Empire State Develpment 625 Bradway, 8 th Flr Albany, NY 12245 www.nysbradband.ny.gv Cnnect NY Bradband Grant Prgram DESCRIPTION: Gvernr Cum has cmmitted $25 millin t increase bradband deplyment and adptin in New Yrk State. The integratin f technlgy and bradband int reginal revitalizatin and ecnmic develpment strategies is a critical success factr fr the sustainability and enhancement f New Yrk s Digital Ecnmy. With affrdable bradband technlgy as an equalizer, distance is n lnger an bstacle t infrmatin and ecnmic pprtunity acrss business sectrs. Whether it s educatin, healthcare, public safety, r gvernment, high-speed Internet capabilities are necessary t cnnect citizens, businesses and cmmunities. Each regin faces unique challenges when it cmes t universal bradband access. The Cnnect NY Bradband Grant Prgram is administered by the New Yrk State Empire State Develpment Bradband Prgram Office (NYS ESD BPO), and includes funding fr last-mile slutins t expand bradband cnnectivity in unserved¹ and underserved² areas f New Yrk State. Bradband deplyment grants are critical t spur investment by bradband service prviders and expand bradband cnnectivity and ecnmic develpment in each regin. Applicants will deply bradband using a cmbinatin f new and existing infrastructure. Many bradband prjects have been funded thrugh existing grant and lan prgrams, including federal American Recvery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Bradband Grants and Lans (Natinal Telecmmunicatins and Infrmatin Administratin and Rural Utilities Services), United States Department f Agriculture (USDA) Bradband Grants and Lans, and NYS Bradband Grant funding. A vast majrity f ARRA bradband prjects include funding fr middle-mile prjects. The intent f the Cnnect NY Bradband Grant Prgram is t leverage existing bradband netwrks, where practical, t expand service areas t include unserved regins f the State. ¹An Unserved area is defined as an area where bradband service is nt available frm a wireline r wireless facilities-based prvider ffering service at advertised speeds equal r higher than 6 Mbps dwnlad and 1.5 Mbps uplad. ²An Underserved area is defined as an area where 50% r mre f the husehlds have n bradband service frm wireline r wireless facilities-based prviders ffering service at advertised speeds equal r higher than 6 Mbps dwnlad and 1.5 Mbps uplad.
Cnnect NY Bradband Grant Prgram: up t $25 millin The Cnnect Bradband Grant Prgram will fund prjects which will acquire and install bradband equipment t expand last-mile services t unserved and underserved areas using existing netwrks, as well as deplying new infrastructure where applicable. Prjects must be ready t begin immediately and be fully funded with a cmbinatin f requested and matching funds, and ther public funds. Eligibility: Eligible types f applicants include, but are nt restricted t: An incrprated rganizatin; An Indian tribe r tribal rganizatin; A lcal unit f gvernment; and A cperative, private crpratin r limited liability cmpany rganized n a fr-prfit r nt-fr-prfit basis. PROGRAM SELECTION CRITERIA UP TO 100 POINTS Pririty Areas and Demnstrated Need : Applicatins fr bradband funding must prpse t serve areas which are identified as being unserved r underserved, accrding t the NYS Bradband Map: http://www.bradbandmap.ny.gv/. In additin t the data cntained n the NYS Bradband Map, applicants may als submit supplemental data (validated by the respective REDC) regarding additinal unserved and underserved areas t New Yrk State s designated bradband mapping entity, the Divisin f Hmeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), Office f Cyber Security (OCS). Upn validatin f the submitted infrmatin, OCS will update the bradband availability and mapping data n the State s fficial mapping website. The validated availability data will then be cnsidered fr eligibility fr the Cnnect NY Bradband Grant Prgram. The public and incumbent bradband prviders will als be able t challenge prpsed service areas being cnsidered fr public funding befre grant awards are made. Prjects will be evaluated in this categry accrding t the degree in which the prpsed prject: 1. Prvides Bradband Access t Unserved Areas Applicatins must prpse t serve areas currently identified as being unserved by the NYS Bradband Map, r validated t be unserved by the submissin f supplemental infrmatin authrized by the respective REDC, and updated n the NYS Bradband Map. 2. Prvides Bradband Access t Underserved Areas Applicatins must prpse t serve areas currently identified as being underserved by the NYS Bradband Map, r validated t be underserved by the submissin f supplemental infrmatin authrized by the respective REDC.
