(a) Eligibility — Electric cooperatives and other entities.

1. (1)

   1. (A) Electric cooperatives or their subsidiaries and any other entity that has a one-year track record of providing voice, internet, broadband, and/or electric distribution or transmission services to at least five hundred (500) retail customers are now eligible to apply for ARC grants.
   2. (B) This includes municipalities that own their own utility service.
   3. (C) Electric cooperatives and other qualified entities:

(i) Must follow all ARC rules the same as the internet service providers (ISP); and

1. (ii) Will receive the same treatment as ISPs under the ARC rules.

   1. (D) Financial records, deployment experience, and/or retail customer lists are not an absolute bar to funding projects.
   2. (E) Moreover, organizations or entities that do not meet this criteria for eligibility may submit an application, and the project will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
   3. (F) These organizations may be required to submit financial records, customer lists, and any other documentation deemed necessary for the Arkansas Department of Commerce Broadband Office to determine the stability of the company and the ability for the company to deploy within the time prescribed by the broadband office.
   4. (G) ARC funding caps may be waived.

2. (2)

   1. (A) Special attention entitling organizations for expedited review will be given to:

      1. (i)

(b) (b) The number of months to deploy is flexible and can be extended beyond one (1) year at the discretion of the broadband office, but one (1) year is the max time preferred.

1. (c) (c) The ninety percent (90%) deployment rate is flexible, but preferred, and must be clearly stated in your application; and

   1. (ii) Projects falling under the Arkansas Rural Connect Broadband Grant Program, 15 CAR pt. 189, cap of three thousand dollars ($3,000) per unserved location connection are preferred, but flexible.

   2. (B) These qualified projects must state, in a separate writing attached to the application, how they will assist with:

      1. (i) Telemedicine;
      2. (ii) Distance learning;
      3. (iii) Telework; or
      4. (iv) All three (3).
   3. (C) Areas that are eligible for federal broadband grants will receive a low priority towards funding but will still be eligible to apply.

   4. (D)

      1. (i) Preference may be given to applications that expedite current expansion plans of providers.
      2. (ii) The expansion plans:

(b) (b) Can be deployed in six (6) months or a year.

1. (E)

   1. (i) The ARC population threshold of five hundred (500) is preferred, but flexible.

      1. (ii) Failure to accurately state the number of unserved citizens in an area will not be a bar to applying or possibly receiving a grant award.
      2. (iii) Rural unserved or underserved communities is a primary goal of this program.
      3. (iv) Communities that do not meet the population threshold will still be able to partner with other communities to meet that eligibility criteria.

   2. (F) Focus will be given to:

      1. (i) Internet speed; and
      2. (ii) Whether there is internet service in the areas meeting the population threshold.
   3. (G) The number of unserved residences in an area is flexible.

   4. (H) All approved applications must:

      1. (i) Meet eligibility criteria; and
      2. (ii) Follow all program requirements under the ARC rules.
   5. (I) However, grant awards under this part shall control over any conflicting ARC broadband rules.

(b) Deadlines under the Arkansas Rural Connect Broadband Grant Program, 15 CAR pt. 189.

1. (1) This part is in defense or preparation for not only coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) but any other pandemic or disaster that may befall Arkansans now or in the foreseeable future.

2. (2)

   1. (A) Telemedicine/telehealth, telework, and distance learning statewide is one (1) of the goals of this program.
   2. (B) As such, the broadband office and technical review team will evaluate applications until funding ends.