Innovation Fund Round 1 (2023) Research and Development, Testing and Evaluation

The Frequently Asked Questions page is intended to clarify and provide guidance on information set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on April 12, 2023. Following the release of this document, further questions may be submitted to InnovationFund@ntia.gov for consideration to include in future FAQ documents. The below FAQs are for informational purposes only and are intended solely to assist potential applicants in better understanding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund and the application requirements set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this program. The FAQs do not and are not intended to supersede, modify, or otherwise alter applicable statutory or regulatory requirements, or the specific application requirements set forth in the NOFO. In all cases, statutory and regulatory mandates, and the requirements set forth in the NOFO, shall prevail over any inconsistencies contained in the below FAQs.

The Innovation Fund aims to foster competition, lower costs for consumers and network operators, support innovation across the global telecommunications ecosystem, and strengthen the 5G supply chain. The overall objectives include unlocking opportunities for innovative companies, particularly small and medium enterprises, to compete in a market historically dominated by a few suppliers, some of which present a high security risk.