Community Connect Grant Program | Apply Online

Community Connect Grant Program (RDRUS CC 2011) - FAQs

1) What is the Community Connect Grant Program?

The Community Connect Grant Program (officially called the Community Oriented Connectivity Broadband Grant Program) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run through the Utilities Programs. It is focused on bringing broadband to rural, economically challenged communities that do not currently have broadband service.

2) What is the main goal of this grant program?

The main goal is to reduce the gap between rural areas and urban or suburban areas by helping rural residents and businesses access a similar quality and range of telecommunications services.

3) Is this grant awarded automatically if an applicant meets eligibility requirements?

No. Funding is awarded competitively. Applicants are scored and selected against other proposals rather than funded automatically.

4) Who is the program intended to serve?

The program targets rural, economically challenged communities that do not currently have broadband service, with an emphasis on relatively small communities.

5) Is there a population limit for eligible communities?

Yes. The opportunity targets rural communities with up to 20,000 inhabitants.

6) What can grant funds be used for?

Grant funds can be used for three core purposes tied directly to broadband access and community benefit: (1) deploying broadband transmission service to critical community facilities as well as rural households and rural businesses, (2) constructing, acquiring, or expanding a community center, and (3) equipping and operating that community center so it can provide free public access to broadband for at least two years.

7) What types of sites count as "critical community facilities" under this program?

Examples given include public safety, education, health, or government sites.

8) Does the program support broadband service to homes and businesses, or only community facilities?

It supports broadband transmission service to critical community facilities and also to rural households and rural businesses.

9) What is the community center component of the grant?

The program allows applicants to construct, acquire, or expand a community center, and also to equip and operate that center to deliver free public broadband access for at least two years.

10) Is free public broadband access required as part of the project?

Yes. The grant allows funding to equip and operate the community center so it can provide free public access to broadband for at least two years. This is described as ensuring an immediate, no-cost access option for local residents and not only paid service connections.

11) How long must the community center provide free public broadband access?

At least two years.

12) Does the program have a matching or cost-sharing requirement?

Yes. The program includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources as part of the project budget rather than relying entirely on grant dollars.

13) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this specific announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RDRUS CC 2011.

14) How much total funding was estimated to be available under this notice?

The estimated total funding available was $25,000,000.

15) How many awards were expected under this notice?

The notice expected 300 awards.

16) What was the minimum and maximum award size?

Individual awards ranged from a minimum (floor) of $50,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $1,500,000.

17) What does the award range suggest about project size?

The stated award range indicates the program was designed to accommodate both smaller targeted builds and more comprehensive community-wide efforts, depending on need and project design.

18) What types of organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligible entity types included city or township governments, county governments, state governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), small businesses, and for-profit organizations that are not small businesses.

19) Are institutions of higher education eligible as 501(c)(3) nonprofit applicants?

No. The eligibility list specifies 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible, excluding institutions of higher education.

20) What is the funding activity category for this grant?

The funding activity category is Community Development.

21) When was this opportunity posted?

The posted date and creation date were March 4, 2011.

22) What was the original closing date and the revised closing date?

The original closing date was May 4, 2011, and the revised current closing date was May 3, 2011.

23) When was the archive date for this announcement?

The archive date was June 3, 2011.

24) Where were additional official details provided?

Additional official details were provided through a Federal Register Community Connect Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA).

25) Who was listed as the contact for technical issues accessing the full announcement?

The listed contact for technical issues was Long Chen in the Broadband Division (phone 202-690-4673) along with a Community Connect email account.

26) What program area runs this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is run through the Utilities Programs.

27) What kinds of communities does the program aim to reach, and why?

It aims to reach rural, economically challenged communities, particularly smaller communities (up to 20,000 inhabitants). The population focus reinforces the intent to reach places that are often underserved by private broadband investment due to lower density and weaker local economic conditions.