Oregon’s Broadband Deployment Program Announces Notices of Intent to Award Second Tranche out of the $141 Million to Bring High-Speed, Reliable Broadband Internet to Thousands by 2026

The Oregon Broadband Office issued Notices of Intent to Award the second tranche of funding for the Broadband Deployment Program. In tranche two, $9,488,246 will be awarded to Home Telephone Company's project, "Nyssa Regional Link Expansion." It will provide 100/100 service at $49.99/month to 800 currently unserved locations in Malheur county. Additionally, $3,359,260 will be awarded to the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians' project, "Expanding Broadband Access for the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians." It will provide 100/100 service to 81 currently unserved locations in Lincoln County.  Oregon Broadband Office is distributing a total of $141,560,998 through the Office’s Broadband Deployment Program (BDP), part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF). The initial tranche of funding press release can be found here. It will support the construction and deployment of high-speed, reliable wired broadband internet at speeds of 100/100 Mbps to unserved and underserved locations across the state. Awardees were ranked based on a composite score that prioritizes outcomes:

• Social Vulnerability Index - Applicants receive a 5% score bonus if 80% or more of their proposed project service locations are located within areas designated as “Moderate to High” or “High” on the state of Oregon’s Social Vulnerability Index.
• Unserved Locations— 5 points for other eligible locations where wired 25/3 service already exists).
• Affordability - Applicants with projects that can offer service at $30/month or less receive an additional 5 points per location. Applicants with projects that can provide service at $50/month or less receive two additional points per location.