05.b 2024 Broadband Scoring Criteria
2024 Border-to-Border and Low-Density Program
Broadband Grant Application Selection and Award Process
Introduction to Scoring and Award Process
DEED will award grants to projects that provide the highest return in public benefits for the public costs
incurred and that meet all of the statutory requirements. To evaluate the applications for public benefits with
respect to the costs incurred, state and federal law specifies certain priorities that DEED must consider.
To fulfill this requirement of reviewing applications in an objective and fair manner, applications will be
reviewed and evaluated by a team composed by DEED. This team will use the following criteria and
associated point values to assist in systematically scoring grant applications. To ensure that your application
receives the best possible score, please be sure to provide complete and comprehensive responses to all
information requested in the application.
The Border-to-Border applications are eligible for a maximum 120 reviewer scoring points; Low-Density
Program applications are eligible for a maximum 140 reviewer scoring points.
Selection Criteria and Grant Scoring Categories
120 total points possible for Border-to-Border Applications
140 total points possible for Low-Density Program Applications
Anticipated Broadband Improvements: 0 to 20 points possible
Unserved or underserved total passings potentially served by project:
Anticipated improvements in broadband speed offerings from pre-existing broadband service levels to
proposed service levels – project must reach or exceed 2026 state speed goals (speed now vs.
speed after) and federal requirements
Number of total passings potentially served (# of passings)
Total passings include households, businesses, farms, and community anchor institutions
If project includes both unserved and underserved passings, each will be scored separately, and the
resultant scores averaged
Anticipated Broadband Improvements Scoring Table
# of Passings
Speed Now: <25/3 <25/3 <100/20 <100/20
Speed After Build:
100/20
100/100
or greater
100/20
100/100
or greater
0-100 Points Awarded: 15 19 9 13
100+ 16 20 10 14
Grant Funding Request Amount: 0 to 10 points possible
Percent of state grant request compared to total eligible project costs:
Applicant matching funds of 55% or more will result in a higher application score for this category
Any funding partner contributions are included in Applicant matching funds for points
Note: This section is not applicable to the Low-Density Program Applications
Grant Funding Request Amount Scoring Table
Percent of eligible project costs requested Points
30% or less 10
31 to 35% 8
36 to 40% 5
41 to 45% 3
46 to 50% 0
Critical Need/Community Participation: 0 to 15 points possible
Additional scoring points will be awarded for the following:
Project applications must identify why there is a critical need for the proposed project as it relates to
access, affordability, reliability and/or consistency (in addition to being a scoring factor, applicants that
do not address the critical need for their project may be disqualified from consideration)
Verified financial commitment to the project from any qualified community partner(s)
[Community partner may be any public, private, non-profit, or philanthropic entity – this would include
a business, county, township, city, tribal entity, or community coalition]
Projects that propose to serve or partially serve federally recognized tribal lands, and the associated
tribal entity has provided application documentation of project support
Project applications that provide substantive evidence of community support for the project
Project Readiness: 0 to 25 points possible
Applicant has concretely demonstrated a comprehensive knowledge of – and detailed preparation for
– the proposed project. Applicant has provided evidence of being fully prepared to build, implement,
and operate the project:
All budget material is provided in detailed, yet clearly understandable manner, sources and uses of
funds is realistic, all grant eligible elements are included, all funding partners are secured
Other broadband infrastructure requirements are included – certified engineering design and
diagrams, documentation of scalable equipment, and all preconstruction requirements are identified
and included in the project schedule
Project implementation requirements are provided – proposed speed tiers and service pricing, 5 year
service commitment, and proposed marketing strategies
Complete project schedule and financial requirements are provided
Project Sustainability: 0 to 25 points possible
Applicant has demonstrated strong internal capacity to effectively support and sustain its broadband
infrastructure proposal:
Demonstration of technical expertise – specific prior experience in providing broadband services
Organizational support evidence provided – extent of organization and how organizational strength
will sustain broadband service delivery and maintenance
Financial statements provided – most current year’s audited financial statements, and supporting
documentation where applicable, to demonstrate overall financial viability
Economic Development & Community Impact Review: 0 to 15 points possible
Applicant has demonstrated the economic development and community enhancement potential of the
proposed project:
Applicant has identified businesses, farms and agricultural use customers, community anchor
institutions, and educational facilities in the proposed project area
For businesses, farms and agricultural use customers, applicant has identified how improved
broadband speeds and coverage will enable the project area to become and/or remain competitively
viable
For community anchor institutions, applicant has identified how improved broadband deployment will be
incorporated into specific community programs
For educational locations, applicant has identified the proposed impact on e-learning
For health and public safety locations, applicant has identified the proposed impact on telemedicine
If project area is in an economically distressed area, application has demonstrated that the proposed
project area has unemployment, poverty, or population loss levels significantly greater than statewide
average. (Application may reference median household income or percent of students eligible for free
or reduced school lunches for proposed project area)
Broadband Adoption Assistance: 0 to 10 points possible
Additional scoring points will be awarded for the following:
Will technical support or training on broadband be offered?
Are broadband adoption activities planned for the project?
Describe how the broadband service that will be offered is affordable to the target markets in the
proposed service area. Is there a low-income broadband assistance program offering? (At a
minimum, grant recipients will be required to participate in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity
Program. Additional efforts by the applicant to address affordability will be awarded additional points.
Additional Scoring for Low-Density Program: Up to 30 points possible
Passings per mile: 0 to 10 points possible
Passings per mile Points
0-1 10
1-2 6
2-3 4
3-5 2
Over 5 0
Explanation of need for grant to cover 75% of eligible costs and/or up to $10 million: 0 to 15
points possible
In this section, the application will be reviewed for demonstrating the need to have the application considered
under the Low-Density Program. Factors that the applicant may want to consider addressing include higher
costs associated with construction in the project area, cost per passing, the demand for service from homes
and businesses in the project area that will guarantee a high take rate, and why this project should be funded
over other applications submitted to the Low-Density Program.
An application for this area has not been submitted in any of the prior grant rounds: 5 points
possible
OBD staff will review prior year grant submissions and award 5 points if an application for this area has not
been submitted previously as that is an indication that the cap of 50% of eligible costs/$5 million per project
has been a barrier to a provider in considering an application for this area.