Community Connect Grant Program

In this section: The term “eligible broadband service” means broadband service that has the capability to transmit data at a speed specified by the Secretary, which may not be less than the applicable minimum download and upload speeds established by the Federal Communications Commission in defining the term “advanced telecommunications capability” for purposes of section 1302 of title 47. The term “eligible service area” means an area in which broadband service capacity is less than— The term “eligible entity” means a legally organized entity that— is— The term “eligible entity” does not include— The term “rural area” has the meaning given the term in section 950bb(b)(3)(A) of this title. The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the “Community Connect Grant Program”, to provide grants to eligible entities to finance broadband transmission in rural areas. An eligible entity that receives a grant under the Program shall use the grant to carry out a project that— provides eligible broadband service to, within the proposed eligible service area described in the application submitted by the eligible entity— for not less than 2 years— An eligible entity that receives a grant under the Program may use the grant for— An eligible entity that receives a grant under the Program shall not use the grant for— operating expenses, except as provided in— Of the amounts provided to an eligible entity under a grant under the Program, the eligible entity shall use to carry out paragraph (1)(B) not greater than the lesser of— An eligible entity that receives a grant under the Program shall provide a cash contribution in an amount that is not less than 15 percent of the amount of the grant. A cash contribution described in paragraph (1)— To be eligible to receive a grant under the Program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. An application submitted by an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall include documentation sufficient to demonstrate the availability of funds to satisfy the requirement of subsection (e). There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.