Rural Pole Replacement Fund Has $56.5M Remaining

The Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) still has $56.5 million to reimburse rural pole replacement costs, according to a notice of funding availability (NOFA) published this week.

The Texas Broadband Pole Replacement Program started with $75 million “to reimburse eligible applicants for a portion of eligible pole replacement costs,” according to the documents.

But only $18.5 million was awarded after the July 29 NOFA.

Companies that received money, announced this month:

• Bartlett Electric Cooperative
• MidSouth Electric Cooperative
• Spectrum Gulf Coast
• United Electric Cooperative Services

These companies made 18 applications, all granted, and monies will continue to be distributed until gone.

Potential applicants may recover costs for:

• Removal or disposal of an existing pole
• Purchase or installation of a new replacement pole
• Transferring any existing facilities to the replacement pole

Points of note:

• $5,000 is the minimum reimbursement
• $5 million is the maximum reimbursement
• Poles must have accommodated attachment by eligible broadband facilities
• Applicants must submit separate applications for multiple counties
• Documentation will be required

Questions regarding the funds outlined in BDO-NOFA-004 are due before 2 p.m. Nov. 15 via email to Jesse Troublefield. Applications are due 5 p.m. Jan. 10.

The CPA published the detailed NOFA with a rubric and examples on the Texas SmartBuy website.