Broadband Infrastructure Gap Networks Grant Program

Solicitation No. 2024-MBI-01

Overview

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“the Commonwealth) is making up to $145 million in Capital Projects Funds (“CPF”) available through the Broadband Infrastructure Gap Networks Grant Program (“Gap Networks Grant Program” or the “Program”), to address the critical digital needs of towns and cities, with a particular focus on communities with substantial low-income households and disadvantaged populations. The Program will fund the deployment of broadband infrastructure in areas that currently lack access to sufficient broadband internet service, defined as service offering download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 20 Mbps.

The Commonwealth is building upon prior, successful investments of state funds to expand broadband availability. However, there are locations in towns and cities throughout the Commonwealth still lack affordable and reliable high-speed internet. The United States Treasury’s CPF Program provides a transformative opportunity for the Commonwealth to deploy federal broadband infrastructure funding to connect the unconnected and provide access to those residents that need it the most.

All projects must reach substantial completion before December 31, 2026. Substantial completion is reached when the Project can fulfill the primary operations that it was designed to perform and deliver services to end-users. At substantial completion, service and management systems infrastructure must be operational. 

Full details included in the Grant Solicitation below.

Eligible Entities

The following entities are eligible for grant application submission:

  • Private entities (e.g., corporations, limited liability companies, general partnerships, limited partnerships, etc.).
  • Local governmental entities (e.g., municipalities or municipal light plants that offer broadband service), Native American Indian Tribes, and non-profit organizations.
  • Co-operatives, electric co-operatives, and utilities.
  • Public Private Partnerships, which are long-term agreements between local government entities and private entities for the delivery and funding of broadband services.
  • Other entities that develop and/or operate broadband networks and can demonstrate the experience, capacity and financial resources and stability to satisfy the grant obligations.
Program
Program Lead Cornell Robinson, proposals (at) masstech.org
Program Launch - Release of Grant Solicitation  October 25, 2023
Online Grant Application Opens for Round 2

May 23, 2024
Solicitation Round #2 Schedule
Solicitation Round Opens May 23, 2024
Technical Assistance Webinar June 7, 2024 at 11:00 A.M.  Presentation Slides (PDF)
(Due to technical difficulties a recording was not captured.)
Questions Will Be Accepted and Answered on a Rolling Basis Deadline to submit questions is June 12, 2024 at 5:00 P.M. (corrected)
Application Round Closes Applications must be received by July 2, 2024 at 5:00 P.M.
Grant Award Notifications Fall 2024
 
Online Grant Application

Download Round 2 Grant Documents:
Grant Application Associated Documents:

Forms used in conjunction with the Online Grant Application:

Attachments used in conjunction with the Online Grant Application:

Eligible Round 2 Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSL):

  • BSL Eligibly List (Zip File) - The BSL Eligibility List is to be used in preparing grant applications and must be used in conjunction with the Proposed BSL List Template explained in the Online Grant Application in Section 5.1.1. e and will require a NTIA Fabric Tier D license from CostQuest.
Round 1 Archive:
Solicitation Round #1 Schedule
Solicitation Round Opens October 25, 2023
Technical Assistance Webinar November 17, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. 
Recording (Video) |  Presentation Slides (PDF)
Questions Will Be Accepted and Answered on a Rolling Basis Deadline to submit questions is November 22, 2023 at 5:00 P.M.
Application Round Closes Applications must be received by December 11, 2023 at 5:00 P.M. 
Grant Award Notifications April 2024
Archived Round 1 Grant Documents: