Opportunity Information: Apply for 2018 NTIA SAPP 01
The State Alternative Plan Program (SAPP) is a National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grant opportunity created under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. That law established the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) as an independent authority housed within NTIA and charged it with deploying and operating a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). The core idea behind the program is that public safety agencies across the United States should have access to a single, interoperable broadband network architecture for emergency communications, built to function nationwide rather than as a patchwork of incompatible state and local systems.
Under the Act, the NPSBN is structured as two main parts. FirstNet operates the nationwide core network, and each state, territory, and the District of Columbia connects to that core through a Radio Access Network (RAN) within its jurisdiction. The RAN is the portion that includes the local radio infrastructure that devices connect to, and it must integrate cleanly with the FirstNet core so public safety users can roam, communicate, and use data applications across jurisdictions without losing service or interoperability. The Act also assigns NTIA an oversight role if a state wants to take on responsibility for building and operating its own RAN rather than relying on the FirstNet deployment approach.
SAPP is the mechanism that would allow a state or territory to pursue that alternative approach. To do so, an applicant would have to seek authority to enter into a Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement (SMLA) with FirstNet, referred to as “Lease Authority.” The SMLA is important because it governs access to the spectrum resources tied to the FirstNet public safety broadband system and sets the terms under which a state could manage and operate a RAN using those spectrum rights. In addition to requesting Lease Authority, a state could also apply for optional grant funding called “RAN Construction Funds,” intended to help pay for building out the RAN infrastructure needed for the state-managed alternative plan.
A central feature of this program is NTIA’s required determination that any state pursuing an alternative plan can meet key statutory standards. Specifically, the state’s RAN must be able to seamlessly interoperate with the NPSBN and must be financially and technically sustainable over time. In practical terms, this means NTIA would evaluate whether the proposed state-run network build is compatible with the nationwide architecture and whether the state has a realistic plan to fund, operate, maintain, and upgrade the system for the long haul without undermining reliability for first responders.
As listed in the opportunity record, SAPP is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 11.019) administered by NTIA, with the funding instrument type identified as a grant and the activity category labeled “Other.” The funding opportunity number is “2018 NTIA SAPP 01,” and the record shows an original closing date of December 7, 2021, with a creation date of November 28, 2017. However, the description also makes clear that the program is effectively moot at present because all 56 states and territories opted in to the FirstNet deployment approach. Since SAPP is tied to the option for states to pursue an alternative plan, and no states are currently in that posture, the notice states that there are no entities eligible for a SAPP grant.Apply for 2018 NTIA SAPP 01
- The National Telecommunications and Information Admini in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "State Alternative Plan Program (SAPP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.019.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-28.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-12-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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State Alternative Plan Program (SAPP) FAQ
What is the State Alternative Plan Program (SAPP)?
The State Alternative Plan Program (SAPP) is a National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grant opportunity created under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. It was designed to support a state or territory that wanted to pursue an alternative approach to the deployment of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) within its jurisdiction.
Which federal agency administers SAPP?
SAPP is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
What law created the program and what was it intended to accomplish?
SAPP was created under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. That law established the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) as an independent authority housed within NTIA and charged it with deploying and operating the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN), with the goal of providing public safety agencies with a single, interoperable broadband network architecture for emergency communications nationwide.
What is FirstNet and how does it relate to the NPSBN?
FirstNet is an independent authority housed within NTIA that is charged with deploying and operating the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). In the NPSBN structure described in the opportunity, FirstNet operates the nationwide core network that states and territories connect to.
What problem was the NPSBN meant to solve?
The NPSBN was meant to ensure that public safety agencies across the United States can use a single interoperable broadband network for emergency communications that works nationwide, rather than relying on a patchwork of incompatible state and local systems.
How is the NPSBN structured under the Act?
The Act describes the NPSBN as having two main parts: (1) a nationwide core network operated by FirstNet, and (2) a Radio Access Network (RAN) within each state, territory, and the District of Columbia that connects to the core.
What is a Radio Access Network (RAN) in this context?
The RAN is the portion of the network that includes the local radio infrastructure that devices connect to within a state, territory, or the District of Columbia. It must integrate cleanly with the FirstNet core so public safety users can roam, communicate, and use data applications across jurisdictions without losing service or interoperability.
