The NTIA is now accepting applications for the Middle Mile Grant Program. The application window closes September 30, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). The Middle Mile Grant Program is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It will provide $1 Billion in funds to deploy and improve middle mile broadband networks to reduce the cost of connecting unserved and underserved areas.
If you are a broadband service provider this program is open to you. Unlike the BEAD program under the IIJA, these funds can be granted directly to service providers, who are considered "Eligible Entities", and do not need go through the State to then be sub-granted by the State to the provider. Also, unlike BEAD, there is not a requirement that the new FCC maps be completed before funds can be allocated under the Middle Mile Grant Program, which means funds should be dispersed much sooner than BEAD funds.
You can find a link to the Middle Mile Infrastructure application page
here.
On that page you will see links to an Application Guide, which is like a manual for completing the application, as well as an "application checklist and packet". That packet is a zip file with a lot of supporting documents meant to help you complete the application. Two of the fillable PDF forms did not work for me when I clicked on them in the zip folder, because they opened the PDF in my browser. To view those forms you will need to open the files in Adobe Acrobat.