Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program Final Rule

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the ‘‘Act’’) appropriated $285 million to NTIA to establish the Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program. The CMC Pilot Program will provide grants to eligible historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs); Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs); and Minorityserving institutions (MSIs) in anchor communities for broadband internet access service, equipment, or to hire information technology personnel to facilitate educational instruction including remote instruction, and to lend or provide equipment to eligible students or patrons. This final rule describes NTIA’s programmatic scope, eligibility criteria, and general guidelines for the CMC Pilot Program as authorized by the Act. NTIA will subsequently publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on www.grants.gov that will provide more details regarding the CMC eligibility guidelines, application instructions, and program requirements.

This final rule is effective on June 15, 2021.

For further information contact Scott Woods, Senior Broadband Program Specialist, telephone: (202) 306–3096, email: SWoods@ntia.gov; or Francine Alkisswani, Telecommunications Policy Analyst, telephone: (202) 482–5560, email: FAlkisswani@ntia.gov, Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4878, Washington, DC 20230.