Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (btop) (11.557)

Program

11.557 Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (btop)

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Commerce

Authorization

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law No. 111-5.

Program Number

11.557

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The purposes of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) include accelerating broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas and ensuring that strategic institutions which are likely to create jobs or provide significant public benefits have broadband connections.

Types of Assistance

Project Grants

Uses and Use Restrictions

Competitive grants under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program will be awarded to: (1) provide access to broadband service to U.S. consumers in unserved areas; (2) provide improved access to broadband in underserved areas; (3) provide broadband support and services to strategic institutions; (4) improve broadband access by public safety agencies; and (5) stimulate broadband demand, economic growth, and job creation. Competitive grants under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program will be awarded to: (1) provide access to broadband service to U.S. consumers in unserved areas; (2) provide improved access to broadband in underserved areas; (3) provide broadband support and services to strategic institutions; (4) improve broadband access by public safety agencies; and (5) stimulate broadband demand, economic growth, and job creation.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

None

Beneficiary Eligibility

None

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants must certify that the organization is in compliance, or will comply, with the Department of Commerce assurances included in the standard application. Applicants must also: provide assurances that they will substantially complete funded projects in accordance with project timelines, not to exceed two years following an award; provide a detailed explanation of how any amount received under the program will be used to carry out the purposes of the Program in an efficient and expeditious manner; show that the project would not have been implemented during the grant period without Federal grant assistance; demonstrate that it is capable of carrying out the project or function to which the application relates in a competent manner in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws; demonstrate that it will appropriate (if the applicant is a State or local government agency) or otherwise unconditionally obligate, from non-Federal sources, funds required to meet the requirements of Section 6001, subsection (f); disclose the source and amount of other Federal or State funding sources from which the applicant receives, or has applied for, funding for activities or projects to which the application relates; and provide such assurances and procedures as may be required to ensure that grant funds are used and accounted for in an appropriate manner. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Program staff members are available to provide technical and other assistance to potential applicants regarding the requirements of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. This program is eligible for coverage under Executive Order 12372, �Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.� An applicant should consult the office, or official, designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. The standard application forms as approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and provided by NTIA must be used for this program, including the Standard Form 424 (Rev 4-92) and the required certifications.

Award Procedure

Applications are reviewed on the basis of funding criteria as established in the Notice of Funding Availability. The Assistant Secretary, or its designate, may select an application for funding, in whole or in part, and will notify the applicant of final decisions.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 120 to 180 days. The NTIA Administrator shall select and publish in the Federal Register the date by which new applications must be filed in order to be considered for funding in the referenced fiscal year.

Awards for the Program will be announced no later than September 30, 2010.

Appeals

All award decisions are final. There is no administrative appeal process.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 20.%. Public Law 111-5-February 17, 2008. The Federal share of any project may not exceed 80 percent unless a waiver is granted to applicant.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The award period for successful applicants is not to exceed two years as specified in Public Law 111-5. Financial assistance is generally released as required during the award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: No information provided.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Financial and progress reports are to be submitted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award, and are due on a quarterly basis. The NTIA Assistant Secretary, or its designate, may establish additional reporting and information requirements for any recipient of an award.

As required by Section 1512 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and OMB guidance, each recipient is required to report the following information to the NTIA ten days after the end of each calendar quarter. As prescribed by the Recovery Act, these reports will include:
1.The total amount of recovery funds received from NTIA.
2.The amount of recovery funds received that were obligated and expended to projects or activities. This reporting will also include unobligated allotment balances to facilitate reconciliations.
3.A detailed list of all projects or activities for which Recovery Act funds were obligated and expended, including�
a.The name of the project or activity;
b.A description of the project or activity;
c.An evaluation of the completion status of the project or activity;
d.An estimate of the number of jobs created and the number of jobs retained by the project or activity; and
e.For infrastructure investments made by State and local governments, the purpose, total cost, and rationale of the agency for funding the infrastructure investment with funds made available under this Act, and name the person to contact at the agency if there are concerns with the infrastructure investment. No cash reports are required. As required by Section 1512 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and OMB guidance, each recipient is required to report the following information to the NTIA ten days after the end of each calendar quarter. As prescribed by the Recovery Act, these reports will include:
1.The total amount of recovery funds received from NTIA.
2.The amount of recovery funds received that were obligated and expended to projects or activities. This reporting will also include unobligated allotment balances to facilitate reconciliations.
3.A detailed list of all projects or activities for which Recovery Act funds were obligated and expended, including�
a.The name of the project or activity;
b.A description of the project or activity;
c.An evaluation of the completion status of the project or activity;
d.An estimate of the number of jobs created and the number of jobs retained by the project or activity; and
e.For infrastructure investments made by State and local governments, the purpose, total cost, and rationale of the agency for funding the infrastructure investment with funds made available under this Act, and name the person to contact at the agency if there are concerns with the infrastructure investment. Financial and progress reports are to be submitted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award, and are due on a quarterly basis. The NTIA Assistant Secretary, or its designate, may establish additional reporting and information requirements for any recipient of an award. Progress reports and site visits.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Audits will be conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award and OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 2

Records

All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports and other records of recipients or subrecipients must be maintained in accordance with the terms of the award. Generally, the recipient must retain records for three years from the date on which the final expenditure report is submitted.

Program Accomplishments

Not Applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-0554-0-1-376.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $892,000,000; FY 10 est $3,307,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

To be determined.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

The application package containing the Notice of Funding Availability, application forms and guidelines will be available at www.ntia.doc.gov/recovery. Cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-21 for institutions of higher education, A-87 for State and local governments, and with A-122 for nonprofit organizations. Grants management will be in accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 for institutions of higher education, other nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations; and 15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Laura Breeden Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Office of Telecommunications Applications
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Room 4812
, Washington, District of Columbia 20230 Email: lbreeden@ntia.doc.gov Phone: 202-482-5032

Web Site Address

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/recovery

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

In determining whether to approve an application, in whole or in part, and the amount of the grant, the NTIA Assistant Secretary, or its designate, will consider the project�s conformance with the program purposes and funding criteria set forth in the legislation and the Notice of Funding Availability.