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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The Oregon Broadband Office recently released
<a href="https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewReceiptPDF.action?filingRsn=61535">
temporary program rules</a> that establishes an approximately $6.8 million grant program from the state’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) Coronavirus Capital Project Fund (CPF).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/Oregon_Broadband_Office/Pages/default.aspx">
Digital Connectivity Technology Program</a> will provide grants to community anchor institutions (including public and academic libraries!) to purchase internet-enabled personal computing devices such as laptops, desktops, and tablets; and (or) the purchase
of public Wi-Fi equipment. The equipment must support services that enable education, work, or health monitoring (telehealth) and meet community needs around access and affordability surfaced during the pandemic.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">In libraries, this grant could be used to purchase internet-enabled personal computing devices for lending programs, or for equipment that supports public wifi networks. See
the <a href="https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewReceiptPDF.action?filingRsn=61535">
program rules</a> (p.3) for more specifics about the scope of eligible equipment.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Grant awards will range from $25,000 to $250,000. Funding for the program will expire December 31, 2026.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">A
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/biz/Publications/Broadband/Reason%20Code%205%20Documents/ARPA%20CPF%20DCTP_One%20Pager.pdf">
summary</a> and <a href="https://www.oregon.gov/biz/Publications/Broadband/Reason%20Code%205%20Documents/ARPA%20CPF%20DCTP_V1_FAQ.pdf">
FAQ</a> are currently available, with more details about the application process and timeline forthcoming. Now is a great time to do some initial planning to identify potential equipment needs and costs.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Keep tabs on the roll out of this program on the Oregon Broadband Office website:
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/Oregon_Broadband_Office/Pages/default.aspx">
https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/Oregon_Broadband_Office/Pages/default.aspx</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Questions can be directed to the Broadband Office staff at:
<a href="mailto:De.Broadband@biz.oregon.gov">De.Broadband@biz.oregon.gov</a> <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Arlene Weible, MLS (she/her/hers)<span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Library Consultant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Oregon Federal Regional Depository Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">State Library of Oregon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5"><a href="mailto:arlene.weible@slo.oregon.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">arlene.weible@slo.oregon.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
<b>|</b> 971-375-2727 <b>|</b><span style="color:#2E74B5"> <a href="http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries">
<span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries</span></a></span><u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><u><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:blue"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="342" height="43" style="width:3.5625in;height:.4479in" id="Picture_x0020_27" src="cid:image001.png@01DCA0DE.43A912D0" alt="State Library of Oregon Logo"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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