PKG00248253-instructions.pdf

Community Connect Grant Program Application

Guide for Fiscal Year 2019

Rural Utilities Service Telecommunications Program

February 2019

Table of Contents

Introduction and General Information

Changes for 2019:

Applying for a Grant

Completing the Grant Application

Introduction and General Information

Rural Utilities Service Telecommunications Program

Community Connect Grant Program

The Community Connect Grant Program (Community Connect Program) is designed to provide financial assistance to provide service at the Broadband Grant Speed in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service does not currently exist. Grant funds may be used to: (1) deploy service at the Broadband Grant Speed to essential community facilities, rural residents, and rural businesses, (2) construct, acquire, or expand a community center, and (3) equip a community center that provides free access to service at the Broadband Grant Speed to community residents for at least two years. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis for entities to serve all premises in eligible rural areas at the Broadband Grant Speed to ensure rural consumers enjoy the same quality and range of broadband services as are available in urban and suburban communities.

!! BEFORE YOU GET STARTED!!

You must read:

7 CFR 1739, Subpart A

And

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) published on Grants.gov on

February 12, 2019.

The regulation MUST be used in conjunction with this Application Guide.

Should any differences result in the interpretation of this Application Guide and the regulation, the regulation takes precedence over information contained in this Application Guide.

For additional information concerning this grant program, please contact:

Loan Origination and Approval Division, Telecommunications Program

(202) 720-0800 or Email: community.connect@wdc.usda.gov.

Additional information and forms are available on our website at:

http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-connect-grants mailto:community.connect@wdc.usda.gov http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-connect-grants

When and Where to Submit Application:

GRANT applications must be submitted or postmarked by:

APRIL 15, 2019

Applications must be submitted in EITHER of the following two ways:

1) Electronically via www.grants.gov

2) Postmarked, shipped, or hand-delivered paper copy of a completed application, with original signatures, accompanied by an electronic version in the form of a CD-ROM or

USB Flash Drive. The paper application and the CD-ROM/USB Flash Drive must be submitted to:

Deputy Assistant Administrator

Loan Origination and Approval Division

Rural Utilities Service

STOP 1597, Room 2844

1400 Independence Ave., SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-1597

Due to the possible disruptions in mail delivery service, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications via express mail or hand delivery to our office.

Applicants that submit their applications after the deadline noted above will be notified that their applications will not be considered for funding and their applications will be returned.

Prior to official submission of applications, applicants may request technical assistance or other application guidance from the Agency, as long as such requests are made prior to March 29, 2019. Technical assistance is not meant to be an analysis or assessment of the quality of the materials submitted, a substitute for agency review of completed applications, nor a determination of eligibility, if such determination requires in-depth analysis. The Agency will not solicit or consider scoring or eligibility information that is submitted after the application deadline. The Agency reserves the right to contact applications to seek clarification information on materials contained in the submitted application.

file:///C:/Users/Scott.Steiner/Desktop/www.grants.gov

Applications Delivered by Mail:

Paper applications must show proof of mailing or shipping consisting of one of the following:

1. A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service (USPS) postmark;

2. A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the USPS; or

3. A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier showing the commercial carrier received the package on or before the application submittal deadline.

Self-generated shipping labels where the actual pickup by the carrier occurs after the application submittal deadline are not acceptable.

If an application is sent through the USPS, neither of the following will be accepted as proof of mailing:

1. A private metered postmark; or

2. A mail receipt that is not dated by the USPS.

Applicants should note that the USPS does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should check with its local post office.

Applications Delivered by Hand:

Applications delivered by hand will be accepted daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Eastern

Time), except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Individuals delivering applications must provide proper identification to enter the building.

Applications Submitted Electronically:

Electronic applications will only be accepted when submitted through the Grants.gov website. Applications will not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or electronic mail.

https://www.grants.gov

Before submitting an application on-line, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) strongly encourages you to obtain all necessary sign-ups, credentials and authorizations well in advance of the deadline.

All Community Connect grant applicants must register with the System for Award Management

(SAM), the primary vendor database for the US Federal government, before applying for federal funding. This includes applicants submitting both electronic and paper applications. Applicants may register with SAM at https://www.sam.gov/ or by calling 1-877-332-8277. Applicants should keep in mind that it can take up to ten business days to register with SAM, so applicants should plan accordingly and begin the process well in advance of the application deadline. In order to register with SAM, your organization will need a Data Universal Numbering System

(DUNS) number.

In addition, Grants.gov requires some one-time credentialing and online authentication procedures. These procedures may take several business days to complete. Several requirements on Grants.gov call for an annual update; applicants should also ensure that their credentials and authorizations are up-to-date.

