Let’s Support Small Broadband Grants

There are at least two federal agencies that have been awarding smaller grants that are broadband-related. The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) makes grants aimed at economic development in 255 counties and parishes in parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. A similar agency is the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), which plays a similar role across 423 counties in Appalachia across thirteen states. These agencies are required by law to make most of their awards in economically distressed counties. Both agencies place most of their attention on projects such as water and sewer systems, transportation issues like roads and bridges, business development that promotes economic development, and workforce training. But both agencies have made grants that are clearly related to broadband. The awards at these agencies for broadband-related issues are generally small, ranging from $25,000 to $200,000. At that size, these grants aren’t building big infrastructure projects. Instead, the grants are aimed at local needs that are too small to be funded by other programs. For example, the agencies funded outdoor WiFi during the pandemic when communities were struggling with a lack of broadband access. They fund feasibility studies, some of which have been used to attract funding from the bigger grant programs. The grants tackle projects like connecting libraries to fiber. There are also state grant programs that make small awards, such as the program in some states that fund part of the construction cost to reach residents with long drops. In the last few years, there has also been a number of grant programs from non-profits that have made technical assistance grants related to broadband for communities.