Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program

Millions of low-income households experience difficulty paying for broadband service needed to participate in 21st Century society, including for work, education, healthcare, and civic engagement. Addressing affordability is a critical component of c

[This program is no longer making new awards; however, financial reporting on outstanding expenditures is still ongoing.] The Outreach Grant Program is comprised of four interconnected grant programs: Competitive Outreach Program; Tribal Competitive Outreach Program; Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program; and ACP Navigator Pilot Program. The Outreach Grant Program is one tool among a comprehensive set of measures authorized by the 2021 Infrastructure Act and implemented by the FCC to help bridge the digital divide and increase enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Types of entities eligible to participate in the Outreach Grant Program include, but are not limited to: tribal governments and subdivisions thereof, as well as tribal organizations; state governments and subdivisions thereof; local governments and subdivisions thereof (including county, borough, municipality, city, town, township, parish, local public authority, special district, intrastate district, council of governments, and agencies or instrumentalities of multi-regional or intra-state or local government); public housing authorities; social service providers; education organizations such as schools and other institutions of higher education; workforce development training organizations; nonprofit organizations; community-based organizations; community anchor institutions; public service organizations; and consortia of listed entities.

Prospective applicants should expect to submit the required standard forms as part of applying for any federal financial assistance as well as a project summary, detailed budget, and budget narrative supporting the budget. Specifics on what should be captured as part of the application package will be outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). And specific application template(s) will be made available as part of the NOFO release.

The Outreach Grant Program is comprised of four interconnected grant programs: Competitive Outreach Program; Tribal Competitive Outreach Program; Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program; and ACP Navigator Pilot Program. The Outreach Grant Program is one tool among a comprehensive set of measures authorized by the 2021 Infrastructure Act and implemented by the FCC to help bridge the digital divide and increase enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Support from the ACP Outreach Grant Program will become available in FY 2023.

To ensure compliance with the applicable federal statutes and regulations, as well as to appropriately gauge the impact of proposed projects against the Outreach Grant Program's priorities, submitted applications will undergo compliance, merit, and risk assessment review processes. The compliance review will assess whether application materials are complete and comply with NOFO eligibility requirements. Merit review will use review and scoring criteria, which will be outlined in the NOFO, to objectively evaluate an applicant's outreach proposal for likely efficacy in meeting the grant program's objectives. Risk assessment review will examine an applicant's fiscal stability and operational capability, including the risk associated with allowing the applicant to expend federal funds.

The FCC will make up to $80 million of competitive funding available under the Outreach Grant Program, which will include the following amounts for each program: Competitive Outreach Program ($60,000,000); Tribal Community Outreach Program ($10,000,000); Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program ($5,000,000); and ACP Navigator Pilot Program ($5,000,000).

Specific deadlines for the competitive Outreach Grant Program will be specified in the NOFO.

FCC will make funding determination within approximately 60 days following receipt of grant applications. Specific deadlines will be provided in the NOFO.

Due to the competitive nature of the Outreach Grant Program, awards will be made at the discretion of the FCC following the application review and scoring criteria as outlined in the NOFO. Therefore, appeals will not be considered.