The Grants.gov website, like all web facilities, has finite capacity. If several federal grant programs have the same application deadline date, periods of site overloading can be experienced. Please plan accordingly.

Please follow the instructions at Grants.gov. If you experience a technical problem retrieving or submitting an electronic application, contact the Grants.gov customer support resources (click the "Customer Support" tab on any page of Grants.gov to get started). RUS staffers do not control the technical aspects of Grants.gov and won't be able to help you if you experience a problem. However, we are available to answer questions about the Program and the contents of an application.

Changes for 2019:

The previous requirement to provide service to Critical Community Facilities has changed to

Essential Community Facilities as defined in 7 C.F.R. 3570.53.

The FOA requires that grants funds be used to fund at least 2, but not more than 10 computer access points. Previously, matching funds could be used for this purpose. Under the FY 2019 program, grant funds MUST be used to purchase these computers.

Multiple applications may be submitted, but in such a case, only the highest scoring of those applications may be awarded. The application requirements are therefore updated to remove pro-forma projections that account for the receipt of multiple awards and the ability to provide matching funds to support multiple awards.

Major Definitions and Limits:

1. Grant Request Limits a The minimum grant request amount is: $100,000 b The maximum grant request amount is: $3,000,000

2. Broadband Speeds a Broadband Service means any terrestrial technology having the capacity to provide transmission facilities that enable subscribers of the service to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video at the minimum data rate of ten (10) megabits per second downstream and one (1) megabit per second upstream for both fixed and mobile service. Any proposed service area that is currently served with broadband service is ineligible to receive funding.

b Broadband Grant Speed means the minimum data rate of twenty-five (25) megabits per second downstream and three (3) megabits per second upstream for both fixed and mobile service that an applicant must propose to deliver to every customer in the proposed funded service area in order for the Agency to approve a broadband grant.

3. Proposed Funded Service Area (PFSA) – Applications will serve one proposed funded service area. Applicants define their PFSA by using the web based RUS Mapping Tool.

The PFSA must be a single contiguous geographic area that may consist of a single or multiple community(ies), a single or multiple county(ies), and may be located in more than one State. The entire PFSA must be rural with no Broadband Service available. It is important to note that all premises (households & businesses) in the service area must be offered service at the Broadband Grant Speed.

4. Matching Fund Contribution - The match the applicant is required to contribute towards the project remains at 15 percent of the requested grant amount. The match must be in cash and can be used to fund operations or facilities of the project. The match must be in the form of cash that is available at closing. In-kind contributions are not eligible to be used to satisfy the required match.

5. Operating Expenses – Operating expenses are not an eligible grant purpose, with the exception of the following:

a Bandwidth expenses to provide free broadband service at the Broadband Grant

Speed to all the Essential Community Facilities for two years; and, b Leasing of facilities which may include spectrum, land, towers or buildings that will be used to deploy service at the Broadband Grant Speed.

6. Community Center – Grant funds for the community center will be limited to the lesser of 10% of the requested grant amount or $150,000. If grant funds are used for the construction of a community center, then the building must reside on property owned by the applicant.

Applying for a Grant

Grant Processing

Completed applications must be postmarked, hand-delivered, or submitted through https://www.grants.gov by April 15, 2019 in order to be considered for funding. Grant applications will be reviewed and scored in accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR 1739 and the FOA.

For FY 2019, one proposal per applicant is eligible for approval. If an applicant submits more than one proposal, then the Agency will only consider the application with the highest score.

Applicant Eligibility

Only entities legally organized as one of the following are eligible for funding:

i. An incorporated organization;

ii. An Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304;

iii. A State;

iv. A unit of local government;

v. Any other legal entity, including a cooperative, private corporation, or limited liability company organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.

NOTE: The applicant may not be an individual or partnership.

Applicants must have the legal capacity and authority to own and operate the broadband facilities as proposed in the application, to enter into contracts and to otherwise comply with applicable federal statutes and regulations. If the applicant is seeking to partner with another entity to operate the system, an agreement or draft agreement to do so must be provided with the application. This agreement must address the specific financial terms of this partnership and the specific entity/entities must be identified, along with their qualifications to operate the system.

Applications which rely on such a partnership but do not provide pertinent details will be rejected, as RUS cannot determine the technical and financial feasibility of the project lacking such information. RUS may consider an application based on such an agreement submitted with the application, but if the application is ultimately awarded, RUS reserves the right to require modifications to such agreements if they are found to contain terms which are unacceptable to

RUS.

