La. Admin. Code tit. 4 § XXI-303

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XXI-303 - Applications with Multiple Providers or Project Areas

A. An applicant may submit one application with multiple service providers if the applicant can demonstrate how the providers are collaborating to achieve universal coverage for the unserved location or area.

B. An applicant may submit an application with support from more than one unit of local government.

C. Units of local government may endorse multiple applications with different service providers and may include project areas that cross jurisdictional boundaries.

1. Units of local government that provide letters of support, matching funds, or in-kind contributions to any application should provide the same, on a percentage basis relative to matching funds and in-kind contributions, to all applications proposing the use of like technologies in identical unserved areas with access provided to the exact number of prospective broadband recipients within its jurisdiction. Should multiple applications propose to serve unserved areas within its jurisdiction and include the use of unlike technologies, differing unserved areas, or a non-analogous number of prospective broadband recipients to be served, as compared against other applications, a local government may use reasonable judgement and reserve the right to determine its level of support, to include letters of support, matching funds, or in-kind contributions, on an application-by-application basis. A unit of local government that provides differing levels of support, to include letters of support, matching funds, or in-kind contributions, to differing applicants proposing one or more projects within its jurisdiction shall provide an explanation to the office, at the office's request, as to why the local government's differing levels of support do not present an unreasonable or undue preference or advantage to itself or to any provider of broadband service. If, in the opinion of the office, differing levels of support by a unit of local government for differing applications presents an undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to itself or to any provider of broadband service, the office may disqualify from grant funding consideration any application or project area within the jurisdiction of the unit of local government.

D. An applicant may apply for one contiguous project area or multiple non-contiguous project areas

La. Admin. Code tit. 4, § XXI-303

Promulgated by the Office of the Governor, Division of Administration, Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, LR 47, Amended LR 47, Amended LR 481506 (6/1/2022), Amended LR 48, Amended LR 49

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 51:2370-2370.16.