Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants

The Appalachian Regional Commission invites proposals from qualified consultants to assess the performance and outcomes of ARC’s broadband grants and better understand the grant implementation experiences of grantees. ARC’s investments in broadband are designed to address unmet needs and create connections to help Appalachian communities thrive. These investments have expanded over the years, from exclusively broadband construction (or deployment) projects to non-construction projects that support access to available and affordable broadband—including digital opportunity projects and, more recently, broadband as a service projects. This program evaluation will examine over 80 grants that closed between Fiscal Years  2019 and 2023, representing $28 million in ARC funding.