Notice2024-03881
Notice of Expansion and Proposed Restructuring of the Digital Opportunity Demonstration Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 27, 2024
Issuing agencies
Housing and Urban Development Department
Abstract
On October 17, 2023, HUD issued a Notice of Expansion and Proposed Restructuring of the Digital Demonstration Program (ConnectHomeUSA). ConnectHomeUSA is designed to further the collaborative efforts by HUD-assisted housing organizations, government, industry, and nonprofit organizations to accelerate broadband internet adoption and use in HUD-assisted homes. This Notice extends eligible applicants to now include Continuum of Care Program and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program grantees. This Notice also extends the application deadline for all applicants.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 14515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03881]
[[Page 14515]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-6338-N-02]
Notice of Expansion and Proposed Restructuring of the Digital
Opportunity Demonstration Program
AGENCY: Office of Public and Indian Housing, HUD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On October 17, 2023, HUD issued a Notice of Expansion and
Proposed Restructuring of the Digital Demonstration Program
(ConnectHomeUSA). ConnectHomeUSA is designed to further the
collaborative efforts by HUD-assisted housing organizations,
government, industry, and nonprofit organizations to accelerate
broadband internet adoption and use in HUD-assisted homes. This Notice
extends eligible applicants to now include Continuum of Care Program
and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program grantees. This
Notice also extends the application deadline for all applicants.
DATES: Applications are due April 12, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dina Lehmann-Kim, Program Manager,
Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development,
451 7th Street SW, Room 4130, Washington, DC 20024; telephone number
202-402-2430; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#34705d5a551a78515c59555a5a197f5d59745c41501a535b42"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a0e23242b64062f22272b2424670123270a223f2e642d253c">[email protected]</span></a>. HUD welcomes and is
prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf or hard of
hearing, as well as individuals with speech or communication
disabilities. To learn more about how to make an accessible telephone
call, please visit <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs">https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Notice
This Notice further expands eligibility of CHUSA to Continuum of
Care (CoC) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
grantees. Under the prior Notice, only Public Housing Authorities,
Tribes, and Multifamily owners/operators were eligible to apply (88 FR
55693, October 17, 2023). HUD is committed to advancing digital
opportunities in HUD-assisted communities by expanding its
ConnectHomeUSA (CHUSA) initiative to between 50 and 100 new communities
as Tier 1 CHUSA communities.
HUD's goal is to identify new communities from urban, rural, and
Tribal locations with both small and large populations that have the
capacity to effectively narrow the digital divide, including expanding
programs and capabilities over time. HUD seeks communities where state,
local or Tribal leadership has already taken steps to support the goals
of CHUSA, as measured by both the community's participation in other
complementary Federal initiatives such as the Affordable Connectivity
Program \1\ which enhance internet access in communities and/or by
local broadband plans and strategies for implementation. HUD seeks to
partner with new communities, as well as existing CHUSA communities
that wish to continue their work, and provide technical assistance to
these communities to identify financial, in-kind and other resources to
accomplish the goals of CHUSA. In this vein, HUD encourages applicants
to familiarize themselves with other Federal programs that are funding
broadband, such as the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment grant
($42.45 billion) and the Digital Equity Act grant program ($2.75
billion) by going to this comprehensive website:
<a href="http://www.internetforall.gov">www.internetforall.gov</a>.
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\1\ The Affordable Connectivity Program provides a monthly
subsidy of up to $30 ($75 on qualifying Tribal lands) to cover the
cost of internet service for low-income Americans. At the time of
the publication of this Notice, the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) ended new enrollments because ACP is expected to
run out of funding in April of this year without new Congressional
appropriations. A bipartisan proposal, the Affordable Connectivity
Program Extension Act, was introduced which would add $7 billion to
the program. The Biden Administration has also requested $6 billion
for the program. For more information to go: Affordable Connectivity
Program [verbar] Federal Communications Commission (<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/acp">https://www.fcc.gov/acp</a>).
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Through this Notice, HUD is expanding eligible applicants to
include CoC and HOPWA grantees. Grantees of these programs, especially
those using assistance tied to a particular housing site, such as
project-based rental assistance, may benefit from the technical
assistance and structure of CHUSA to begin designing digital inclusion
programs that will support residents connecting to free or low-cost
internet, provide internet accessible devices, provide education to
help maintain housing, strengthen health and well-being, and build
self-sufficiency.
The number of communities served by CHUSA will depend on the number
of communities that commit to narrowing the digital divide and that
meet the criteria outlined in the prior Notice (88 FR 71586).
Applicants should review Appendix A in the prior Notice which outlines:
the Restructuring of CHUSA into a tiered model; the goals of CHUSA; HUD
support and recognition of sites' achievements; application
requirements; and participation requirements of selected communities.
CoC and HOPWA grantees interested in applying to join CHUSA, must
submit a Letter of Intent to join as a Tier 1 CHUSA community. To be
considered eligible, the Letter of Intent must thoroughly address the
Required Levels of Engagement for Tier 1 as outlined in the prior
Notice.
There is no Congressional funding for CHUSA; the program
implementation is contingent upon HUD resources such as staffing and
technical assistance. As this expansion proceeds, HUD will continue to
assess community interest and the availability of HUD staffing
resources to support participation by additional communities. HUD will
also assess the effectiveness of the selection criteria within the
three tiers on an ongoing basis. Such assessment may expand the number
of participating communities, revise the selection criteria, or both to
reflect HUD's experience in implementing CHUSA.
II. Support for Applicants
A webinar explaining the application process can be viewed at
<a href="https://www.hudexchange.info/trainings/courses/steps-for-applying-to-join-the-connecthomeusa-expansion/">https://www.hudexchange.info/trainings/courses/steps-for-applying-to-join-the-connecthomeusa-expansion/</a>. A Frequently Asked Questions
document and other guidance is also available on HUD's ConnectHomeUSA
at <a href="https://hud.gov/connecthomeusa">https://hud.gov/connecthomeusa</a>. If applicants have additional
questions, the HUD CHUSA team is available to assist. Questions can be
addressed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#74371b1a1a1117003c1b1911341c01105a131b02"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f6b5999898939582be999b93b69e8392d8919980">[email protected]</span></a>.
Dominique Blom,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary--Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 2024-03881 Filed 2-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
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