The office may give preference to applications and make awards
decisions based upon the following factors:
(1) cost effectiveness and overall impact;
(2) geographic location;
(3) the latest state or federal broadband data;
(4) the number of households or businesses that will
be served due to the reimbursement being requested;
(5) involvement of broadband networks owned, operated
by, or affiliated with local governments, non-profits, or cooperatives;
(6) completion of the pole replacement and payment
of all costs of the pole replacement;
(7) investments in fiber-optic infrastructure;
(8) affordability of broadband services in a target
area;
(9) participation in federal programs that provide
low-income consumers with subsidies for broadband internet access
services;
(10) documentation of existing broadband internet service
performance;
(11) download speeds and upload speeds, including user
speed tests resulting from completion of the pole replacement;
(12) community involvement in the pole replacement
planning process, including feedback from community members, community
organizations, and business owners;
(13) business practices and workforce information,
including the following:
(A) the applicant's workforce meets high safety and
training standards;
(B) the applicant prioritizes the hiring of local workers
or workers from historically disadvantaged communities;
(C) the applicant ensures that its contractors and
subcontractors meet high labor standards; and
(D) the applicant has no recent violations of federal
and state labor and employment laws; and
(14) any additional factors listed in a NOFA published
by the office.
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