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NTIA Webinar

NTIA - Internet for All Webinar Series - Project Portion of the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program Application

On July 13, 2022, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hosted the "Internet for All" webinar series, which focused on the project portion of the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program Application.

The goal of this webinar was to provide an in-depth look at all the parameters that proposed projects must meet under the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program.  This webinar provided applicants with technical assistance and prepared them to write high-quality applications.

Recording and slides can be found at: https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/events/latest-events/internet-all-webinar-series-project-portion-enabling-middle-mile-broadband  

Upcoming webinars:

8/10/22: Budget

Applications due 9/30 at 11:59pm for 5 year deployment 

Awards announced no earlier than 3/31/23 with funds available around mid-July 2023

  • Executive Summary: narrative section has character limits (characters, not words-spaces count) that it strictly adheres to (6,000 characters in executive summary)
    • You can expand the narrative fields with the hash marks in the corner to see more than the visible lines
    • Should be high level, comprehensive and thorough, clear purpose of how it’s advancing middle mile grant program, clear indication of level of need in the service area
    • Be specific but not too wordy; however, make sure no new information that is introduced that is already in the rest of the application
    • Should not be highly technical and should address budget and expected matching contribution
    • You should consider this information potentially public - may be in a press release
    • Consider writing this last
  • Level of Need Narrative: What is the value-add of the project?  What is the projected number of users?  
    • Confirm proposal is consistent with state priorities 
    • You can provide more detail here within character limit - with a goal to get a comprehensive picture of the broadband ecosystem that exists in service area and how your application will improve it
    • If you have bold ideas, this is where you should put them
  • Government & Community Involvement (3,000 character limit)
    • Know your customer and understand the areas you’ll be serving to make this the best application possible
  • Binding Commitment & Statutory Purpose
    • Fiscally sustainable Middle Mile Grant strategies - key part
    • Non-discriminatory interconnect to parties - should also be in interconnect policy response
    • Identify supplemental investments or in-kind support that would accelerate completion of project
    • Application will be prioritized if you meet at least two of the five criteria in questions 4-8 of this section
  • Benefitting National Security Interests
  • Project Timeline: must have a buildout that includes milestones for implementation
    • Narrative must describe key milestones and include risk and risk mitigation 
    • You will complete the project within 5 years of receiving funds
    • Only upload PDF, Excel, or Powerpoint
    • 40% by end of 2nd year, 60% by end of 3rd year, 80% by end of 4th year, 100% by end of 5th year
  • Tribal Certification & Waivers: special rules do exist for tribal governments & native entities
    • Statement must be on tribal letterhead with supporting information and how determination was made
  • Program details: obey the law
    • Must be in compliance with federal labor & employment laws-certificate from director-level employee
    • Provide narrative statements about workforce narratives and commitments
      • Workforce will be appropriately skilled and credentialed
      • Detail how project will invest in a diverse and well-trained workforce\
    • Climate resiliency: identify hazards, characterize any risks following 20 years after deployment
  • Technical capabilities:
    • Provide a certification you’re technically qualified to complete the project - not a 3rd party certificate
    • Technology: If fiber optic is sole tech chosen, you have to complete mandatory field that BB service speeds will be no less than 1GB per second for downloads and uploads within 1,000 ft of middle mile infrastructure; also have to upload Community Anchor Institute (CAI) template
      • Can request a waiver and have to attach waiver application 
    • Network route map: must provide a physical map; must delineate between network & facilities that are part of applicant’s network, proposed as part of project, leased from a third party, utilized under some alternative arrangement
      • Only ESRI shapefiles (.shp, .shx, .shx) will be accepted
    • Data submission specification template - all required fields must be filled in
    • Network logical diagram - requiring the diagram clearly indicates existing elements showing existing nodes, proposed aggregation node facilities serving as egress, points of interconnection and collocation facilities; show distance, preferably in miles
      • Should include capacity constraints
    • Environmental narrative - must be compliant or will not be considered; must provide a complete physical description inclusive of location, duration, equipment used; any effects on environment with as much detail as possible; images and photographs are to be uploaded
  • Required documents:
    • Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) - part of the budget portion
    • Table of funded Partners and Unfunded Collaborators (template has been provided) - complete template as a draft prior to going into the portal - specify role and scope of each participant
    • Certificate of Operational Capability: form must be provided from officer-level employee or equivalent

Moderated by: Sarah Salgado, NTIA

Presented by: Mike Tibodeau, Telecommunications Policy Analyst with the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth

Ming Qiu, Grants Officers with NIST, Sarah Bleau, NTIA Broadband Specialist