Whether applying electronically or by paper, all applicants are required to supply a Dun and

Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and register in the System for

Award Management (SAM).

Project Eligibility

To be eligible for a grant, the Project must:

▪ Serve a Proposed Funded Service Area (PFSA) where Broadband Service (10 Mbps/1

Mbps) does not currently exist, to be verified by RUS prior to the award of the grant.

The PFSA is defined as a contiguous geographic area within an eligible rural area. When determining if a PFSA has no existing Broadband Service, we encourage applicants to refer to the Federal Communication Commission as one of their sources

(https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov or https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/maps, though the applicant is responsible for ensuring no service is available.

▪ Offer service at the Broadband Grant Speed to ALL residential and business customers within the PFSA.

▪ Offer service at the Broadband Grant Speed, free of all charges for at least 2 years starting from the time service becomes available to each Essential Community Facility, as defined in 7 C.F.R. 3570.53, located within the PFSA.

▪ Provide a Community Center located in the PFSA, with at least two (2) Computer

Access Points and wireless access at the Broadband Grant Speed (25 Mbps/3 Mbps), free of all charges, to users for at least 2 years and open and accessible to the public before, during and after normal working hours and on Saturdays or Sundays. Working hours are generally understood to be 9 am- 5 pm and at least 40 hours a week, though the applicant https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/ https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/maps should address the specific needs of their community. Up to 10 Computer Access Points may be funded with grant funds.

▪ Not overlap with the service areas of current RUS borrowers and grantees.

Eligible Grant Purposes

Grant funds may be used to finance:

1. The construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, including spectrum, land, towers or buildings, used to deploy service at the Broadband Grant Speed to all residential and business customers located within the PFSA and all participating Essential

Community Facilities, including the funding for at least two (2) but no more than ten

(10) Computer Access Points to be used in the Community Center. Buildings constructed with grant funds must reside on land owned by the applicant. Leasing costs will only be covered for a three-year period during the advance of funds period which will be listed in the award documents.

2. The improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of a Community Center that is used for providing free access to service at the Broadband Grant Speed, provided that the Community Center is open and accessible to area residents before, during, and after normal working hours and on Saturday or Sunday. Grant funds provided for the Community Center shall not exceed the lesser of 10% of the total grant amount requested or $150,000. The costs of the computer access points, their installation, or connection to the broadband system are not included in this limitation.

Note: If the total construction cost of the Community Center exceeds the maximum limit mentioned above, it will be the responsibility of the applicant to finance the additional costs.

3. The cost of providing the necessary bandwidth to provide service at the Broadband

Grant Speed free of charge to the Essential Community Facilities for 2 years.

NOTE: All equipment purchased for this Project must be new or non-depreciated.

Ineligible Grant Purposes

1. Grant Funds may not be used to finance the duplication of any existing Broadband

Service provided by other entities.

2. Operating expenses are ineligible with the exception of lease costs for facilities used to deploy broadband service and bandwidth expenses. All other operating expenses can be funded by the required matching contribution. The cost associated with the leasing of building space for a Community Center is ineligible for grant funding.

However, the matching contribution can be used for this purpose.

NOTE: Costs incurred by the applicant, or others on behalf of the applicant, for facilities, installed equipment, or other services rendered prior to submission of a completed application, shall not be considered as eligible grant or match purposes.

Matching Funds Requirement

When the application is submitted, the awardee must provide or demonstrate available cash reserves equal to at least 15% of the total amount of financial assistance being requested.

Matching contributions must be used solely for the Project. Those selected for a Community

Connect Grant Program award must submit quarterly schedules to RUS that identify how the match contribution was used to support the project until the total contribution is expended.

Matching funds shall be in the form of cash and can be used for any expenses related to the project, including any operating expenses.

Ineligible sources of matching contributions:

1. Manufacturer or service provider discounts.

2. In-kind contributions.

3. Income generated from the proposed project.

4. Any financial assistance from Federal sources unless there is a Federal statutory exception authorizing the Federal financial assistance to be considered as a matching contribution.

5. All non-cash items.

Special Matching Provisions for American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the

Northern Mariana Islands. Under Federal law, applications from these areas are exempt from matching requirements up to $200,000.

Completing the Grant Application

This section addresses all of the information that must be submitted in order for an application to be deemed complete and considered for funding. Please make sure that all the necessary information is included in the appropriate section.

