• Program Website: Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, Title III, Part B
• Program Overview: This program provides financial assistance to Historically Black Colleges and Universities to establish or strengthen their physical plants, financial management, academic resources and endowment-building capacity.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Broadband infrastructure (e.g., construction), broadband adoption, digital skills training, mobile hotspots and hotspot data plans.
• Eligible Entities: Higher education institutions.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: Application period is from July 1 through July 31 of each year. $324 million is available for Fiscal Year 2020.

United States Department of Agriculture

Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants

• Program Website: Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants
• Program Overview: The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Acquisition of broadband facilities; audio, video and interactive video equipment; terminal and data terminal equipment; computer hardware, network components and software; inside wiring and similar infrastructure that further DLT services; acquisition of instructional programming that is a capital asset; acquisition of technical assistance and instruction for using eligible equipment.
• Eligible Entities: State and Local Governments, Tribal Entities, Nonprofit Organizations, For-profit businesses, Consortia of eligible entities.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: Approximately $25M for minimum grant amount of $50,000 and the maximum grant amount of $1,000,000.

Rural Business Development Grants in Florida

• Program Website: Rural Business Development Grants in Florida
• Program Overview: This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Technology-based economic development and acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings; plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads; parking areas and utilities.
• Eligible Entities: Higher Education Institutions, State and Local Governments, Tribal Entities, Rural Cooperatives (if organized as a private nonprofit corporation), and Nonprofit Organizations.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority. There is no cost sharing requirement. Contact the Area Office for more information.

Telecom Infrastructure Loan Program

• Program Website: Telecom Infrastructure Loan Program
• Program Overview: This program provides financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement, and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Broadband infrastructure (e.g., construction) and broadband financing.
• Eligible Entities: State and Local Governments, Tribal Entities, Commercial/Internet Service Providers, Non-profit Organizations, Small Businesses, Electric Utilities/Co-ops, and Financial Institutions.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: Cost-of-money loans: fixed rate at current U.S. Treasury rates depending on loan maturity at time of each advance. Loan Guarantees: fixed rate primarily from the Federal Financing Bank (FFB). Interest rates (Treasury rate plus 1/8%) vary depending on call options and the interim maturity rate selected at each advance, which may be as short as 90 days, with auto-rollover. Current rates available online, scroll down to “Treasury Constant Maturities” add 0.125% for FFB rate.  Hardship loans: fixed interest rate of 5% for up to 20 years and requires special qualifications. 

Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program

• Program Website: Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program
• Program Overview: This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Public Computer Access.
• Eligible Entities: Public Entities, Tribal Entities, and Community-based Nonprofit Organizations.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: Low interest direct loans, grants, a combination of the two above, as well as our loan guarantee program. For more information, contact your local USDA Rural Development Office. 

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science Program

• Program Website: The Community Connect Grant Program
• Program Overview: The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. The six priority areas are: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition and Health; Bioenergy, Natural Resources and Environment; Agriculture Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. Research-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or extension projects are solicited in this Request for Applications (RFA).
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Examine the private and public returns to expanding broadband infrastructure into rural areas, the barriers to broadband deployment and adoption and the mechanisms that might ameliorate those factors. Examine the potential relationship between access to broadband and health outcomes, educational attainment, entrepreneurship, and job growth. Examine how broadband availability can directly or indirectly impact public-health crises including COVID-19, opioid abuse and suicide.
• Eligible Entities: 1862 Land-Grant Institutions, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, For-profit Organizations Other Than Small Businesses, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Individuals, Native American Tribal Orgs, not Federally recognized Tribal Governments, Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than Institutions of Higher Ed, Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than Institutions of Higher Ed, Other or Additional Information (See below), Private Institutions of Higher Ed, Small Business, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
• Funding Amount/Cycle: A total of $290 million during Fiscal Year 2020 - 2021.  Application period is July 17, 2020 - July 29, 2021. 

Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Program

• Program Website: Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program
• Program Overview: The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly. The utility is responsible for repayment to USDA.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Broadband Infrastructure (e.g., construction).
• Eligible Entities: Commercial/Internet Service Providers and Electric Utilities/Co-ops.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: Up to $300,000 in grants and $1 million in loans is available. The intermediary applies to USDA for funding support on behalf of specified local projects. Projects may commence after application submission, but there is no guarantee of approval. USDA funds are issued to the intermediary at project completion. 

Rural Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program

• Program Website: Rural Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program
• Program Overview: The Business and Industry program bolsters the availability of private credit by guaranteeing loans for rural businesses. This program improves the economic health of rural communities by increasing access to business capital through loan guarantees that enable commercial lenders to provide affordable financing for businesses in eligible rural areas.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Broadband Financing.
• Eligible Entities: Higher Education Institutions, State and Local Governments, Commercial/Internet Service Providers, Electric Utilities/Co-ops and Financial Institutions.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: $20 million was provided under the CARES Act.

United States Department of Commerce

Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs including CARES Act Funding

• Program Website: Economic Development Administration - Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs including CARES Act Funding
• Program Overview: Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) programs provide economically distressed communities and regions with comprehensive and flexible resources to address a wide variety of economic needs. Projects funded by these programs will support work in Opportunity Zones and will create and retain jobs, increase private investment, advance innovation, enhance the manufacturing capacities of regions, provide workforce development opportunities, and grow ecosystems that attract foreign direct investment.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Planning (e.g., feasibility), broadband Infrastructure (e.g., construction), broadband adoption, digital skills training, smart cities and district organization of an EDA-designated Economic Development District
• Eligible Entities: County governments, private institutions of higher education, native American tribal governments (federally recognized), nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, state governments, nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, special district governments, and city/township governments.
• Funding Amount/Cycle: Due to the extraordinary level of interest in EDA's CARES Act Recovery Assistance there has been an unusually high volume of applications received. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their applicable EDA Regional Office representatives to discuss their needs and the availability of funds. Prospective applicants can find current contact information for EDA Regional Office staff at www.eda.gov/contact/. Awards range from $100,000 to $30 million. There are no submission deadlines for this opportunity.

The Internet and Television Association (NCTA) & EducationSuperHighway (ESH)

K-12 Bridge to Broadband Program

• Program Website: K-12 Bridge to Broadband Program
• Program Overview: The program has established a national framework of principles that enables cable broadband providers to work directly with school districts to 1) confidentially share information to quickly identify students without broadband at home and 2) enable the school districts to purchase internet service for low-income families through sponsored service agreements.
• Program Purpose Specific to Broadband: Cable broadband providers that have committed to this unique initiative offer broadband service to 80% of U.S. homes or 110 million housing units.
• Eligible Entities: K-12 schools. To search for sponsored service options to connect your students at home, visit EducationSuperHighway Bridge to Broadband.