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Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)

This program contains Recovery Act funding.
Number: 11.557
Agency: Department of Commerce
Office: National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Program Information 

Program Number/Title (010):
11.557 Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)
Federal Agency (030):
National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Department of Commerce
Authorization (040):
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law No. 111-5.
Objectives (050):
The purposes of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) include accelerating broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas and ensuring that strategic institutions which are likely to create jobs or provide significant public benefits have broadband connections.
Types of Assistance (060):
Project Grants
Uses and Use Restrictions (070):
Competitive grants under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program will be awarded to: (1) provide access to broadband service to U.S. consumers in unserved areas; (2) provide improved access to broadband in underserved areas; (3) provide broadband support and services to strategic institutions; (4) improve broadband access by public safety agencies; and (5) stimulate broadband demand, economic growth, and job creation. Competitive grants under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program will be awarded to: (1) provide access to broadband service to U.S. consumers in unserved areas; (2) provide improved access to broadband in underserved areas; (3) provide broadband support and services to strategic institutions; (4) improve broadband access by public safety agencies; and (5) stimulate broadband demand, economic growth, and job creation.
Eligibility Requirements (080)
Applicant Eligibility (081):
None.
Beneficiary Eligibility (082):
None.
Credentials/Documentation (083):
Applicants must certify that the organization is in compliance, or will comply, with the Department of Commerce assurances included in the standard application. Applicants must also: provide assurances that they will substantially complete funded projects in accordance with project timelines, not to exceed two years following an award; provide a detailed explanation of how any amount received under the program will be used to carry out the purposes of the Program in an efficient and expeditious manner; show that the project would not have been implemented during the grant period without Federal grant assistance; demonstrate that it is capable of carrying out the project or function to which the application relates in a competent manner in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws; demonstrate that it will appropriate (if the applicant is a State or local government agency) or otherwise unconditionally obligate, from non-Federal sources, funds required to meet the requirements of Section 6001, subsection (f); disclose the source and amount of other Federal or State funding sources from which the applicant receives, or has applied for, funding for activities or projects to which the application relates; and provide such assurances and procedures as may be required to ensure that grant funds are used and accounted for in an appropriate manner. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Application and Award Process (090)
Preapplication Coordination (091):
Program staff members are available to provide technical and other assistance to potential applicants regarding the requirements of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedures (092):
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. The standard application forms as approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and provided by NTIA must be used for this program, including the Standard Form 424 (Rev 4-92) and the required certifications.

Award Procedure (093):
Applications are reviewed on the basis of funding criteria as established in the Notice of Funding Availability. The Assistant Secretary, or its designate, may select an application for funding, in whole or in part, and will notify the applicant of final decisions.
Deadlines (094):
Not Applicable.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time (095):
From 120 to 180 days. The NTIA Administrator shall select and publish in the Federal Register the date by which new applications must be filed in order to be considered for funding in the referenced fiscal year.

Awards for the Program will be announced no later than September 30, 2010.
Appeals (096):
All award decisions are final. There is no administrative appeal process.
Renewals (097):
Not Applicable.
Assistance Consideration (100)
Formula and Matching Requirements (101):
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 20.%. Public Law 111-5-February 17, 2008. The Federal share of any project may not exceed 80 percent unless a waiver is granted to applicant.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance (102):
The award period for successful applicants is up to three years, and the project must be substantially complete in two years as specified in Public Law 111-5. Financial assistance is generally released as required during the award. Funds will be awarded in full for the project, and recipients will use the advance payment method of disbursing grant funds. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Through Automated Standard Application for Payment system.
Post Assistance Requirements (110)
Reports (111):
Financial and progress reports are to be submitted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award, and are due on a quarterly basis. The NTIA Assistant Secretary, or its designate, may establish additional reporting and information requirements for any recipient of an award.

