Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)

The Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration administered the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP, CFDA 11.557), which is inactive and no longer funding projects as of August 1, 2013.

BTOP distributed $4.08 billion in federal grant funding across 241 awards over a twelve-year period. The program's award cadence peaked in 2010 with 225 awards, following twelve awards in 2009 and one award in 2001; subsequent years saw minimal activity before the program closed. The vast majority of funding—99 percent of awards—took the form of Project Grants, with two Cooperative Agreements comprising the remaining one percent. All funding originated from a single source: the Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

The program funded broadband infrastructure deployment, sustainable broadband adoption initiatives, and public computing center expansion, predominantly under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Representative recent awards included the Los Angeles Public Safety Broadband Network (LA-SafetyNet) at $182.7 million, Maryland's One Maryland Broadband Network at $158.4 million, Access Connecticut at $117.3 million, and Colorado Community Anchors Broadband Consortium initiatives totaling $135.3 million. Smaller awards supported library broadband expansion, public computing centers serving rural and underserved populations, telehealth connectivity, and broadband adoption training for vulnerable adults. Recipients ranged from state agencies and tribal governments to non-profit organizations and libraries. Combined federal and non-federal dollars obligated totaled $5.56 billion, indicating a non-federal match contribution of $1.48 billion across the portfolio.

No grant opportunities are currently open under BTOP. The program concluded its funding cycle in 2013 and no recent solicitations have been posted.