Any company or organization that intends to apply for Recovery Act Broadband Funds is required to register with the federal government. There are two parts to the registration process: (1) register as a "Contractor" to enter grant or loan application data and (2) register for authentication to draw the proposed service area for the broadband project. This is explained at the Broadband USA Portal, where you can apply online.

Central Contractor Registration (CCR) is the primary registrant database for the U.S. Federal Government. CCR collects, validates, stores, and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition missions, including Federal agency contract and assistance awards.

The first step in the CCR registration process is to obtain a Dunn & Bradstreet number, referred to as a DUNS number. Some applicants may already have a DUNS number.

Grant applicants are then required to complete forms for the “Central Contractor Registration.” A user name and password are selected, and then one person in the applicant organization is designated as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). This is the person authorized to submit grant applications.

The process for completing the CCR registration takes from 3 - 5 days normally, or up to 2 weeks, if there are any questions about the applicant. Applicants should register as soon as possible. Applications cannot be submitted if you are not registered. An overview of the grant registration process is provided below.

You can also register for a Level 1 eAuthentication ID at the Broadband USA Portal. Registration is needed to enable you to draw the proposed service area for the application. you will be required to provide a Login ID, Password, First Name, Last Name, Country, Email. After submitting your request, your account should be active and ready for use within 20 minutes.