FCC Announces More Funding Opportunities for ACP Outreach Grants

From the FCC IGA: On May 25, 2023, the FCC announced details for additional (“Round 2”) outreach grant opportunities to promote the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), the nation’s most expansive broadband affordability program in history.  The outreach grants seek to enlist targeted trusted community messengers to develop innovative outreach strategies to reach historically unserved and underserved communities.

The Commission is issuing two Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for up to $10 million, targeting $5 million for the National Competitive Outreach Program (NCOP) and $5 million for the Tribal Competitive Outreach Program (TCOP).

NCOP.  Only eligible governmental and non-governmental entities in the following States and Territories are eligible to apply for NCOP – Round 2 funding: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Delaware, Guam, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming. Other Eligible NCOP Entities: Nationally-based nonprofit organizations (i.e., those that have a national presence and are not registered [based on SAM registration status] and operating in the above listed States or Territories) may be deemed eligible to apply for NCOP funding if they meet one of the following conditions:

Condition 1: Named sub-recipients that are located in and will be conducting ACP outreach and/or enrollment activities in at least three (3) or more of the following States/Territories: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Delaware, Guam, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming; or

Condition 2: Demonstrate a meaningful multi-state, multi-faceted ACP outreach and enrollment grant strategy that covers seven (7) or more States, to include at least four (4) from the above States or Territories in a proportional manner.

TCOP.  TCOP eligibility will be limited to governmental and non-governmental Tribal entities that will conduct ACP outreach and enrollment assistance to eligible households on qualifying Tribal Lands.  Eligible TCOP applicants must submit applications by no later than 6:00 p.m. EDT on July 28, 2023. 

Further detailed information on entity eligibility requirements for the NCOP and TCOP Round 2 grants can be found here.

The ACP is a $14.2 billion FCC program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that helps ensure that qualifying low-income households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more.  The program plays an integral role in helping to bridge the broadband affordability gap.  

Additional information and resources

For questions about the grant opportunities, contact ACPGrants@fcc.gov.  For assistance using www.grants.gov, please contact the Help Desk at (800) 518-4726 or email support@grants.gov. 

For Section 504 Compliance support, please contact the FCC Section 504 Compliance Officer at FCC504@fcc.gov.

To find out about eligibility requirements and apply for ACP, go to GetInternet.gov.