(a) The Agency will compare and evaluate all applications for assistance and shall give priority to applications in the manner set out in paragraphs (a)(1) through (4) of this section, which shall be scored as outlined in a notice published in the Federal Register. (Note that for applications containing multiple proposed funded service areas, the percentage will be calculated combining all proposed funded service areas.)
(1) Applicant's providing broadband service to rural areas that do not have access to service of at least 10 Mbps upstream and 1 Mbps downstream.
(2) Projects that provide the maximum level of broadband service to the greatest proportion of rural households.
(3) Projects that:
(i) Serve rural areas:
(A) With a population of less than 10,000 permanent residents;
(B) Are experiencing outmigration and have adopted a strategic community investment plan under section 379H(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v) that includes considerations for improving and expanding broadband service;
(C) With a high percentage of low-income families or persons (as defined in section 501(b) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471(b)));
(D) That are isolated from other significant population centers; or
(E) That provide rapid and expanded deployment of fixed and mobile broadband on cropland and ranchland within a service territory for use in various applications of precision agriculture; and
(ii) Were developed with the participation of, and will receive a substantial portion of the funding for the project from two or more stakeholders, including:
(A) State, local, and tribal governments;
(B) Nonprofit institutions; and
(C) Community anchor institutions, such public libraries, schools, institutions of higher education, health care facilities, private entities, philanthropic organizations and cooperatives.
(4) New construction projects requesting no refinancing.
(b) The Agency may assign special consideration priority points that will be issued in a notice in the Federal Register with respect to any funding opportunity.
(c) With respect to two or more applications that have the same priority, as outlined in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the Agency shall give priority to the application that requests the least amount of grant funding as calculated based on the total amount of grant funds requested.