To address the digital divide, the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity (BDE), Baltimore City Information and Technology (BCIT) is introducing the Connect Baltimore Broadband Grant Program, consisting of $2M to fund broadband infrastructure projects in the most underserved Baltimore communities from the Digital Equity Fund.
Donor Name: Baltimore City Information and Technology (BCIT)
State: Maryland
City: Baltimore
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/24/2024
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
As technology continues to evolve, so must our policies for digital inclusion, with intentional strategies to remove the structural and institutional barriers to digital access and use.
This grant opportunity is designed to support applicants in creating Gap Networks and Community Networks. BDE understands technology and population distribution may require innovative options for ubiquitous broadband deployment.
Eligible Grant Purposes
Acceptable uses of these funds are to make available equipment, implementation, networking capability, hardware and software, or digital network technology for broadband services to target populations at low or no cost. This includes but not limited to:
- The building and deployment of new gap networks/community networks meeting the Network Requirements for covered populations.
- To upgrade or expand existing gap networks/community networks meeting the Network Requirements for covered populations.
- To operate and maintain new or existing gap networks/community networks meeting the Network Requirements for covered populations.
- Electronics necessary to deliver service to an end user including, but not limited to Optical Line Terminals (OLT’s), Optical Network Terminals (ONT’s), routers, switches, firewalls, wireless radio equipment, antennas, access points and modems and any necessary equipment shelters.
Funding Information
- Grant Range: $500,000 – $2,000,000.
- It is BDE’s intent to award funds beginning August 1, 2024. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply, an applicant must meet one of the following criteria:
- Be a foundation, corporation, institution, association, or coalition that is— (i) a not-for-profit IRS approved 501(c)(3) entity and (ii) providing services within the State of Maryland; or
- A community-based anchor institution (also IRS approved 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored); or
- Any other organization or entity serving any of the very low digital inclusion areas on the Maryland Digital Equity Scorecard Index Map Digital Inclusion (also IRS approved 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored).
In addition, an applicant must be:
- Registered and, if applicable, in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation; and
- A Baltimore-based organization.
For more information, visit BCIT.
