RSA 12-O:62 Program Guidelines; Rulemaking.

I. The department of business and economic affairs shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A, relative to grant application and distribution procedures.
II. The rules shall, at a minimum, include the following:
(a) Establishment of a technology-neutral competitive grant process based on objective criteria.
(b) Establishment of a challenge process, with reasonable timelines, through which information may be provided to the state to ensure that funds are not used to build projects in served areas or areas where construction has commenced. For the purposes of this subdivision, construction has commenced when a provider initiates the make-ready process or begins construction of broadband infrastructure in the project area. A provider who successfully challenges an application'