State Alternative Plan Program
Inactive
- Assistance listing
- 11.019
- Agency
-
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Department of Commerce
- Grant awards
- Not on record
Program facts
- Eligible applicants
-
- State
- Beneficiaries
-
- Local
- Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated .
About this program
The Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) operated the State Alternative Plan Program (CFDA 11.019) to award spectrum capacity leasing rights and radio access network (RAN) construction grants to states that opted out of the First Responder Network Authority's nationwide public safety broadband network deployment and assumed responsibility to build, operate, maintain, and improve their own interoperable RAN. The program is no longer accepting applications—all 56 states and territories have opted into FirstNet deployment, eliminating eligible applicants as of the final opportunity closing in 2021.
The solicitation 2018-NTIA-SAPP-01, posted in November 2017 with a due date of December 7, 2021, represented the final opportunity under this program. Applicants were required to apply for mandatory grant authority to enter into a Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement (SMLA) with FirstNet, and could apply for optional RAN construction grant funds. Before receiving funding consideration, a state had to submit its alternative plan to the FCC for approval and demonstrate five specific criteria to NTIA: technical capability and funding to operate its RAN, ability to maintain ongoing interoperability with the nationwide network, capacity to complete the project within comparable timelines, cost-effectiveness of the alternative plan, and comparable security, coverage, and quality of service to the nationwide network.
The program's core activity centered on funding the capital construction and operational establishment of state-operated public safety broadband infrastructure as an alternative to centralized FirstNet deployment. No recent grant awards appear in the source; the program has been inactive since 2021 when the final opportunity closed. The source contains no portfolio data on assistance-type distribution, award magnitudes, or historical funding volume.
This program is not worth pursuing. No states remain eligible, and NTIA is not accepting applications through grants.gov.
Objective and description
- Objective
To establish a spectrum capacity leasing right and radio access network (RAN) construction grant program for states that opt-out of the First Responder Network Authority's (FirstNet's) proposed plan for building a RAN in that state, and assume the responsibility to construct, operate, maintain, and improve its RAN that is interoperable with the nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN) subject to the provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Act). As described in the Act, after receiving approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an opt-out state shall apply to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for a grant for the right to enter into a spectrum capacity lease agreement with FirstNet and may apply for RAN construction grant funding. First, a state must submit its alternative plan for the construction, maintenance, operation, and improvements of its RAN to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and meet specific interoperability criteria established by the FCC. Second, if the FCC approves the state alternative plan, that state must make five separate technical and financial demonstrations to NTIA. The state must demonstrate: 1) that it has the technical capabilities to operate and the funding to support its RAN; 2) that it has the ability to maintain ongoing interoperability with the NPSBN; 3) that it has the ability to complete the project within specified comparable timelines specific to the state; 4) the cost-effectiveness of the state alternative plan submitted to the FCC; and, 5) comparable security, coverage, and quality of service to that of the NPSBN. Third, assuming the state has successfully made such demonstrations to NTIA, the state then must enter into a spectrum capacity lease with FirstNet, which will be required for operation of the state RAN.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Alternative Plan Program (SAPP) | Closed |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 11.019?
Assistance Listing 11.019 is State Alternative Plan Program, a federal grant program run by National Telecommunications and Information Administration (Department of Commerce). It is inactive.
What is the CFDA number for State Alternative Plan Program?
Its CFDA number is 11.019: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
Are there open grant opportunities under 11.019?
No opportunity listed under 11.019 is open now. The latest, State Alternative Plan Program (SAPP), was posted on November 28, 2017.
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