A. Standard Form 424, SAM

Registration and Other

Documentation

B. An Executive Summary of the

Project

C. Scoring Criteria Documentation

D. System Design

E. Service Area Map and

Demographics

F. Scope of Work

G. Community-Oriented Connectivity

Plan

H. Financial Information and

Sustainability

I. A Statement of Experience

J. Additional Funding

K. Compliance with Other Federal

Statutes and Regulation

Application Checklist

Please download the checklist from our web site at https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/CC_Application_Checklist_Final.xlsx Please fill out, sign and date the check list and attach the signed checklist to your application. Schedules K-3, K-5, K-6, K-7, and K-8 do not need to be printed and signed separately, the applicant acknowledges they are certified to by signing the checklist. For K-5 and K-6 attach a narrative explaining the answers to the questions contained in the form. The rest of the certifications must be signed and included in the application (except K-9 if the applying entity is not a corporation). If you have any questions about your application, please contact RUS prior to submitting the application and certification.

A. Standard Form 424, SAM Registration and Other Documentation

The following Schedules must be included in this Section:

Schedule A-1

All applicants requesting funding under the Community Connect Grant Program must complete the Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424). A copy of the form and instructions has been attached to this document. Additional instructions for specific line items also are included below. The form and any attachments referenced in this Guide can also be found on our website at http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-connect-grants.

Additional Instructions for SF-424 Form

Block 8: There are multiple entries in this block. We will use the contact information provided in this box for all contact and correspondence. Please complete this in full and attach a sheet if you want to provide additional contacts. It is crucial that we have accurate information, including a reliable e-mail address for rapid correspondence. Otherwise, correspondence will be sent by mail. You must provide full, accurate contact information for someone with the authority to answer any questions that RUS staff may have about your application.

If you wish to supply a contact from outside your organization, attach a letter immediately behind the SF-424 listing these items: person's name, organization, contact information (phone, fax, e-mail, mailing address), relationship to your organization. Make sure the letter contains language granting authority to the person to answer our questions or provide additional information on your behalf, and any time limit you wish to apply to that person's authority. This letter must be signed by the signatory on the SF-424.

As required by the Office of Management and Budget, all applicants for grants must supply a

Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. Call Dun and

Bradstreet (1-866-705-5711) to obtain a DUNS number. The following website will provide you with more information:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/CC_Application_Checklist_Final.xlsx http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-connect-grants http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

Block 10: The Name of the Federal Agency is Rural Utilities Service.

Block 11: The Catalog of Federal Assistance Number is 10.863.

Block 12: Funding Opportunity Number is RDRUS-CC-2019. The Title is “Community

Connect Grant Program”.

Block 14: Please provide the name of the Community(ies), County(ies), and State(s) where the grant funds will be used.

Block 15: Brief descriptive title of project.

Block 16: Please provide the Congressional District(s) for the service area you are proposing to cover in your project.

Block 19: Please select “C” “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372”.

Block 20: You must supply an explanation of the delinquency if you check “yes”.

Block 21: Please be sure to check “I agree”. The application must be signed by an authorized representative of the organization that will own and operate the project if the grant is awarded. If the authorized representative is not a corporate officer, evidence must be included that demonstrates that the authorized representative has authority to obligate the organization.

Schedule A-2

SAM Registration and Supporting Documentation

The applicant must provide a printout of the organization’s SAM.gov registration which clearly identifies the CAGE code assigned by SAM.gov and confirms the registration was active before the application was submitted. The SAM.gov registration must remain active with current information while RUS is considering an application and while a Federal Grant Award or loan is active. To maintain the registration in the SAM.gov database the applicant must review and update annually. To complete this section of the application, provide the SAM Cage Code assigned when you registered. For this schedule, please provide a printout of your organization’s SAM registration, which clearly identifies the CAGE code assigned by

SAM.gov and confirms the registration was active before the application was submitted. In addition, please address that yours is an eligible organization. Only entities legally organized as one of the following are eligible for funding:

i. An incorporated organization;

ii. An Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304;

iii. A State;

iv. A unit of local government;

v. Any other legal entity, including a cooperative, private corporation, or limited liability company organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.

To support this, the applicant must provide acceptable evidence of legal existence.

Corporations or LLCs must provide evidence of good standing in accordance with the laws of the state or other body under which they are organized. For entities that exist under law, rather than through incorporation or other action, a copy of the state statute, regulation, or other appropriate documentation must be provided to confirm the legal name of the entity. Evidence of tax status from the Internal Revenue Service or a state department of taxation is not evidence of legal existence.

The Entity Name, DUNS Number and SAM.gov registration must be for the applicant. It cannot be for a parent, subsidiary or other affiliated entity.

