The 2023 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (“SLFRF”), Accelerated Deployment Grant Program (ADGP), seeks to compensate a portion of those construction costs for the expansion of broadband infrastructure to households, business, and communities in the State that were unserved. The ADGP application period opens 1/30/2023 and closes 2/28/2023.
This grant program is designed to reimburse a portion of those construction costs associated with broadband projects that were constructed and completed without any public funding between March 15, 2021 – June 30, 2022. Projects are eligible for an opportunity for reimbursement of a portion of those construction costs. Only those broadband construction projects implemented without any public grant funding are eligible for this program. Projects participating in USDA’s broadband expansion programs such as but not limited to USDA Reconnect, the Federal Communication Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) or Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II), County America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds, CARES I or II, the Rural Broadband Grant Program, or other public, state, or federal grant funding are not eligible, private investments only. Participation in the federal or state universal service fund does not ban an application in this program.
The South Carolina General Assembly has allocated $214,234,345 of American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) funds, less administrative costs, to provide financial assistance to install and deliver broadband infrastructure in unserved areas throughout the State. Pursuant to 2022 S.C. Acts No. 244 (“American Rescue Acts Authorization”), the Office of Broadband Coordinator, also referred to as the SC Broadband Office (SCBBO) which is housed within the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff, may include an opportunity to reimburse a portion of construction costs incurred on or after March 15, 2021, related to the expansion of broadband during the pandemic. All expenditures, reimbursements, and grants awarded by the SCBBO must be in compliance with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) guidelines and the methods and guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury for the allocation and oversight of ARPA funding.
ISPs and Stakeholders that have filled out the Data Access Request Form have been granted access to download the data through the ORS Citrix ShareFile site or through SC Digital Drive. The Data Access Request Form can be found here: https://arcg.is/1fiq1j.
Questions regarding the ADGP should be submitted to the SCBBO via the Accelerated Deployment Grant Program Question Form. Once questions are answered by staff, they will be posted as an update within the "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)" drop-down menu below.