Q. What is special construction?
A. Special construction is any new fiber (or fiber-equivalent) project that connects E-rate eligible entities to high-speed broadband connectivity that meets the FCC’s long-term capacity broadband goals.
Examples would be installing fiber (or fiber-equivalent) to deliver synchronous broadband directly from an internet service provider and/or installing fiber (or fiber-equivalent) between an entity’s buildings (a wide-area network or WAN).
For more details on special construction, visit the E-rate fiber website.
Q. What is the state matching program for special construction?
A. The FCC adopted rules providiging for additional Category One funding to match state funding for special construction projects that meet the FCC’s long-term capacity broadband goals. The E-rate program will now match up to 10% for approved special construction projects that have been awarded state matching funds.
For more detail on the state matching provision, visit the E-rate state matching provision website.
Idaho Code 33-910 created the Broadband Infrastructure Improvement Grant (BIIG) Fund. This fund provides the state matching funds for special construction projects.
For more detail on BIIG, see the BIIG Overview.
