It was announced in August 2022 that the state will award Polk County $4 million through the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Program to provide broadband internet service within the county.

A recent letter from the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity stated that the group has been “carefully reviewing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Guidelines and the federal rules associated with this funding.”

The letter said, “Governor Cooper sent the attached letter to the Biden Administration in November regarding the application of federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) to internet service providers that receive ARPA funds for broadband infrastructure projects. We have had numerous conversations with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and the White House recommending exemption from Uniform Guidance requirements for program income (2 CFR 200.307), property standards (2 CFR 200.311 to 316), and procurement standards (2 CFR 200.318 to 327). U.S. Treasury has communicated that they are actively working to resolve our concerns and issue clarifying guidance.”

While the department waits for further guidance, the letter stated, it is taking the following steps in during the next two weeks:

·      Designate all GREAT grant awardees receiving ARPA funds as subrecipients pursuant to the Uniform Guidance.

·      Release a draft grant agreement for public review that includes standards and language applicable to subrecipients of ARPA funds set forth in the Uniform Guidance, the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Final Rule from Treasury, and the laws of North Carolina.

·      Release a template three-party grant agreement to all providers and counties that have entered into partnerships. This template may serve as the partnership agreement required by statute where adopted by a county partner and may eliminate the need for a separate agreement between GREAT grantees and counties.

·      Release a draft memorandum of understanding between NCDIT and county partners clarifying roles and responsibilities with regard to grant monitoring, reporting, and federal compliance.

For more information about this grant, please click here.