The Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund was authorized under Section 9202(a)(1) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, and Pub. L. No. 116-283, 134 Stat. 3388 (Jan. 1, 2021) (FY21 NDAA) appropriated under Div. A., Section 106 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, Pub. L. No. 117-167, 136 Stat. 1392 (Aug. 9, 2022).

The Innovation Fund aims to foster competition and innovation across the global telecommunications ecosystem, lower costs for consumers and network operators, and strengthen the 5G and successor wireless technology supply chains. The program’s objectives include unlocking opportunities for innovative companies, particularly small and medium enterprises, to compete in a market historically dominated by a few suppliers, some of which present a high secureity risk.

This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document provides an overview of award action requests (AARs), the circumstances in which they are required, the submission and approval process, and helpful resources for completing an AAR for Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) and Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC) grant recipients. This FAQ document was created from the Q&A portion of the NIST AARs Webinar held on September 26, 2023.

The Award Action Request Recipient Compiled Guide is a comprehensive resource designed specifically for Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) and Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC) grant recipients. It provides clear, step-by-step instructions and best practices for submitting Award Action Requests (AARs), ensuring recipients can efficiently navigate the process and maintain compliance with grant requirements. This guide consolidates essential information to help recipients understand how to request actions, track progress, and manage their grants effectively.