Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Round 2 (2023)
The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) is a $3 billion program, from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, to support Tribal governments bringing high-speed Internet to Tribal lands, including telehealth, distance learning, affordability, and digital inclusion initiatives. The program seeks to improve quality of life, spur economic development, and create opportunities for remote employment, online entrepreneurship, remote learning, and telehealth by expanding broadband access and by providing digital training and inclusion programs to Native American communities.
This second round of funding from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program will make approximately $980 million available on Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian lands for deployment of Internet infrastructure, affordability programs, telehealth and distance learning initiatives.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity page includes information for Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program eligible applicants. Here, you will find sample budget materials, application guidance, webinar schedules and other materials to help strengthen your application.
You can find full details about this program in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Download the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Need to know the differences from prior program iterations?
In addition to the technical amendments made under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the following represent the major changes in the second NOFO. See the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Fact Sheet for a quick overview of some of the differences. Please see the NOFO above for full program details.
Who Can Apply
Section 905(a)(8) of the Act specifies the following entities as eligible to receive grants pursuant to the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program:
- a Tribal Government;
- a Tribal College or University;
- the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on behalf of the Native Hawaiian Community, including Native Hawaiian Education Programs;
- a Tribal organization; or (v) an Alaska Native Corporation.
See Section C of this NOFO for additional information concerning the eligibility requirements for this program.
Application timeline
Eligible Entities must submit a single application by the application deadline to be eligible for program funding. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is not a formula or block grant program and a single application for funding must be timely submitted by an Eligible Entity to receive funding consideration from NTIA.
- Applications submitted online through the Grants.gov system must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on March 22, 2024;
- Applications submitted by postal mail or by courier service must be postmarked (for postal mail) or show clear evidence of mailing (for courier submissions) no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on March 22, 2024; and
- Applications submitted by electronic mail must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on March 22, 2024.
See Section D in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for detailed information concerning application submission requirements.
Types of Projects Funded
Section 905(c)(5) of the Act states that an Eligible Entity may use grant funds made available under the TBCP for:
- broadband infrastructure deployment, including support for the establishment of carrier-neutral submarine cable landing stations;
- affordable broadband programs, including— (i) providing free or reduced-cost broadband service; and (ii) preventing disconnection of existing broadband service;
- distance learning;
- telehealth;
- digital inclusion efforts (which may include digital equity planning and workforce development activities); and
- broadband adoption activities.
NTIA expects to make awards in this round of funding within the following ranges:
- Broadband Internet infrastructure deployment projects proposed by a single applicant: $1 million to $50 million
- Broadband Internet adoption and use projects: $100,000 to $2.5 million
These funding ranges are not required minimums and maximums, but eligible entities requesting funding for projects outside of these ranges must provide a reasonable explanation for the variance in their project size.
See Section D.7 of this NOFO for additional information concerning the eligibility requirements for this program.
Related content
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $18 Million in Internet for All Grants to Tribal Lands
WASHINGTON — The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today it has awarded nearly $18 million to seven Tribal entities to expand high-speed Internet access and adoption.