3. Serves Cmmunity Anchr Institutins: Offer new r substantially upgraded service t cmmunity anchr institutins within the regin served. Cmmunity anchr institutins include, but are nt limited t libraries, public safety facilities, cmmunity centers, educatinal institutins, and healthcare facilities. 4. Facilitates the Use f Telemedicine and Electrnic Health Recrds: Prpse t serve rural healthcare clinics and hspitals in an underserved regin f the State, in areas which culd benefit frm the adptin f electrnic medical recrds and the use f telemedicine systems, which meet the current requirements fr the delivery f these services. 5. Serve Ecnmically Distressed Areas: Prpse t ffer bradband service t spur ecnmic grwth in areas f the State which are ecnmically distressed. Prjects that have a significant reginal impact r are likely t increase the cmmunity s ecnmic and scial viability and vitality will be given additinal cnsideratin. Impact and Adptin: Public investments in bradband technlgy must be part f a cmprehensive strategy t transfrm cmmunities and enhance the lives f residents. The significant impact f bradband is nly realized when there is a cmprehensive plan t increase and sustain the adptin f individuals and business sectrs in the cmmunities where bradband netwrks are being deplyed. Bradband deplyment effrts are nt successful unless individuals and businesses acrss each ecnmic sectr utilize bradband t enhance quality f life, start new businesses r expand existing businesses. Applicants shuld demnstrate hw the deplyment f bradband will be incrprated int specific cmmunity prgrams such as libraries, educatin, wrkfrce preparatin, small business supprt, ecnmic develpment, telemedicine and healthcare, and husing. Prjects will be evaluated in this categry accrding t the degree in which the prpsed prject: 1. Prvides Digital Literacy Prgrams t Increase Adptin: Includes plans t increase adptin by supprting digital literacy prgrams in the cmmunity. 2. Addresses Affrdability: Includes prgrams t allw ecnmically disadvantaged individuals t affrd the cst f mnthly Internet service and cmputer equipment t use bradband. (i.e. Prvider discunts fr eligible applicants ffering discunted rates fr Internet service and lw cst cmputer equipment.) 3. Offers Training Prgrams fr Business Sectrs: Includes training prgrams and supprt fr specific business sectrs t increase the adptin f bradband by each sectr. (i.e. In prpsed service areas with a high percentage f agriculture businesses, prgrams t supprt the implementatin f technlgy based applicatins, training prgrams t increase adptin rates, and subsidies t ffset the cst f cmputer equipment and Internet service plans fr farmers.) 4. Increases Bradband Awareness: Include prgrams which serve t increase awareness f bradband and understanding f the benefits bradband brings t individuals and businesses in the cmmunity. (i.e. marketing campaign t prmte digital literacy prgrams, business sectr training classes, and messages which prmte the use f bradband fr the benefit f individuals and the cmmunity.)
Cllabratin and Cmmunity Supprt: A critical success factr fr bradband deplyment prjects is strng cmmunity supprt fr the prject and a cmmunity vested in the successful utcme f the prject. Prjects which are supprted by a calitin f bradband stakehlders representing individual citizens, each sectr f the business cmmunity, and disadvantaged ppulatins have a greater likelihd f realizing the ecnmic and scial benefits f bradband access. Prjects will be evaluated in this categry based n the fllwing: 1. Aggregatin f Demand: Letter f cmmitment frm prspective gvernmental r ther large institutinal users acting as Anchr Tenants, with the develpment f a business mdel t increase the availability f bradband t disadvantaged members f the cmmunity. 2. Public-Private Partnerships: Pints awarded t prjects which include a public-private partnership between gvernment, nn-prfit entities and bradband prviders. 3. Stakehlder Supprt: Whether the prject has demnstrated supprt frm lcal gvernment and private sectr leaders in the lcality and the regin where the prject will be lcated. 4. Prvider Supprt: Cmmitment letter frm a bradband service prvider t implement the prpsed technical slutin prpsed in the applicatin. Leveraging Existing Infrastructure and Funding Surces: Netwrk Infrastructure Many f the bradband access challenges which exist in New Yrk are due t the high cst f last-mile access, particularly in rural and remte areas f the State. Applicatins which avid verlapping service areas and prpse t extend existing service t unserved hmes and business will receive higher scres in this categry. Unserved areas which cntain existing intercnnectin pints shuld endeavr t expand service frm that pint t unserved areas within the same r cntiguus service areas. The cst t build a bradband netwrk during the cnstructin phase f rads and bridge prject is significantly less than pening radways and digging trenches fr the sle purpse f laying fiber and installing telecmmunicatins equipment. In additin t leveraging existing telecmmunicatins infrastructure, pints will als be awarded fr integrating a plan t build a bradband netwrk during the cnstructin phase f public wrks transprtatin and highway prjects. Pints in this categry will be awarded t: 1. Prjects that create a direct cnnectin t the custmer utilizing at least ne r mre existing intercnnectin pints, a lp r a fiber ring. 2. Prjects that cllcate n preexisting public r private infrastructure (thrugh intercnnectin pints). 3. Prjects that prvide transprt services t a last mile prvider that is serving the custmer (e.g., backhaul, Internet access) r make enhancements t middle-mile infrastructure t supprt the last mile. 4. Prjects which maximize the use f existing netwrk capacity and infrastructure t expand bradband service t unserved and underserved areas. 5. Prjects that include the placement f telecmmunicatins cnduit, fiber, and equipment during the cnstructin phase f capital imprvement prjects that require rad penings.
Funding Surces: The Cnnect NY Bradband Grant Prgram requires matching funds equal t 20% f the ttal prject cst. The prgram may prvide additinal funding fr a prject if a cmpelling financial need is demnstrated by the applicant. There are a number f federal, state, and lcal grant and lan prgrams which prvide funding fr bradband prjects. Prjects which have already been awarded funding frm federal r state grant prgrams, (either cmpleted r in prgress), which prpse t expand existing service areas t include additinal unserved and underserved areas, will be given higher pririty fr the Cnnect NY Bradband Grant Prgram. In additin, the United States Department f Agriculture (USDA) currently ffers several bradband grant and lan prgrams fr varius purpses. Bradband prjects which qualify fr existing USDA Bradband Grant and Lan prgrams will be given pririty fr State funding. These include the fllwing USDA prgrams: USDA Rural Bradband Lan Prgram Lans t imprve and build telecmmunicatins service in rural cmmunities. Cmmunity Cnnect Grant Prgram Grants fr bradband service prviders and thers wh ffer bradband services in rural and remte areas. Distance Learning and Telemedicine Prgram Lans and Grants fr prviding Distance Learning and Telemedicine services t rural residents and anchr institutins in rural and remte areas. Cmmunity-Oriented Cnnectivity Bradband Grant Prgram serves rural cmmunities withut existing bradband service (private entities, state and lcal jurisdictins included) Telecmmunicatins Lan Prgram - nging lan prgram fr building bradband netwrks in rural cmmunities. Pints in this categry will be awarded t applicatins which: 1. Include additinal matching funds in excess f the required 20% frm ther public r private surces. 2. Received previus funding frm public grant surces and are prpsing t expand the service area t include additinal unserved r underserved areas (includes telemedicine grants and lans seeking t expand access t unserved and underserved cmmunities and anchr institutins, if permitted by the cnditins f the grant prgram.) 3. Qualify fr existing federal bradband grant and lan prgrams, with a pending applicatin already filed with the administering grant r lan authrity. REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT: Up t an additinal 20% f the evaluatin criteria will be based n the degree t which the Cnnect NY prject meets and advances the gals and bjectives stated in the Reginal Cuncil Strategic Plan. Additinal Resurces: David Salway Directr, NYS Bradband Prgram Office Empire State Develpment 866-322-5787 Nysbradband@esd.ny.gv www.nysbradband.ny.gv