(1) This rule applies to Applicants seeking grant funding under the Program.
    (2) The Program is a cost reimbursement program. Therefore, funding will be provided at regular intervals to grant recipients after expenses have been incurred to reimburse for those expenses. The period(s) when reimbursement may be requested and the methods to request reimbursement will be set forth in the grant agreement between the Office and awardee and follow all statutory requirements.
    (3) Applicants eligible for grant awards from the Program are listed in Florida Statutes § 288.9962(3)
    (4) To be considered for grant funding under the Program, Applicants must show community support from the local community within and near the project area and/or engagement with the county’s Local Technology Planning Team when submitting a Broadband Opportunity Program Grant Application, which is incorporated by reference in Fl. Admin. Code R. 73C-50.001, and available on the Office’s website, www.floridajobs.org/broadband, to the Office within the noticed application window.
    (5) Applications will be accepted for at least seven and no more than 45 days from the date the application window opens. The application window opening and closing dates will be noticed in the Florida Administrative Register and also announced on the Office’s website, www.floridajobs.org/broadband, at least five days before the opening date of the application window. Within three business days of the application window closing date, the Office will post the list of submitted potential projects to begin the 45-day challenge window.
    (6) Applications shall be submitted to the Office using the Broadband Opportunity Program Grant Application. Any and all confidential business information or proprietary information provided on the Broadband Opportunity Program Grant Application and/or supporting documentation provided along with the application must be identified upon submission and a redacted copy of the same material provided to the Office concurrent with when the claim of confidentiality or proprietary protection is asserted. Each individual portion of the redacted copy that the Applicant asserts as confidential must contain a citation to the specific law making the content of the redacted portion confidential.
    (7) Applications must be received by the Office by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the closing date of the application window. Late applications may not be reviewed unless funding remains after all eligible applications have been funded. Whether or not a late application will be reviewed will be based on the total dollars requested by all Applicants from the Program for all eligible projects as compared to the total funding appropriated to the Office for the Program.
    (8) Applications should be submitted through the portal on the Office’s website, www.floridajobs.org/broadband. The Office will also accept applications submitted via mail or hand-delivery to the Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida Office of Broadband, 107 East Madison Street, Mail Station #160, Caldwell Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-4128, or via e-mail to Broadband@deo.myflorida.com.
    (9) The Office will not process applications that are not submitted using the Broadband Opportunity Program Grant Application.
Rulemaking Authority 288.9961(5)(d) FS. Law Implemented 288.9961(4)(b), 288.9962 FS. History-New 11-30-22.