The Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (“CPF”) Grant Program has been designed to address the critical need for high-speed, reliable connectivity that was highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this need, the CPF Grant Program is seeking applications to provide funding for Broadband Infrastructure Projects (that reliably meet or exceed download and upload speeds of 100 Mbps) to unserved homes and businesses in Georgia.
Donor Name: Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget
State: Georgia
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/07/2022
Size of the Grant: $240 million
Details:
The Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CCPF) will address many challenges laid bare by the pandemic, especially in rural America and low- and moderate-income communities, helping to ensure that all communities have access to the high-quality, modern infrastructure needed to thrive, including internet access.
Funding Information
OPB anticipates that approximately $240 million may be available under this NOFO, which may be increased or decreased at OPB’s discretion.
Eligibility Criteria
Internet service providers (ISPs) including co-operatives, electric utilities, and other entities that build or operate broadband networks. Partnerships and consortium applications will be allowed (e.g., two providers partnering to serve an eligible project area).
Eligible Project Areas
- The State of Georgia is committed to providing financial resources to help fund Broadband Infrastructure Projects that would not be feasible without assistance. In conformance with the requirements and preferences outlined in Treasury guidance, 44 preliminary eligible project areas have been identified by the State for the CPF Grant Program using data from the July 1, 2022 refresh of the Georgia Broadband Availability Map. Final eligible project areas will be announced following the Service Verification Process.
- Applicants must design their submitted projects to serve all locations identified by the State in the selected eligible project area. Additionally, applicants that wish to apply for multiple project areas will need to submit separate applications for each of the eligible project areas.
- In selecting the eligible project areas, the State considered the following criteria:
- The unserved nature of the county. The State focused project area selection for the CFP Grant Program on counties with the most need—meaning high percentages and numbers of unserved locations (currently lacking a terrestrial connection that reliably delivers minimum speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload) without funding commitments (State, Federal, private, etc.) to serve those locations.
- Specific locations that received funding awards from the State of Georgia’s competitive State Fiscal Recovery Fund Grant were excluded. Additionally, locations where there is an existing enforceable Federal or State funding commitment for reliable wireline service at speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload (e.g. FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, USDA ReConnect, NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Program, RUS Loans, etc.) were excluded. Locations that have existing Federal or State funding commitments for satellite service are eligible for the CFP Grant Program since O.C.G.A § 50-40-1(2) defines broadband as terrestrial service, making satellite-served locations unserved.
- Economic distress factors impacting the community(ies) to be served by the CPF Project.
- Many cities and counties within the 44 eligible project areas are also Broadband Ready designees.
For more information, visit Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget.
