Section 12-O:66 - Program Guidelines; RulemakingI. The department of business and economic affairs shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A, relative to grant application and distribution procedures for wireless initiatives pursuant to 12-O:65.II. The rules shall, at a minimum, include the following:(a) Establishment of a competitive grant process based on objective criteria, prioritizing areas unserved by or lacking consistent mobile wireless coverage.(b) Establishment of a challenge process, with reasonable timelines, through which information may be provided to the state to ensure that funds are used to build projects in areas unserved by or lacking consistent mobile wireless coverage.(c) A method to ensure an applicant's trade secrets, financial information, and proprietary information submitted as part of an application are exempt from disclosure under RSA 91-A.(d) Establishment of a process that promotes wireless connectivity statewide.(e) Establishment of a program or mechanisms to encourage adoption of wireless services.III. Eligible costs for the program shall include, but are not limited to:(a) Costs of construction and government permitting, installation, and operation of wireless network infrastructure, including but not limited to buildings, towers, digital devices, equipment, and fiber-optic lines.(b) Upgrades to existing wireless network infrastructure.(c) All other costs directly attributable to the construction project. In cases where a cost is shared with another ongoing project, shared costs shall be prorated.(d) Planning costs related to network design and program eligibility.(e) Awards pursuant to this subdivision shall be contingent on the issuance of necessary government permits.IV. The department of business and economic affairs shall not, as a condition of an award of grant money, impose any requirement, rate regulation, or other term or condition of service that differs from the applicant's terms or conditions of service in its other service areas.Added by 2022 , 231: 2, eff. 8/16/2022.