What does it mean for a RAN to "integrate" with the FirstNet core?
Based on the program description, integration means the RAN must connect to the nationwide core in a way that supports seamless interoperability, including roaming and cross-jurisdiction communications and data use, without loss of service.
What alternative approach was SAPP intended to support?
SAPP was intended to support a state or territory that wanted to build and operate its own RAN (within its jurisdiction) rather than relying on the FirstNet deployment approach.
What role does NTIA have if a state wants to build and operate its own RAN?
The Act assigns NTIA an oversight role in situations where a state seeks to take on responsibility for building and operating its own RAN rather than relying on the FirstNet deployment approach.
What is "Lease Authority" under SAPP?
Lease Authority refers to a state or territory seeking authority to enter into a Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement (SMLA) with FirstNet. In the SAPP context, obtaining this authority is part of what would enable a state to pursue an alternative plan for managing and operating a RAN.
What is a Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement (SMLA)?
The Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement (SMLA) is an agreement with FirstNet that governs access to the spectrum resources tied to the FirstNet public safety broadband system and sets the terms under which a state could manage and operate a RAN using those spectrum rights.
What are "RAN Construction Funds"?
RAN Construction Funds are optional grant funds that a state could apply for under SAPP, intended to help pay for building out the RAN infrastructure needed for a state-managed alternative plan.
Is a request for Lease Authority the same thing as applying for RAN Construction Funds?
No. Based on the opportunity description, a state pursuing an alternative approach would request Lease Authority to enter into an SMLA with FirstNet, and it could also apply separately for optional RAN Construction Funds to help pay for RAN buildout.
What standards must an alternative state RAN meet for NTIA approval?
NTIA is required to determine that an alternative state RAN can meet key statutory standards. Specifically, the state RAN must be able to seamlessly interoperate with the NPSBN and must be financially and technically sustainable over time.
What does "seamless interoperability" mean in practical terms for this program?
In practical terms described in the opportunity, it means NTIA would evaluate whether the proposed state-run network build is compatible with the nationwide architecture and supports interoperability such as roaming and cross-jurisdiction communications and data applications without losing service.
What does "financially and technically sustainable" mean in this program?
It means NTIA would evaluate whether the state has a realistic long-term plan to fund, operate, maintain, and upgrade the system over time, without undermining reliability for first responders.
What type of grant program is SAPP?
SAPP is listed as a discretionary grant program.
What is the CFDA number for SAPP?
The opportunity record lists SAPP under CFDA 11.019.
What is the funding instrument type for this opportunity?
The funding instrument type is identified as a grant.
What is the activity category listed for SAPP?
The activity category is labeled "Other."
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is "2018 NTIA SAPP 01."
What dates are associated with the opportunity record?
The record shows a creation date of November 28, 2017, and an original closing date of December 7, 2021.
Is SAPP currently active, and are any entities eligible right now?
According to the description provided, the program is effectively moot at present because all 56 states and territories opted in to the FirstNet deployment approach. Since SAPP applies to states or territories pursuing an alternative plan and no states are currently in that posture, the notice states that there are no entities eligible for a SAPP grant.
Why does opting in to the FirstNet deployment approach affect SAPP eligibility?
SAPP is tied to the option for states and territories to pursue an alternative plan (such as building and operating their own RAN). The provided notice indicates that because all states and territories opted in to the FirstNet deployment approach, there are currently no entities positioned to pursue the alternative-plan pathway that SAPP was designed to support.
How many states and territories are referenced as having opted in?
The description states that all 56 states and territories opted in to the FirstNet deployment approach.
Does this opportunity apply only to states, or also to territories and the District of Columbia?
The description references states, territories, and the District of Columbia as jurisdictions that connect to the FirstNet core through a RAN, and it describes SAPP as a mechanism a state or territory could use to pursue an alternative approach.
What is the overall goal of having a single nationwide public safety broadband network architecture?
The goal described is to ensure nationwide emergency communications interoperability for public safety agencies, including the ability to roam and communicate across jurisdictions without being limited by incompatible networks.
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