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IP Vol 2:

Community Impact

Definition: A high priority of this grant is engagement with the impacted community. The applicant is to work with the local community, including regional government organizations as needed such as Associations of Governments, to identify an innovative means of providing a public benefit that addresses the community’s needs and includes, as a component of the proposed project, a long-term public benefit to the impacted community. Prospective subgrantees must demonstrate extensive community engagement and local planning.

Scoring: To receive full points for this category, prospective subgrantees must detail an innovative means of providing a public benefit that addresses the community’s needs and that may include a broadband component or other long-term public benefit that addresses the community’s needs. Plans may also include evidence of locally held outreach meetings such as open town hall meetings with residents and businesses from the Project Funding Areas where they are applying. Points can be received for signed Letters of Support from a community organization. These letters must indicate outreach and engagement with local civic and community organizations, educational, chambers of commerce, business leaders, etc. These letters can include reference to the long-term benefit to the community as a result of outreach, collaboration, and engagement between the provider and the community. The plan should also include a detailed description of how the public benefit will be sustained over time and who will be impacted by this benefit. See the following table for detailed scoring information. Examples of the long term public benefit may include:

● Provide symmetrical broadband service to previously unserved or underserved Community Anchor Institution(s) (libraries, police and fire stations, city/county buildings, public safety buildings, hospitals, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions.

● Provide symmetrical broadband service to previously unserved or underserved public, nonprofit, or community facilities that do not meet the state’s BEAD definition of Community Anchor Institution but still provide a necessary public service to the community. These may include locations such as public water treatment and utility facilities or other facilities that would not be funded or served with BEAD funds.

● Serve an economically distressed area

● Digital literacy training

● Low-income assistance

● Partner with or establish co-working space

● Activities planned to increase adoption, including low-cost offerings for three years

● Open Community Wifi at a public location

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Utah BIG BEAD Update

Connecting UT Call

April 16, 2025

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BIG BEAD UPDATE

Round 1 Application Deadline: April 25, 2025

25 pre-registered applicants have started applications
65 UPFAs have been included in draft Part 2 applications

Of these, 8 have been included in more than one draft Part 2 application

Completeness reviews within the first week and curing period (5 business days)
Scoring reviews

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Round 2 Application Process

If there are UPFAs where no priority projects or other reliable broadband proposals are received, UBC will invite applications from:

Applicants who submitted for adjacent UPFAs to the unselected UPFA
Applicants who indicated in their pre-application an intent to apply for any portion or all of the unselected UPFA but did not submit a full application for the UPFA
Applicants who registered during the pre-application window and have a service area in adjacent census blocks or within reasonable proximity
Applicants with service areas in proximity that have coverage reported in the area on the FCC’s National Broadband Map; that have a state or federally-funded project to expand broadband access in the area; or that have applied to serve proximate locations under the BIG program

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Round 2 Application Process

Part A

Invited applicants will be contacted via email and allowed to submit a response through the grant portal within 10 business days
Applicants must submit a cost estimate and proposal to extend broadband access to the location(s) in the UPFA along with other required BIG application information

Part B

If no priority or other reliable broadband service proposals are received, UBC may invite all BIG program applicants to submit proposals
Incentives such as match reductions may be considered

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Last Chance Round

If there are remaining unapplied for UPFAs or individual BSLs, UBC may open up applications to eligible applicants who did not participate in the pre-application or previous application rounds
Alternative technologies will be considered

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Presented By: Lindsey Thurgood, Digital Access Program Manager

Utah Broadband Center

April 16, 2025

Connecting Utah�April 2025�

Utah’s Digital Opportunity Grant

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Background of the Digital Divide. Digital Divide - The gap between those who have affordable internet access, a usable device, digital skills, and support to effectively engage online and those who do not. Also known as the Digital Gap.

Opportunity

Access

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Digital Opportunity Grant Application Timeline

Anticipated June/July 2025

Awards Announced��Reviewed/Selected by UBC, submitted to NTIA for final approval

May 5, 2025

Application Closes

�Application closes at 11:55pm Monday, May 5

April 8-29, 2025

Weekly Training and Open Office Hours

�Tuesdays 10:00-11:00am

March 24, 2025

Grant Launch, Application Opens��In-Person: 3/20 2:00-3:30pm

Virtual: 3/24 1:00-2:30pm

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Digital Opportunity Grant Overview

Goals and Focus:

Support digital skills in a variety of settings to build an individual’s digital independence and inclusion
Provide digital resources and skills to support the economic mobility of individuals and communities
Increase the availability of dependable devices
Provide affordable, accessible, safe digital access for all Utahns
Build a coordinated, sustainable community

Award Ranges: $50,000-$500,000

Period of Performance: 1-3 years

Grant Application will be open from March 24-May 5

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Upcoming Events and Application Resources

Weekly Cohort and Online Office Hours

Join UBC’s Digital Access team for weekly office hours and grant cohort training �Tuesdays: April 8-April 29

10:00-10:30 - Training Cohort
10:30-11:00 - Open Office Hours

Recordings of past trainings, FAQs, application link and the grant application guide are available online at https://business.utah.gov/broadband/grants/#dog

Let’s Keep in Touch

Lindsey Thurgood Elizabeth Henrikson

Program Manager Outreach Specialist

lthurgood@utah.gov ehenrikson@utah.gov

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Seven Star Communities

Initiative awarded by National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and AMERIND Critical Infrastructure (ACI) to honor and recognize Native nations and entities for their excellence in providing sustainable digital inclusion solutions that address their community and nation’s connectivity, digital skills, and device access.
The inaugural class of Seven Star Communities was announced at the 81st convening of the National Congress of American Indians during the Telecommunications subcommittee proceedings.

Congratulations to the Alliance for Navajo Broadband

2024 recipient of the Seven Star Community award�

Recognized for their digital focus to expand capacity, performance, coverage and competition of broadband across the Navajo Nation

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