1. A. Eligible areas for the GUMBO grant program are areas without deployed internet access service providing transmission speeds of at least 25:3 Mbps with wireline or fixed wireless, and which qualify as an unserved area as defined in this Part. These areas are the focus of broadband expansion under this grant program.

2. B.

   1. 1. Ineligible areas for the program are areas that already have internet access service available to them at transmission speeds of at least 25:3 Mbps with wireline or fixed wireless. In addition, areas (census blocks) where a private provider has been designated to receive funding through Universal Service, Connect America Phase II, Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, or other federal or non-federal funds shall be considered served and therefore ineligible for the GUMBO grant program if such funding is intended to result in the initiation of activity related to construction of broadband infrastructure in the area within 24 months from the expiration of 60 days following the closure of the grant application period.
   2. 2. In the initial grant application period, providers receiving Universal Service, Connect America Phase II, Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, or other federal or non-federal funds to deploy service, within the established timeline of within 24 months from the expiration of 60 days following the closure of the grant application period, may designate such areas as ineligible and subject to exclusion and reservation from the GUMBO grant program, for a period of 24 months, by submitting to the office, within 60 days of the closure of the application period, a listing of the census blocks, shapefile areas, individual addresses, or portions thereof, comprising the provider’s future project areas.
   3. 3. In subsequent grant application periods, in order to designate areas as ineligible and subject to exclusion, providers shall submit to the office census blocks, shapefile areas, individual addresses, or portions thereof, not less than 60 days prior to the beginning date of the application period.
   4. 4. Failure on the part of a provider to submit a relevant project area for ineligibility and exclusion shall result in those areas being eligible for GUMBO grant funding for the applicable grant application period. However, in such circumstance, providers shall be able to utilize the protest process.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 51:2370-2370.16.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Office of the Governor, Division of Administration, Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, LR 48:1505 (June 2022).