Grant uses

(a) Permitted uses Except as provided in subsection (c), an eligible entity that receives a grant under this title shall use the grant funds to carry out at least one of the following activities: (1) (A) Install, upgrade, or extend the life of— (i) high-speed broadband internet infrastructure sufficient to support digital and technology-based learning, except that no funds may be used for broadband infrastructure deployment to any location that is already served by qualifying broadband service or is subject to enforceable deployment obligations, as determined by the Assistant Secretary; (ii) campus-wide broadband networks, including adjacent infrastructure and 5G and future network generations; and (iii) other broadband infrastructure that provides support for teaching, learning and research. (B) Modernize, renovate, or retrofit campus facilities, including preserving facilities with historic significance, to facilitate projects under this paragraph. (2) (A) Construct, install, maintain, or facilitate— (i) equipment or infrastructure used for training and education in digital media production and distribution facilities, including tools and equipment that support instruction in television or radio broadcasting on stations located on the campus of or affiliated with the eligible entity; and (ii) facilities, equipment, or services for the studio of digital media production or production for television or radio broadcast stations located on the campus of or affiliated with the eligible entity. (B) Support technology, broadcast engineering, and journalism instruction through existing courses and supervised training programs that are— (i) operated by or affiliated with the eligible entity; and (ii) used primarily for instructional and experiential learning purposes. (3) Establish new, or improve existing, laboratories or research facilities relating to the fields of communications technology, broadcast engineering, media, journalism, and other disciplines, as determined by the Assistant Secretary in consultation with the Secretary. (4) Construct, install, upgrade, or operate— (A) media production facilities, including production control rooms, master control facilities, and mobile or remote production units, for the coverage of intercollegiate athletic events; (B) cameras, replay, graphics, audio, and other production equipment, and transmission infrastructure, including fiber, satellite, and internet protocol transmission, sufficient to produce live coverage of intercollegiate athletic events at the technical standards of national and regional video programming distributors; (C) streaming and digital distribution infrastructure enabling the eligible entity to distribute live coverage of intercollegiate athletic events directly to the public, including in the local market of the eligible entity; and (D) programs that train students of the eligible entity in sports programming, including coverage, production, distribution, and all other aspects of media operations, integrated where practicable with the journalism and media programs of the entity. (b) Additional resources An eligible entity that receives a grant under this title may use the grant funds to— (1) purchase or lease eligible equipment, excluding personal devices, for shared instructional and research use by students, faculty, and other designated instructional and research personnel of the eligible entity, provided that equipment is relevant to uses described in subsection (a); (2) establish, expand, or operate information technology and network operations capacity, including hiring and training information technology personnel to support student learning; (3) strengthen the cybersecurity posture of the networks and information systems of the eligible entity, including through network monitoring, endpoint protection, and cybersecurity workforce training to support student learning; (4) provide digital skills and relevant occupational training to students; (5) subscribe to broadband internet access service, for each eligible student through a single broadband connection that provides sufficient speed, reliability, and data capacity to support online learning for enrolled students of the eligible entity who individually demonstrate financial need through information submitted through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (commonly known as the FAFSA) and lack access to broadband for learning; or (6) acquire and install research-related equipment and technology in the campus facilities of the eligible entity related to telecommunications, journalism, media, and cybersecurity. (c) Prohibited uses An eligible entity that receives a grant under this title may not use the grant funds for— (1) payment of routine and predictable maintenance costs or minor repairs; (2) the purchase or support of any communications equipment or service (as defined in section 9 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1608)) that poses a risk to national security; (3) activities that are funded, in whole or in part, under part B of title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1060 et seq.), unless the Secretary approves such use; (4) last-mile deployment of broadband service to a campus of an eligible entity— (A) that already has access to broadband service at a download speed of not less than 1 gigabit per second at the eligible entity's primary network aggregation point; or (B) where there is a legally enforceable obligation to deploy broadband service at the speed described in subparagraph (A); or (5) technology whose primary purpose is fundraising or the conduct of ceremonial events. (d) Encouraging partnerships The Assistant Secretary and the Secretary shall encourage partnerships between eligible entities and public and private entities to— (1) provide funding in addition to the grants provided under this title; and (2) assist in carrying out the activities funded by grants awarded under this title.