There’s an opportunity for communities to strengthen their broadband stimulus funding requests provided their methodology and data are solid.

Look at the following Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)/Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) FAQ item:

Does an applicant have to show that each individual census block within its proposed funded service area is un-served or underserved?

The FAQ says “no,” BUT goes on to state that to qualify for BTOP funding, the proposed service area as a whole must meet the definition of un-served or underserved. To satisfy BIP funding requirements, at least 75 percent of the proposed service area must meet the definition.

If you go through the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), you’ll find that almost three full pages (of very tiny type) gives a multi-pronged, thorough definition of each – though the census block data it requests is based on 2000 U.S. Census Bureau data, which is nine years old.

A strong funding request will rely on a foundation of more recent data to define proposed areas - data collected by utilizing validated resource materials that are recognized as being reliable and accurate.

What this says to us at the Knight Center of Digital Excellence is that the NTIA and RUS are open and prepared to accept other methodology and data not based on what they’ve suggested. Therefore, the applicant is going to be able to define the specific area and find support for their claim – if there is good data and a solid methodology to back it up.

Consider a few of the statements made in the FAQ regarding how the NTIA and RUS will look at methodology regarding un-served and underserved areas:

• “Applicants must explain the methodology for determining that the proposed funded service area as a whole meets the eligibility criteria ... . The exact methodology is up to the applicant, but the result should be to demonstrate that the proposed funded service area is eligible based on the appropriate definition. Applicants should aim to utilize state broadband mapping data if such data exists. Otherwise, a customer or market survey, statistical sampling, or other valid methodology will be necessary.”

• “If the information submitted by an existing service provider demonstrates that the applicant's proposed funded service area is not un-served, both RUS and NTIA reserve the right to reclassify the application and consider the proposed area as underserved if the application meets the criteria in the underserved definition. If the information submitted by an existing service provider establishes that the applicant's proposed funded service area is not underserved, both RUS and NTIA may reject the application.”

Take this into consideration and make sure your data and methodology stacks up.

Considering the NOFA clearly indicates up to 15 points under the Project Purpose section will be scored based on meeting or exceeding submitted population and location figures, the quality of an applicant's data and methodology could mean the difference in obtaining funding.

As we learned while in attendance at a recent Broadband Application Training Workshop, successful proposals would most likely need to score at least 90 points of the application’s possible 100. A score of 30 or less will result in rejection.

Remember, every point counts. Providing a strong case when defining your proposed service area will help enhance your request.