NTIA seeks comment on broadband Competitive Grant Program forms

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has published a notice of information collection inviting the general public and other federal agencies to comment on the application forms for the Competitive Grant Program (CGP), a federal broadband connectivity funding stream authorized under 47 U.S.C. 1724. The notice, issued under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), opens a 60-day comment period that closes on October 26, 2026, before the collection is submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval.

The CGP traces its authority to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 2021 (the Infrastructure Act), adopted on November 15, 2021, which provided $65 billion in funding to close the digital divide and ensure all Americans have access to high-speed broadband. NTIA administers several broadband connectivity grant programs funded by the Act, and the CGP provides federal funding to eligible applicants to advance broadband adoption, digital skills development, and access to public connectivity resources.

What the collection covers

NTIA will use the information gathered from each applicant to review proposed applications and budgets from eligible entities as defined by 47 U.S.C. 1724(b). Data will be collected through both electronic and mail submission, and the collection is classified as a revision of a current information collection under OMB Control Number 0660-0055.

• Estimated number of respondents: 800
• Estimated time per response: 18 hours per applicant
• Estimated total annual burden hours: 14,400 hours
• Estimated total annual cost to the public: $696,240.00
• Respondent’s obligation: Mandatory

Who can apply

Eligible entities applying for CGP funding include a broad range of public and non-profit organizations, as well as partnerships between them:

• Political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities of a State
• Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian organizations
• Foundations, qualifying corporations, institutions, and associations that are not-for-profit entities and not schools
• Community anchor institutions
• Local educational agencies
• Entities that carry out workforce development programs

How to comment

Comments must be received on or before October 26, 2026, and may be submitted by mail to Jennifer Duane, Director of Grants Management, Administration, and Compliance, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, at 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4874, Washington, DC 20230, or by email to broadbandusa@ntia.gov. The subject line should reference “Competitive Grant Program Application Forms Comment.” The legal authority for the collection is Section 60305 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429.

The comment process lets the Department evaluate whether the collection is necessary and practically useful, assess the accuracy of its burden and cost estimates, and find ways to enhance the quality and clarity of the information gathered while minimizing the reporting burden on respondents. Comments submitted become part of the public record and may be summarized in the request to OMB for approval of the information collection.

For communities and organizations seeking federal support to expand broadband access, this notice is the formal step that keeps the Competitive Grant Program’s application pipeline moving. Public input during the 60-day window shapes the final forms that eligible entities will use to compete for funding aimed at closing the digital divide in underserved areas.

Source: Federal Register, Vol. 91, No. 163, Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Notices, p. 54848-54849 (official reference: FR Doc. 2026-17322).