It is important that the exact name of the legal entity applying for the grant be listed in block 8 of the SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance, and that the entity be legally eligible to receive the award and take legal ownership over items acquired under the grant.

Applications that do not demonstrate both the applicant’s legal existence as an entity that is eligible to apply for a grant and its legal authority to contract with the United States

Government will be returned as ineligible.

B. An Executive Summary of the Project

The Executive Summary of the project is one of the most important parts of the application. It gives reviewers their first overall view of the area to be served, what problems the residents face, and how the proposed project will help alleviate those problems, increase quality of life, and provide enhanced opportunities for businesses and rural residents. This is your opportunity to discuss the core aspects of the project. Be clear and provide convincing links between the project and the benefits to the Proposed Funded Service Area (PFSA).

The Executive Summary must provide a general project overview covering the following six categories:

1. A description of the PFSA and why the project is needed;

2. A description of the applicant which includes but is not limited to, the history of the organization and any past or current projects and community related activities or awards;

3. An explanation of the total Project costs;

4. A general overview of the broadband system to be constructed, including the types of equipment, technologies, and facilities that will be used;

5. Documentation describing the procedures used to determine the unavailability of existing Broadband Service in the PFSA. Applicants are encouraged to refer to the

Federal Communication Commission’s National Broadband Map, contact the appropriate General Field Representative (GFR) (https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/telecom-gfr) and to contact the local phone and video providers serving the PFSA in order to determine if Broadband Service is available. In order to provide this documentation, applicants can complete a table like the one below:

Resource Contact

Person

Results

FCC N/A Consulted FCC data and it does not appear that Broadband

Service is available within the PFSA.

Local Phone

Companies

VP of

Operations

The VP of Operations confirmed that the company does not offer, nor do they intend to offer, Broadband Service anywhere in the PFSA.

Local Video

Companies

President The President confirmed that the company does not offer, nor do they intend to offer, Broadband Service anywhere in the PFSA.

Resource Contact

Person

Results

Local WISP Serving

Within the County

Owner The owner confirmed that the company does not offer, nor do they intend to offer, Broadband Service anywhere in the PFSA.

A list of the participating Essential Community Facilities (such as schools, public medical clinics, police and fire departments, public hospitals, etc.) and evidence that any remaining

Essential Community Facility located in the PFSA has rejected the offer for free service at the

Broadband Grant Speed. This can be in the form of a letter preferably on official letterhead from the organization, if available. The Community Center must be addressed and to the extent it depends on other entities, these commitments should be addressed (letters of intent, lease agreements, etc.)

At the end of the Executive Summary, please provide a section noted “Publicly Releasable

Project Description” which contains the following information:

1. Title of Project

2. Proposed Funded Service Area Description

3. Brief Description of Project

Any information included in this section may be released to interested parties inquiring about your application, so please provide an adequate description of the project, but do not include any information you would object being released to the public. Please clearly denote the section which you agree is publicly releasable, including where the releasable description begins AND ends.

C. Scoring Criteria Documentation

The ranking of the benefits of the Project will be based on documentation in support of the need for services, benefits derived from the proposed services, characteristics of the Proposed Funded

Service Area (PFSA), local community involvement in planning and implementation of the

Project, and the level of experience of the management team. In ranking applications the

Agency will consider the following criteria based on a scale of 100 possible points:

1. PFSA Needs (up to 50 points):

An analysis of the challenges found within the PFSA using the following criteria, and discussion of how the Project proposes to address these issues:

a The economic characteristics. Describe the economic conditions of the PFSA including current quality of life, household income, unemployment data, employment by sector (manufacturing, agriculture, retail, etc.), and any major employers in the area. Scored out of 15 points with a preference to areas with low income compared to the state MHI, high unemployment, and overall economic trend

(stagnant or declining economic characteristics will score higher).

b Educational challenges. Describe the challenges facing educational institutions within the PFSA and provide an assessment of these institutions’ current use of technology (e.g., distance learning programs, computer classes, use of online tools for classroom presentations by instructors and students). In addition, describe in detail how the proposed project will not only increase but improve the use of technology at these institutions. Scored out of 15 points with preference given to applications that have specific support of challenges identified with support for these challenges.

c Health care needs. Provide a complete list of public medical clinics and hospitals in the PFSA and their current use of broadband services, if any, such as telemedicine.

Statements can be provided from medical professionals describing their need for broadband services to provide advanced medical technology and describe how the proposed project can support these advances. Scored out of 10 points with preference given to applications that have specific support of health care needs identified and a full proposal for how the project will improve health care conditions.

d Public safety issues. Include a listing of police, fire and rescue services which cover the PFSA. Address the current state of any public safety issues and how the proposed project will lead to improvements of the technology being used. Scored out of 10 points with preference given to applications that that have specific support of issues provided and fully address how the project will improve these public safety issues.

