512252 - Empower Rural Iowa - Capital Projects Fund NOFA #008
Funding Opportunity Details

Broadband Grant Program - Empower Rural Iowa

Final Application Deadline: Aug 25, 2023 5:00 PM

Description

• This grant round is funded using only federal funds. As such, neither the provisions nor the rules adopted pursuant to Chapter 8B apply in any situation where such provision or rule is in conflict with a governing federal regulation or where the provision or rule would jeopardize the receipt of federal funds (Iowa Code 8B.7(1)). The eligibility requirements and procedures governing this application process shall be solely as set forth in this NOFA #008, including any corresponding attachments referenced or incorporated herein. Except as otherwise expressly stated herein, the statutory and regulatory requirements of Iowa Code section 8B.11, Iowa Administrative Code chapters 129—20 and 22, or any other similar or related statutory or regulatory requirements, shall not apply to or govern this NOFA.  

  The Office is seeking proposals from Responsible Applicants to Facilitate broadband service to Eligible Service Locations within the State of Iowa by no later than September 30, 2026. Applications submitted to this NOFA must be designed to provide last-mile broadband service to Eligible Service Locations that: (1) reliably meets or exceeds 100/100 Broadband; or (2) in cases where it is not practicable, because of the excessive cost of the Project, or geography or topography of the area to be served by the Project, to provide Broadband that reliably meets or exceeds 100/20 Broadband. However, 100/20 Broadband Projects must be scalable to 100/100 Broadband within three years of the Project Completion date. These two speed categories are referred to as “Covered Speeds” in this NOFA. Applicants may receive federal matching funds for eligible Projects under this NOFA up to the levels set forth in section 1.6.

  Pursuant to the guidelines set forth in the CPF Frequently Asked Questions issued by the United States Department of Treasury on January 4, 2022, Applications to this NOFA may also include expenditures associated with (1) the acquisition of middle-mile network services from a third party, or (2) construction of new middle-mile networks, provided that such expenditures are necessary, as part of an Applicant's proposed Project, to facilitate last-mile Covered Speeds to Eligible Service Locations.