View all text of Subchapter VI [§ 950bb - § 950bb-6]
§ 950bb–3. Community Connect Grant Program
(a) DefinitionsIn this section:
(1) Eligible broadband service
(2) Eligible service areaThe term “eligible service area” means an area in which broadband service capacity is less than—
(A) a 10-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and
(B) a 1-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.
(3) Eligible entity
(A) In generalThe term “eligible entity” means a legally organized entity that—
(i) is—(I) an incorporated organization;(II) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization;(III) a State;(IV) a unit of local government; or(V) any other legal entity, including a cooperative, a private corporation, or a limited liability company, that is organized on a for-profit or a not-for-profit basis; and
(ii) has the legal capacity and authority to enter into a contract, to comply with applicable Federal laws, and to own and operate broadband facilities, as proposed in the application submitted by the entity for a grant under the Program.
(B) ExclusionsThe term “eligible entity” does not include—
(i) an individual; or
(ii) a partnership.
(4) Rural area
(b) Establishment
(c) Eligible projectsAn eligible entity that receives a grant under the Program shall use the grant to carry out a project that—
(1) provides eligible broadband service to, within the proposed eligible service area described in the application submitted by the eligible entity—
(A) each essential community facility as defined pursuant to section 1926(a) of this title; and
(B) any required facilities necessary to offer that eligible broadband service to each residential and business customer within such proposed eligible service area; and
(2) for not less than 2 years—
(A) furnishes free eligible broadband service to a community center described in subsection (d)(1)(B);
(B) provides not fewer than 2 computer access points for that free eligible broadband service; and
(C) covers the cost of bandwidth to provide free eligible broadband service to each essential community facility that requests broadband services within the proposed eligible service area described in the application submitted by the eligible entity.
(d) Uses of grant funds
(1) In generalAn eligible entity that receives a grant under the Program may use the grant for—
(A) the construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities (including spectrum), land, or buildings to deploy eligible broadband service; and
(B) the improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of a community center within the proposed eligible service area described in the application submitted by the eligible entity.
(2) Ineligible usesAn eligible entity that receives a grant under the Program shall not use the grant for—
(A) the duplication of any existing eligible broadband service provided by another entity in the eligible service area; or
(B) operating expenses, except as provided in—
(i) subsection (c)(2)(C) with respect to free eligible broadband service; and
(ii) paragraph (1)(A) with respect to spectrum.
(3) Free access for community centersOf the amounts provided to an eligible entity under a grant under the Program, the eligible entity shall use to carry out paragraph (1)(B) not greater than the lesser of—
(A) 10 percent; and
(B) $150,000.
(e) Matching funds
(1) In general
(2) RequirementsA cash contribution described in paragraph (1)—
(A) shall be used solely for the project for which the eligible entity receives a grant under the Program; and
(B) shall not include any Federal funds, unless a Federal statute specifically provides that those Federal funds may be considered to be from a non-Federal source.
(f) Applications
(1) In general
(2) Requirement
(g) Authorization of appropriations
(May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title VI, § 604, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title VI, § 6204, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4737.)