Grants / Department of Commerce / Department of Commerce

NTIA-TBC-TBCPO-2021-2006948: Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program

Closed Closed September 1, 2021 Opportunity NTIA-TBC-TBCPO-2021-2006948 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (2026-NTIA-TBCP). Status: Closes November 17, 2026 (10 days left). It is in our archive of Department of Commerce notices from 2021.

• Award ceiling$50.0 million
• Award floor$50,000
• Total funding$980 million
• Expected awards400
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Section 905(a)(8) of the Act specifies the following entities as eligible to receive grants pursuant to the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program: (i) a Tribal Government; (ii) a Tribal College or University; (iii) the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on behalf of the Native Hawaiian Community, including Native Hawaiian Education Programs; (iv) a Tribal organization; or (v) an Alaska Native Corporation. There are several instances where applicants will need to obtain a Tribal Government Resolution. Each “eligible entity” must coordinate internally (which includes all departments, subsidiaries, etc.) in submitting its single application. In an instance where one “eligible entity” is a subsidiary of another (e.g., a Tribal Government and a subsidiary Tribal College or University), this shall not affect the subsidiary’s eligibility to submit its own application, so long as it includes the requisite Tribal Government Resolution. See Section C of this NOFO for additional information concerning the eligibility requirements for this program.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program awards averaged $8.1 million; this notice allows up to $50.0 million per award.
• Most of the program's money (80% over five years) went to tribes.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

NTIA issues this NOFO to describe the requirements under which it will award grants for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Division N, Title IX, Section 905(c), Public Law 116-260, 134 Stat. 1182 (Dec. 27, 2020) (Act). The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program provides new federal funding for grants to eligible entities to expand access to and adoption of: (i) broadband service on Tribal Land; or (ii) for programs that promote the use of broadband to access remote learning, telework, or telehealth resources during the COVID–19 pandemic. See Section A. of this NOFO for the full description of this program. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 appropriated $10 billion to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) to establish the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund to provide funding to states, territories, and Tribal Governments to carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).1 NTIA is coordinating with Treasury to allow Tribal Governments to indicate their interest in receiving funding under the Treasury program when they submit their application for NTIA’s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program in accordance with the process outlined in this NOFO. See Sections B.1 and D.2.d.3 of this NOFO for more information.

Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, 2026-NTIA-TBCP, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.