About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 [1] (December 23, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveruj0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service ~ Informing the legislative debate since 1914 0 December 23, 2024 Connecting Constituents with Federal Assistance for Broadband This In Focus includes a list of selected federal agencies and programs that support broadband initiatives as the primary eligible funding activity. The programs included here vary in scope and funding level and are not a comprehensive list of all federal programs that may fund broadband activities. Some programs award funds to state and local governments, which in turn may issue grant awards to other entities. Other programs make grant awards to eligible entities directly on a competitive basis. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact federal agencies, state agencies, or both for information on eligibility, the application process, award cycles, and funding availability. Each program's funding availability depends on annual appropriations. Where applicable, program websites and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers are included to provide direct access to information about each program. CFDA numbers can be used to search assistance listings for potential open funding opportunities for the competitive grant programs at https://grants.gov. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) The FCC directs the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to administer the following programs. These programs provide subsidies or discounts for broadband-related services to eligible entities. High Cost Program The High Cost Program provides subsidies through legacy (voice service) and modernized (broadband service) funds to eligible telecommunications carriers for services in rural areas that are unserved or underserved. https://www.usac.org/high-cost/funds/ Life ine Program The Lifeline Program provides subsidies to telecommunication service providers to cover up to $9.25, or $34.25 on tribal lands, toward the monthly costs of phone or internet service for eligible consumers. Eligibility is determined based on an income of no more than 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or participation in a Lifeline- qualifying program as detailed on USAC's Lifeline Consumer Eligibility resource. Eligibility is limited to one beneficiary per household. https://www.usac.org/lifeline/get-started/ Rural Health Care (RHC) Program The RHC Program provides funding to eligible public or nonprofit health care providers for broadband to deliver health care. https://www.usac.org/rural-health-care/get-started/ Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) Program The E-Rate Program assists individual schools, school districts, and libraries with discounts on services under the following two categories: * Category One: Connectivity services to a school or library, such as telecommunications, telecommunications services, and internet access. * Category Two: Connectivity services within a school or library, such as internal connections, basic maintenance of internal connections, and managed internal broadband services. https://www.usac.org/e-rate/get-started/ U.S. Department of Agrculture (USDA) USDA's Office of Rural Development (RD) administers grant and loan programs to entities located in defined rural areas. For additional information on eligibility, contact the USDA RD's State Office. Information about USDA's broadband programs is available at the department's Telecom Programs page. Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees Program The Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees program provides loan and loan guarantees to state and local governmental entities, including federally recognized tribes, and nonprofit and for-profit businesses for the purpose of financing the construction, maintenance, improvement, and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas. https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/ telecommunications-programs/telecommunications- infrastructure-loans-loan-guarantees National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program The Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program supports efforts to achieve digital equity, promote digital inclusion activities, and spur greater adoption and meaningful use of

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most