As required by Section 1512 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and OMB guidance, each recipient is required to report the following information to the NTIA ten days after the end of each calendar quarter. As prescribed by the Recovery Act, these reports will include:
1. The total amount of recovery funds received from NTIA.
2. The amount of recovery funds received that were obligated and expended to projects or activities. This reporting will also include unobligated allotment balances to facilitate reconciliations.
3. A detailed list of all projects or activities for which Recovery Act funds were obligated and expended, including—
a. The name of the project or activity;
b. A description of the project or activity;
c. An evaluation of the completion status of the project or activity;
d. An estimate of the number of jobs created and the number of jobs retained by the project or activity; and
e. For infrastructure investments made by State and local governments, the purpose, total cost, and rationale of the agency for funding the infrastructure investment with funds made available under this Act, and name the person to contact at the agency if there are concerns with the infrastructure investment. No cash reports are required. As required by Section 1512 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and OMB guidance, each recipient is required to report the following information to the NTIA ten days after the end of each calendar quarter. As prescribed by the Recovery Act, these reports will include:
1. The total amount of recovery funds received from NTIA.
2. The amount of recovery funds received that were obligated and expended to projects or activities. This reporting will also include unobligated allotment balances to facilitate reconciliations.
3. A detailed list of all projects or activities for which Recovery Act funds were obligated and expended, including—
a. The name of the project or activity;
b. A description of the project or activity;
c. An evaluation of the completion status of the project or activity;
d. An estimate of the number of jobs created and the number of jobs retained by the project or activity; and
e. For infrastructure investments made by State and local governments, the purpose, total cost, and rationale of the agency for funding the infrastructure investment with funds made available under this Act, and name the person to contact at the agency if there are concerns with the infrastructure investment. Financial and progress reports are to be submitted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award, and are due on a quarterly basis. The NTIA Assistant Secretary, or its designate, may establish additional reporting and information requirements for any recipient of an award. Progress reports and site visits.
Audits (112):
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. All BTOP awards are subject to audit by the DOC‘s OIG under the single audit requirements outlined in OMB Circular A-133 (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/rewrite/circulars/a133/a133.html). Colleges and universities; State, local, and tribal governments; and non-profits must adhere to the audit requirements of OMB Circular A-133. Commercial organizations must adhere to the requirements of OMB Circular A-133, B Subpart B, § 235.

Non-Federal, non-profit entities are subject to the Single Audit Act of 1996 and therefore also have a single audit requirement under OMB Circular A-133. Non-Federal, non-profit entities that expend BTOP award funds in excess of $500,000 in one year should have a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal, non-profit entities that expend less than $500,000 of BTOP award funds in one year are generally exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except in certain cases noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records (113):
All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports and other records of recipients or subrecipients must be maintained in accordance with the terms of the award. Generally, the recipient must retain records for three years from the date on which the final expenditure report is submitted.
Financial Information (120)
Obligations (122):
(Project Grants) FY 11 Not Available; FY 12 Estimate Not Available; and FY 13 Estimate Not Available
Range and Average of Financial Assistance (123):
$176,400 to $126,323,296.
Program Accomplishments (130):
Not Applicable.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature (140):
The program regulations, application forms, and guidelines required of applicants can be found at http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/resources. Cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-21 for institutions of higher education, A-87 for State and local governments, and with A-122 for nonprofit organizations. Grants management will be in accordance with the provisions of 15 CFR Part 14 for institutions of higher education, other nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations; and 15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments.
Information Contacts (150)
Regional or Local Office (151) :
None.
Headquarters Office (152):
Anthony Wilhelm Department of Commerce, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, Office of Telecommunications Applications,1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 4812, Washington, District of Columbia 20230 Email: btop@ntia.doc.gov Phone: (202) 482-2048.
Website Address (153):
http://www,ntia.doc.gov/broadbandgrants
Related Programs (160):
Not Applicable.
Examples of Funded Projects (170):
Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2012: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2013: No Current Data Available
Criteria for Selecting Proposals (180):
In determining whether to approve an application, in whole or in part, and the amount of the grant, the NTIA Assistant Secretary, or its designate, will consider the project’s conformance with the program purposes and funding criteria set forth in the legislation and the Notice of Funding Availability.