2. Stakeholder Involvement (up to 40 points):

Documentation that demonstrates the extent of participation and support by local residents and

Essential Community Facilities in the Project’s planning, development, and implementation.

The application should include evidence of local involvement in such activities as community meetings, public forums, and surveys. Preference will be given to applications that provide support from residential, business, and local, state or Federal interests shown to be within the

PFSA applied for. Support letters should address specific needs and where there is interest in participating in the project (donation of space for the Community Center, for example) should specifically document that intent.

3. Management Experience (10 points):

Qualifications and ability of the key personnel who will construct, manage, and operate the broadband system. Include any past experiences and successes of operating a broadband system which is similar to the proposed broadband system.

Note: Administrator Consideration

In making the final selection among and between applications with comparable rankings and geographic distribution, the Administrator may take into consideration the characteristics of the

PFSA. Only information that is provided in the application will be considered; therefore, RUS strongly encourages the applicant to specifically address each of the following criteria to differentiate their application(s) from other applications:

a Persistent poverty counties that will be served within the PFSA;

b Out-migration communities (continuous movement of population out of the community) that will be served within the PFSA;

c The rurality of the PFSA;

d The speed of broadband service that is offered to all the subscribers in the

PFSA;

e Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA) that will be served within the

PFSA. If the Administrator determines that a community in “trust land” (as defined in section 3765 of title 38, United States Code) has a high need for the benefits of the Community Connect Program, he may designate the community as a “substantially underserved trust area” (as defined in section 306F of the

RE Act) ;

f Community members with disabilities that will be served within the PFSA;

g Any other additional factors that may be outlined in the NOFA.

D. System Design

The system design contains all the technical information on the applicant’s existing (if applicable) and the proposed system. The following information must be included in this section:

1. A detailed description of the existing network, if applicable, which includes the following:

a. The current service area(s).

b. The types of services (voice, video and/or data) offered and the number of subscribers taking each type of service.

c. The total number of establishments served. For wireline networks, specify the number of establishments passed with the network. For wireless networks, specify the total number of establishments covered by the network.

d. The types of technologies used in the network.

e. A description of the current connection to the Internet Service Provider (ISP).

2. A detailed description of the proposed network which includes the following:

a. The PFSA as proposed in the application.

b. Any upgrades that will be made to the existing network, if applicable.

c. The types of services (voice, video and/or data) to be offered in the PFSA.

d. The types of technology to be deployed in the PFSA and how the technology will facilitate the offering of service at the Broadband Grant Speed.

e. The estimated number of establishments to be served. Provide detailed information showing that all households and businesses within the PFSA will be offered broadband service at the Broadband Grant Speed when the system is complete.

f. A description of the proposed connection to the ISP and any changes needed to the existing system to accommodate additional capacity, if any.

3. A description of the design parameters used in engineering the system. Examples include oversubscription ratio calculations, bandwidth consumption per user, link loss, data rates per link, redundancy requirements, and technical specifications.

4. A description of any licenses and/or agreements required to construct and operate the network and the status of securing those licenses/agreements.

5. A network diagram (Schedule D-1) of the applicant’s existing network (if applicable) and the proposed network. This diagram shall be a block diagram that clearly shows how the traffic flows through the network from the interconnection points with the backbone service providers to the end users. The following information must be shown on the network diagram:

a. The location of the essential community facilities, the proposed community center, and all major network elements.

b. The route miles between each network element.

c. The bandwidth capacity between the network elements.

d. The types of facilities (fiber, copper, microwave, etc.) that are or will be used for establishing the connection between the network elements and the points-of-connection with the backbone service providers.

e. The location of any leased facilities and the owner of these facilities.

6. Information on environmental compliance. Applicants must complete and submit an

Environmental Questionnaire (Schedule D-2) in accordance with 7 CFR 1970, for any facilities that will be constructed with Community Connect Grant Program funds. A copy of 7 CFR Part 1970 can be retrieved from: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4893726df467c812bc13ae8339b86220&mc=true&node=pt7.14.1970&rgn=div

5.

