Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund - American Rescue Plan
The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the importance of critical broadband infrastructure to facilitating participation in telemedicine, distance learning, and telecommuting. Reliable, affordable broadband service is necessary to meet these needs in Tennessee’s communities.
The Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund – American Rescue Plan (TEBF-ARP) utilizes a portion of the State of Tennessee’s American Rescue Plan Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (FRF) to make necessary investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure in order to ultimately help turn the tide on the pandemic, address its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.
Program Materials
- Program Guidelines (updated 1/14/22)
- FAQs (updated 3/1/22)
- Application Webinar Recording
- Statewide Eligibility Map
- .shp file - Ineligible Funded Areas from TN Broadband Grant
- .shp file - Ineligible Funded Areas from USDA ReConnect
- .shp file - Ineligible Funded Areas from Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund CARES (polygons)
- .shp file - Ineligible Funded Areas from the Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund CARES (points)
- .shp file - Eligible areas lacking 25mb/3mb
- .shp file - Eligible areas lacking 100mb/20mb
Please use all .shp files above when designing grant area.
Timeline
1/4/2022 |
Notice of Intent form posted |
1/11/2022 |
Notice of Intent form due at 2 PM CST |
1/18/2022 |
Grant application launch |
1/25/22 |
Application Review Webinar |
3/14/2022 |
Application questions due by 2 PM CST |
3/14/2022 |
Completeness Review Deadline |
3/15/2022 |
Grant application due by 2 PM CST |
4/4/2022 |
Public Notice Period begins |
4/29/2022 |
Public Notice Period ends |
4/30/2022 | Locality matching resolution due to ecd.broadband@tn.gov |
4/30/2022 | Broadband Ready Community application due |
May 2022 |
Response Period for Finalists begins |
June 2022 |
Response Period for Finalists ends |
Summer 2022 |
Award Announcement, Notice to Proceed letters issued |
Application Instructions - Please Read
- Navigate to app.tnecd.com and click “Register”
- You must create a username and password. If you’re submitting more than one application, this will allow you to work on them simultaneously.
- Once logged in, click “Begin New Application”
- You must click “Save” at the bottom of the page to save your work or before starting on another application.
- You will see a “Warning” at the top of the page until you have completed all necessary fields for submission.
- On the home screen, your application status will remain “In Progress” until you have completed all necessary fields and click submit. You will receive a confirmation email and the status will change to “Completed.”
The grant application contains two sections: Applicant Info and Grant Application.
Applicants submitting more than one application should complete the applicant info section once and the grant application section for each individual project.
Application must be reviewed by a professional engineer (PE) or another qualified individual.
Final application deadline is March 15, 2022 at 2:00 PM CST. Applicants who have incomplete applications as of this date will not be considered.
We will not accept letters or other attachments via postal mail.
Match Requirement
The grant will cover up to 70% of eligible project expenses. Grantee match of 30% may not include in-kind funds but may include a local match.
Questions?
Any questions regarding this application must be submitted in writing via email to:
Recipient: TNECD Broadband, at ECD.Broadband@tn.gov
Subject Line: TNECD Emergency Broadband Fund Application Question