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CPUC details timelines, templates and PAU rules for BITS subgrantee selection
Summary
At a CPUC office hour, staff answered applicants’ questions about the BITS subgrantee selection process, clarifying the prequalification and project-application timelines, guidance on 47 CFR ownership templates, project-area units (PAUs) and tribal-area handling, and upcoming FAQ and data releases.
Ali Shragi, program and project supervisor for the BITS program at the California Public Utilities Commission, opened a March office-hour session and told attendees that "the CPUC is required to follow the rules established by the NTIA," emphasizing that federal guidance will govern how the state implements its subgrant selection process.
The session focused on applicants’ procedural questions about the prequalification portal, project-application window and required documents. Shragi reminded participants that the prequalification portal opened March 25 and that applicants should use the guidance and templates posted on the CPUC website. He said the project-application portal would open April 2 and that the agency will publish additional materials and shapefiles before that date.
Why it matters: the answers are intended to help prospective subgrantees avoid incomplete submissions that could be disqualified and to prevent funding from going to areas that have since received service updates.
Key timelines and submission rules
CPUC staff said applicants will have three business days to respond to revision requests and that the system will not accept email responses. "We are going to be sending those revision requests ... in the order we receive them. So, get it in as early as possible," said Joe, a CPUC staff member. Shragi and other staff advised applicants to submit as complete and accurate an application as possible because the statewide BIP timeline will leave limited time for multiple rounds of revision.
Templates and regulatory certifications
A recurring question concerned question 4.6 of the application, which requires an ownership/partnership disclosure tied to 47 CFR and section 1.2105. "Yes," Joe said when asked whether applicants may upload the same 47 CFR ownership template for both places it is requested, adding: "As in, fill out the template, add that into 4.6. And if you believe that 4.6 c, there's nothing more to add, uploading the same thing, it should cover it." For other certification questions staff said answers would be posted in the FAQ after further review.
Project-area units, tribal lands and shapefiles
Staff clarified that PAUs are based on census block groups and tribal lands as the smallest project-area units. "County boundaries don't matter for the purposes of drawing up project areas," said Ziggy, a CPUC staff member. The commission will post a shapefile of PAU geometries and attributes in the same download that contains eligible location (BSL) data by the time the project application opens April 2, staff said.
On tribal lands, staff explained that tribal areas are handled as their own PAUs and the CPUC will provide FAQ guidance about what happens when tribal areas are removed from a census block group PAU.
90% coverage option and other technical questions
Staff said the optional 90% coverage proposal will be validated by the application system. "The number of locations that you'll need to include in your 90% will be auto calculated," Joe said. Applicants will download a template to identify which locations they propose to serve, and the system will verify the counts upon reupload.
Challenge map updates and awarded FFA locations
When asked about updating the challenge map to avoid overbuilding recently served locations, staff said the CPUC will follow NTIA guidance and will publish more detail in the FAQ. Jonathan, a CPUC staff member, said the commission will post, before or at the opening of the project application window, a file listing FFA awards the commission approved through February and associated locations so applicants can confirm those areas are represented correctly. A reconciliation will follow to account for awards and fabric updates per NTIA requirements.
FAQs, recordings and continued outreach
Staff said they will include questions asked during the session in the FAQ, sometimes combining similar items, and that a new FAQ version would be uploaded mid to late next week. The webinar recording and slide materials will be posted on the CPUC website. CPUC staff encouraged applicants to submit additional questions by email (addresses provided during the session) and to attend weekly office hours and future webinars for further clarification.
Ending
No formal decisions or votes were taken during the office hour; staff responses and publication commitments will be reflected in forthcoming FAQ updates and data releases. Shragi closed the session by thanking participants and noting the CPUC will continue office hours and webinars to support prospective subgrantees.
