Media Contact: Katie Gorscak katie.gorscak@fcc.gov For Immediate Release FCC ANNOUNCES PILOT PROGRAM FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE NATIONWIDE AWARENESS OF AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM Pilot Program Outreach Grants to Focus on Reaching Historically Unserved and Underserved Communities -- WASHINGTON, November 21, 2022—The Federal Communications Commission today announced details for two pilot program opportunities to promote the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) nationwide. The pilot program outreach grants seek to enlist trusted community messengers to develop innovative outreach strategies to reach historically unserved and underserved communities, including those serving recipients of federal housing assistance and communities interested in launching digital navigator programs. With today’s announcement, the Commission is issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for up to $5 million for the Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program (YHYI) Outreach Grants and up to $5 million for the ACP Navigator Pilot Program (NPP) Outreach Grants. Eligible applicants must submit applications by January 9, 2023, 9:00 p.m. EST. This NOFO will only apply to pilot participants seeking grant funds, those participants who will self-fund the pilot will not be required to adhere to the NOFO requirements. “Building trust in new federal programs is key to ensuring their success.  Working with local organizations and leaders who know how to serve their communities’ needs helps build this trust,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.  “We have seen this play out in the success of our Affordable Connectivity Program to date, but are aware more can be done to get the word out about this program to everyone who could qualify.  Through these one-year pilot program outreach grants, we hope to learn more about how to better market these programs, including how participants can reach out to those receiving federal housing assistance and help households overcome enrollment barriers. With this announcement, we remain committed to our outreach partners and the work they are doing to ensure everyone, everywhere has the internet connections they need to thrive.” The ACP is a $14.2 billion FCC benefit program that helps ensure that qualifying low-income households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. The program, which has served more than 15 million households to date, plays an integral role in helping to bridge the broadband affordability gap, which is an ongoing priority for Congress, the FCC, and across the federal government. The Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program (YHYI) Outreach Grants provide funding to eligible state, local, and Tribal housing agencies or non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, and tenant association partners to federal, state, local, or Tribal housing agencies for outreach activities to increase awareness and encourage participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program for households receiving federal housing assistance. The one-year pilot program will allow the FCC to test the best methods for helping consumers receiving qualifying federal housing assistance available through Department of Housing and Urban Development programs and administered at the federal, Tribal, regional, and local level to learn about and enroll in the ACP. YHYI funding will only be provided to entities that are selected to participate in the Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program. “Through federal housing assistance, millions of Americans have access to a home. It’s time to help them take advantage of ACP to access affordable Internet as well,” said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. “There is a particular nexus between housing and connectivity: if we can help a family secure housing, we should be able to help them secure an Internet connection as well. Learning from the results of the innovative activities deployed as part of YHYI will help to achieve this goal, while providing a template for solutions that can be expanded nationwide to improve ACP awareness and enrollment.” The ACP Navigator Pilot Program (NPP) Outreach Grants is a one-year pilot program that provides funding to support outreach activities by trusted, neutral third-party entities, such as schools and school districts or other local or state government entities, with access to the National Verifier for purposes of assisting consumers with applying for the ACP. NPP funding will only be provided to entities that are selected to participate in the ACP Navigator Pilot Program. For general information about YHYI and NPP, see www.fcc.gov/acp-pilots. For more information on the pilot program outreach grants, see www.fcc.gov/acp-grants. For questions about the grant opportunities, contact ACPGrants@fcc.gov. For assistance using www.grants.gov, please contact the Help Desk at (800) 518-4726 or email support@grants.gov. For Section 504 Compliance support, please contact the FCC Section 504 Compliance Officer at FCC504@fcc.gov. ### Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).