Initiatives like these save cities and taxpayers dollars in energy costs, and can be built upon with this new round of funding. Broadband Infrastructure The BIL provides a historic federal investment in closing the digital divide—roughly $65 billion for broadband infrastructure and digital equity. The majority of this funding is funneled through a series of grant programs managed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The largest of these programs is the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. This program will provide formula grants to state governments to award subgrants for broadband planning, mapping, deployment, and adoption programs. States are required to prioritize unserved areas, underserved areas, and some key anchor institutions and facilities. States are also required by the law to develop broadband plans for approval by NTIA prior to spending the funds, and must coordinate with local governments and other stakeholders when developing these plans. NTIA is also responsible for the Digital Equity Act grant programs, which will provide funding for digital equity grant funding. Some is reserved for state formula grants, and the remainder for competitive grants. These funds are to be used for digital inclusion work, such as connecting residents in need to devices, subsidized broadband subscriptions, and skills training. NTIA will also administer the Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure grant program, which will provide competitive grants to entities, including local governments, building middle mile broadband infrastructure projects, which do not connect directly to end users. Because the majority of the funding will flow through state governments, it is critical for local leaders to engage early and often with both the NTIA policymaking process and state broadband leadership. The guidance that NTIA places around the grant programs will determine the specifics of how state governments must engage with their localities, how much discretion they have in selecting subgrantees and project areas, and other details very important to local leaders. In addition, by building a positive relationship with the state broadband office and proactively communicating community needs now, communities can get a jump start on the flurry of jockeying for funds that will occur in state capitals in the coming years. Other important funds for broadband and digital equity in the BIL include extensions or expansions of existing programs. The law includes $14 billion for the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which succeeds the temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit and provides a monthly subsidy to qualifying low-income households on home broadband service. It also provides $2 billion in additional funding for the existing ReConnect rural broadband infrastructure grant and loan program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Get Ready to Rebuild As we celebrate this huge legislative win, NLC also wants to make sure cities, towns, and villages are beginning to plan and prepare to make the most of these opportunities from the BIL in 2022. Here are just a few ways to start getting your city ready to rebuild: 1. Identify your local priorities and how they match up to federal grants using NLC’s new Infrastructure Bill Insights Tool for members. This tool provides a searchable list of programs for local leaders included in the BIL. NLC will continue to add to this live resource with application links and deadlines as they become available. Access the tool at bit.ly/3IRlmKq. 2. Plan to attend NLC’s ongoing “Ready to Rebuild” training sessions on new and renewed infrastructure programs that cities can access. NLC will have federal officials and cities that were successful in these programs sharing their insights so you can better understand the federal infrastructure programs and get advice. For news about upcoming information sessions, please sign up for the Federal Advocacy Update Newsletter at nlc.org/newsletters. We know all of North Carolina’s municipalities are ready to rebuild, and NLC is excited to deliver for you to make the most of this historic opportunity in 2022. Cities, towns, and villages can do more than survive; we can thrive. The Infrastructure Bill As we celebrate this huge legislative win, NLC also wants to make sure cities, towns, and villages are beginning to plan and prepare to make the most of these opportunities from the BIL in 2022. NCLM.ORG 39
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