About Us
The DC State Broadband Office (DC SBO) is a department within DC’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO). DC SBO will utilize federal funding to realize a vision for DC in which every resident, every business, in every corner of DC can live, work, and thrive in the digital age—without bias or barriers. To realize this vision, the DC SBO works to ensure that all DC residents and businesses have access to affordable, high-speed internet within their homes, and in their local Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs). DC SBO also works to ensure that every DC resident has the skills to effectively use internet access devices, and to be both productive and safe online. Fundamentally, DC SBDEO works to enable residents to gain this connectivity and these skills, both in their daily lives, and in their journeys over time. In so doing, the DC SBO intends to close the digital divide within the district.
DC SBO has oversight of the District of Columbia’s BEAD grant funding implementation efforts. The BEAD Grant provides $42.45 billion to all 50 states and U.S. territories to fund planning, infrastructure, deployment, and adoption programs for expanding broadband connectivity throughout the next five years. The District’s BEAD funding will ensure that all District residents will have the access, skills, technology, and capacity to fully participate in the modern world. Rounding out DC SBO’s broadband responsibilities, is its governance of the District’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF) which provides $15 million for the implementation of fiber-optic infrastructure within Ward 5 of the District.
Contact our DC State Broadband Office
Get in contact with The DC State Broadband Office
Visit our website at techtogether.dc.gov
Email us at octo.grants@dc.gov
Using Submittable
- You will need to create a free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials to submit to these forms.
- Submittable works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported. Please make sure you are using a supported browser.
Technical Questions?
Check out the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support.
RFA Publication Date: October 31, 2025
Application Submission Deadline: November 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
Application Submission Platform: wdcbroadband.submittable.com
CPF Application:
The objective of this CPF Broadband Infrastructure Project is the simultaneous creation of two new assets. This includes both the creation of new privately owned and operated middle mile and last mile capital assets in Ward 5, which will be made subject to affordability and performance standards (“Grantee Project Property”), as well as a new government owned and operated middle mile and last mile broadband infrastructure capital assets in Ward 5 (“OCTO Project Property”). The operation of these new capital assets will directly enable greater access to work, education, and health-monitoring within the proposed geographic area for the life of the assets.
Through this CPF program, the recipient of this grant shall be responsible for the purchasing and installation of the privately owned assets. For the government owned assets, OCTO proposes to purchase and provide for the installation of physical broadband infrastructure including conduit and fiber in public rights of way, and to purchase and install network equipment in one or more community anchor institutions (“CAI”) in Ward 5. For the installation of these government-owned assets, the recipient shall provide coordination so that OCTO can install its assets simultaneously. This coordination will enable DCNet to provide a 10 Gbps symmetrical connection between the Trinidad Recreation Center in Ward 5 and the backbone of the global internet through DC’s open-access Internet Exchange Point (“IXP”). Additionally, this will enable DCNet to provide wholesale fiber backhaul and middle mile service to Ward 5 retail internet providers who commit to DC’s performance and affordability standards, and who offer fiber to the premises, fixed location wireless, or mobile wireless plans to Ward 5 residents.
The CPF Program will result in:
- New retail last mile fiber to the premises, fixed location wireless, and mobile wireless offerings available in Ward 5, and subject to performance and affordability standards, including a requirement to offer a reduced cost residential broadband internet service plan (Low Cost Plan);
- Greatly improved DCNet last mile service to one or more CAIs in Ward 5, free of existing contractually imposed prohibitions on providing service to residents, businesses, and national non-profits;
- New DC-owned and operated middle mile fiber and conduit, which will be used to drive affordability, reliability, product variety, and network resilience, and create an ongoing project income stream which can be used to further expand DCNet fiber and conduit infrastructure throughout the City; and,
- New privately owned and operated middle mile fiber and conduit, subject to performance and affordability standards, including a requirement to offer a reduced cost broadband internet access service to eligible households.
Overview of Subgrantee Selection Process
This is a competitive grant. The review panel for the RFA will be composed of individuals with knowledge in the areas directly related to the RFA. The review panel will review, score, and rank each Applicant’s application.
The panel will recommend the most responsive application for an award of the grant.
Review panels vary in size but typically are made up of three to five people. Review panel members can be from OCTO staff or outside of OCTO, as long as they do not have a conflict of interest.
Resources
- CPF Map Ward 5 Map: https://www.techtogetherdc.com/_files/ugd/9d0000_82542fe692b5409a966e9e328437cc15.pdf.
Technical Questions?
Check out the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support.