The call for proposals will be published on the website of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure and on the website of aconium GmbH, which has been commissioned to implement the program as the entrusted project management agency. The deadline for submitting applications for the fifth funding period is August 31, 2017.
The federal funding program provides technology-neutral funding for grid expansion. The funding rate is generally 50 percent of the eligible costs. The maximum amount per project is 15 million euros. The federal program can be combined with state funding programs, for example. The federal government also assists local authorities and districts with planning and the preparation of application documents: consulting services are funded with up to 50,000 euros.
The federal funding program, which supports consulting services and infrastructure measures for broadband expansion, has been a great success since its launch in October 2015. A total of around 4 billion euros has been made available to districts and municipalities as part of the program.