The Easygrants system is now open for applications to the BIP and BTOP programs. In preparation for the second round of funding, RUS and NTIA have made significant upgrades and improvements to the online application system to address the challenges applicants faced during Round 1. However, both RUS and NTIA expect a high volume of applications during this round of funding, and both agencies strongly recommend that applicants do not wait until the last minute to submit their applications.

Those interested in seeking funding from RUS and NTIA under the BIP and BTOP programs during Round 2, can now go to BroadbandUSA ApplyOnline to create an electronic application or to review an already submitted application. To enable you to enter application data online, registration with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) will be required for applicants of both programs.

BIP Applicants Only:

RUS has developed a web-based mapping tool which must be used by all BIP applicants to create maps of their proposed funded Service Area(s). Please use the BroadbandUSA Mapping Tool to create maps of your proposed service area(s). To enable you to draw the proposed service areas for Infrastructure funding, registration for a Level 1 eAuthentication ID will be required.

RUS will also use the BroadbandUSA Mapping Tool to post a Public Notice of the proposed funded Service Area(s) for each BIP Broadband Infrastructure applicant and enable incumbent service providers to submit a response providing information to RUS regarding their service offerings. Public Notices will be made available shortly after the application window closes. Existing service providers will be given thirty (30) days to respond to these Public Notices once RUS has posted them.  To enable you to submit a response to proposed funded service area(s), registration for a Level 1 eAuthentication ID will be required.

BTOP Applicants Only:

For Round 2, NTIA will not use the RUS mapping tool for applicants or commenters to draw service area maps or require existing broadband service providers to submit comments on each proposed funded service area specified in an application. Therefore, Comprehensive Community Infrastructure (CCI) applicants should not use the BroadbandUSA Mapping Tool. Instead, they will be asked to submit Network Maps and Service Area data (census tracts and block groups) as attachments to their electronic application.

After the application period ends, for a 15-day period, NTIA will post an announcement on BroadbandUSA.gov identifying each CCI application it has received, along with a list of the Census block groups or tracts that each infrastructure application has proposed to serve. The announcement will provide existing broadband service providers with an opportunity to voluntarily submit to NTIA information about the broadband services that they currently offer in their respective service territories by Census block group or tract. The registration requirements, if any, for this phase are still under development.