NOTE: When designing and constructing the network proposed in the application, the applicant must adhere to all federal, state, and local requirements. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the System Design be prepared by a registered engineer licensed in the State in which the facilities will be constructed or by qualified personnel on the applicant’s staff with experience in designing the type of broadband system proposed in the application.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4893726df467c812bc13ae8339b86220&mc=true&node=pt7.14.1970&rgn=div5 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4893726df467c812bc13ae8339b86220&mc=true&node=pt7.14.1970&rgn=div5 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4893726df467c812bc13ae8339b86220&mc=true&node=pt7.14.1970&rgn=div5

Schedule D-2

Community Connect Grant Program

Environmental Questionnaire

Legal Name of Applicant:

Overview

The USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is required to assess the impacts of proposed federal actions, such as the provision of financial assistance through the Community Connect Grant

Program, to the human environment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA), Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Endangered Species

Act (ESA), and other federal, state, and local environmental laws. Community Connect Grant

Program applicants must complete an Environmental Questionnaire (EQ) and submit it with their applications. The EQ provides information to RUS so that it can either complete the environmental review process or determine the appropriate level of additional impact analyses needed, in accordance with RUS Environmental Policies and Procedures, 7 CFR 1970

(http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4893726df467c812bc13ae8339b86220&mc=true&node=pt7.14.1970&rgn=div5).

RUS will notify applicants if additional information or analyses are necessary beyond what was submitted in the EQ.

No construction activities may begin until final environmental approval from RUS is granted. In accordance with 7 CFR § 1970.12, awardees are prohibited from taking actions that may have an adverse environmental impact or limit the choice of practicable alternatives that may be considered until RUS has concluded the environmental review process. If the proposed project involves construction activities or property acquisition, the applicant is generally prohibited from acquiring, rehabilitating, converting, leasing, repairing or constructing property or facilities, or committing or expending Agency or non-Agency funds until after RUS has concluded its environmental review requirements.

An applicant may submit to RUS a copy of any environmental review document that has been prepared in connection with obtaining permits, approvals, or other financing for the proposed project from state, local or other federal agencies. Such material, to the extent determined to be relevant, may be used to fulfill RUS environmental review requirements.

Applicants shall not reference items provided in other parts of the application package in the EQ;

all materials relevant to the EQ must be integrated herein to facilitate timely review.

Requested Information

A. Project Description and Location: Describe all project-related construction activities, including, but not limited to, the construction or renovation of a community center, the construction and installation of cable (buried and/or aerial), and/or the installation of telecommunications transmission facilities including construction of new towers and/or collocations. Complete descriptions, locations and mapping must be provided for each site affected by project-related construction activities (recommend U.S. Geological

Survey 7.5-minute quadrangle maps at a map scale of 1:24,000; larger scale maps may be provided for site-specific proposals). USGS maps may be obtained and purchased at the following website: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/maps.html. All project elements, if known at the time of the application, must be clearly depicted on any map provided. If appropriate, photographs or aerial photographs of site-specific proposals may be provided.

B. Land Use: Describe the amount of property to be cleared, excavated, fenced, or otherwise disturbed by the proposed project, and the current land use and zoning for each project site affected by construction. Document whether the proposed project is located on public land owned or managed by the federal government. For information related to federal lands see the following website (https://navigator.blm.gov/home). This website provides cadastral survey and land management information and data from the National

Integrated Land System specifically the distribution of the Public Land Survey System

(PLSS), other survey-based data, and federal land boundaries. Detailed guidance related to evaluating impacts related to land use can be found in Subpart L of Rural

Development’s Environmental Policies and Procedures

(https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/19701.pdf)

C. Wetlands: Describe and indicate whether wetlands are present on or near the project site(s) affected by proposed construction (maps of wetlands may be obtained from the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetland Inventory website

(http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/, or from soil maps obtained from the USDA, Natural

Resource Conservation Service's website

(http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/soils/home/), focusing on areas of hydric soil(s)). If wetlands are identified within the project area, please document where the project components will be located in relation to the identified wetland areas. Detailed guidance related to evaluating impacts to wetlands can be found in Subpart G of Rural

(https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970g.pdf)

D. Threatened and Endangered Species: Describe and indicate whether any proposed project site(s) will directly or indirectly affect any threatened, endangered or candidate species, or is/are within or near critical habitats. Applicants must provide species lists and appropriate specie accounts (i.e. requisite habitat) for each county affected by construction obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's website

(http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/). Information about potential critical habitat areas can also be found on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s website noted above. The attached

Environmental Review Fact Sheet gives further detail on the information to provide.

http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/maps.html https://navigator.blm.gov/home https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/19701.pdf http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/ http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/soils/home/ https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970g.pdf http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/ file:///C:/Users/Scott.Steiner/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/2JTLQIRR/noted

Detailed guidance related to evaluating impacts to threatened and endangered species can be found in Subpart N of Rural Development’s Environmental Policies and Procedures

(https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970n.pdf).

