1. (1) “Community Anchor Institution” means an entity which facilitates greater use of broadband service by vulnerable populations, including low-income individuals, unemployed individuals, and aged individuals that lack access to gigabit-level broadband service. Examples are generally limited to the following: schools, libraries, institutions of higher education, health clinics, health centers, hospitals, public safety entities, public housing organizations, and community support organizations.
2. (2) “Community Health Center” means a Federally Qualified Health Center, receiving federal funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration to provide affordable, high-quality primary health care services to medically underserved populations.
3. (3) “Eligible Applicant” means an applicant that is eligible to submit an ARPA Capital Projects Fund Digital Connectivity Technology Program application and includes the following: libraries, schools, municipalities, workforce training organizations, not-for-profit organizations (that hold 501(c)(3) tax exempt status), and other community anchor institutions.  In addition to being one of the listed types of entities, the entity must be both: (a) a public-facing entity; and (b) located in an area where affordability has been identified as a barrier to broadband adoption and use. Public-facing means that applicants presently provide direct services to members of the public.
4. (4) “Program Guidance” means all publicly posted documents and information that provides Program characteristics, including but not limited to the funding notice, application instructions, criteria for applications and for determining the eligibility of applicants and proposed Program projects for a grant, criteria for the Department to evaluate competitive applications,  the terms and conditions for awarding a Program grant,  performance requirements, financial assistance disbursement processes, reporting requirements, applicable federal requirements, and other Program information and requirements.
5. (5) “Eligible Project” means a project that purchases and installs (a) Permitted Devices for distribution to members of the public through a short- or long-term loan program or that are made available for use in public facilities; and/or (b) Permitted Equipment for use in public facilities. The Permitted Devices and/or Permitted Equipment that comprise the project must be used to facilitate broadband internet access where affordability has been identified as a barrier to broadband adoption and use.
6. (6) “Permitted Devices” includes but is not limited to internet-enabled laptops, tablets, and desktop personal computers that meet minimum technical standards. Proposed project devices not specifically listed in the previous sentence must be approved by the Department and U.S. Treasury before they will be considered Permitted Devices.
7. (7) “Permitted Equipment” means equipment installed as part of a public Wi-Fi infrastructure, that may include but is not limited to routers, mesh Wi-Fi systems, modems, wireless access points, repeaters and network switches. Proposed project equipment not specifically listed in the previous sentence must be approved by the Department and U.S. Treasury before they will be considered Permitted Equipment. Permitted Equipment does not include “Physical broadband infrastructure” as that term is defined by rule in this OAR Chapter 123, division 47.
8. (8) “Review Committee” means a committee that will review and score Program applications according to the terms set forth in Program Guidance including the Program funding notice and these rules. Review Committees will be composed of individuals from the Department and may include staff from other state agencies as determined by the Department.
9. (9) “Telecommunications Service” has the meaning given in 47 U.S. Code § 153(53) as the offering of telecommunications for a fee directly to the public, or to such classes of users as to be effectively available directly to the public, regardless of the facilities used.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 285A.075, ORS 285A.166 & ORS 285A.180

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 285A.180 & Oregon Laws 2025, chapter 616, section 10

History

OBDD 3-2026, temporary adopt filed 02/04/2026, effective 02/04/2026 through 07/31/2026