E. Floodplains: Describe and indicate whether or not any facility(ies) or site(s) are located within a 100-year or 500-year floodplain. If any project-related construction activities are within floodplains, a copy of a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that depicts construction activities must be included. Information related to floodplains and National

Flood Insurance Maps may be obtained from the Federal Emergency Management

Agency's (FEMA) website (https://msc.fema.gov/portal/). Detailed guidance related to evaluating impacts to and from floodplains can be found in Subpart F of Rural

(https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970f.pdf).

F. Coastal Areas: Determine whether or not the project is within the boundaries of a coastal zone management area (CZMA). For boundary related and contact information related to

CZMA, see National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Ocean and

Coastal Resource Management's website (https://coast.noaa.gov/). Detailed guidance related to evaluating impacts to coastal areas can be found in Subpart O of Rural

(https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970o.pdf).

G. Brownfields: Determine whether the project is located within a brownfield site. Per 42

U.S.C. 9601, the term ''brownfield site'' means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Maps and locations of sites, facilities and properties that have been contaminated by hazardous materials and are being, or have been, cleaned up under EPA's Superfund, RCRA and/or brownfields cleanup programs can be found at the EPA’s Cleanups in My Community website

(https://www.epa.gov/cleanups/cleanups-my-communityDetailed guidance related to evaluating impacts from locating projects at brownfield sites can be found in Subpart J of

Rural Development’s Environmental Policies and Procedures

(https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970j.pdf)

H. Section 106 Review: Applicants are delegated the authority to initiate consultation with

State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs) and engage with interested tribes related to their projects. Prior to initiating any communications, please see the attached

Environmental Review Fact Sheet to determine whether the proposed project will require such communication. In some cases, statewide programmatic agreements may apply, please contact RUS for more information. Detailed guidance and template letters related to evaluating impacts to historic and cultural resources can be found at Subpart H of

Rural Development’s Environmental Policies and Procedures

(https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970h.pdf).

https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970n.pdf https://msc.fema.gov/portal/ https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970f.pdf https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970o.pdf https://www.epa.gov/cleanups/cleanups-my-community https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970j.pdf

Applications Subject to FCC Section 106 Reviews

Applicants who propose to use Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spectrum for their telecommunications towers and collocations should note that the FCC has regulatory requirements for licensing radio spectrum to be carried by these facilities, and an established review process for ensuring compliance with Section 106 of NHPA. If the proposed tower or collocation will use FCC licensed spectrum, regardless of the height of the telecommunications tower, applicants must complete FCC’s Section 106 review process – see: http://wireless.fcc.gov/siting/historic_preservation.html. If an application proposes a tower or collocation that will carry FCC spectrum, RUS has agreed that FCC will conduct Section 106 review for those facilities.

Applications Not Subject to FCC Section 106 Reviews or Statewide Programmatic

Agreements

RUS will conduct Section 106 review for any new tower or collocation which will not carry FCC regulated spectrum and any other construction component of an application not subject to FCC review. Please follow the guidance in the attached Environmental

Review Fact Sheet and in Subpart H of Rural Development’s Environmental Policies and

Procedures to include all applicable information in the EQ

(https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/1970h.pdf).

Additional Assistance/Contact Information

In addition to the resource specific references provided above, general NEPA related information and guidance can be found on the CEQ website (https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/) or on the environmental section of the RUS website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/publications/environmental-studies/environmental-guidance.

For information related to Section 106 of NHPA, see the Advisory Council on Historic

Preservation website at http://www.achp.gov/docs/CitizenGuide.pdf.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq

Note: It is imperative an applicant start the consultation process with applicable agencies, if required, before submitting the application. If consultation is required, but evidence that process has begun is not provided, or if special or high sensitivity issues are not adequately addressed, RUS may deem that application to be incomplete and reject the application on that basis. Engage relevant agencies early, and be aware of any significant issues before applying, consider designs that bypass sensitive areas, and work to fully address the requested information.

E. Service Area Demographics

The PFSA must be electronically mapped using the RUS web-based Mapping Tool which can be accessed at https://broadbandsearch.sc.egov.usda.gov/. The PFSA will be assigned a Mapping

Tool Reference Number. The Mapping Tool Reference Number must be submitted in the following format: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX. When multiple Community Connect

Applications will be submitted, each PFSA should be mapped separately (i.e. not in the same

“Application” in the Mapping Tool) in the Mapping Tool and have a unique Mapping Tool

Reference Number assigned; Mapping Tool…