Germany – Internet services – Wirtschaftlichkeitslückenförderung Breitband der Gemeinden Mielkendorf, Molfsee, Rodenbek (II)

The subject of this procedure is the selection of a telecommunications company ("TKU") per lot as a grant recipient to compensate for a cost-effectiveness gap for the construction and operation of a yet-to-be-erected gigabit-capable broadband network (telecommunications network) with a data rate of at least 1 Gb/s (symmetric), namely in Lot 1 (Molfsee) for 23 underserved address points, in Lot 2 (Mielkendorf) for 26 underserved address points, and in Lot 3 (Rodenbek) for 39 underserved address points. The project is a cost-effectiveness gap grant in accordance with Section 3(1)(a) of the German Federal Republic's state aid framework regulation for supporting the nationwide construction of gigabit networks in grey areas from 01.08.2024. This cost-effectiveness gap model is based on the fact that a grant awarded to the respective municipality by the Federal Government under the "Guideline for the Promotion of the Gigabit Expansion of Telecommunications Networks in the Federal Republic of Germany" – Federal Gigabit Guideline 2.0 – and a grant awarded by the State of Schleswig-Holstein under the Guideline on the Co-financing of Gigabit Promotion by the Federal Government in Schleswig-Holstein – Gigabit Co-financing Guideline – as well as the respective municipal contribution are transferred to the TKU on the basis of a grant agreement (based on the template prescribed by the Federal Government). The network operator selected for the respective lot must construct the subsidised broadband network in its own name and at its own risk on the basis of the tender documents and its offer from the tendering procedure, and subsequently operate the broadband network for at least the purpose-binding period of the grant (7 years, subject to the more detailed provisions of the grant notices). The use of own services, alternative network technology in the case of No. 5.3, and alternative laying methods (trenching method, use or construction of overhead laying, flushing method, cable ploughing method, etc.) is generally eligible for funding. The tendering procedure serves (subject to the award criteria) to compete for the lowest grant requested (or calculated cost-effectiveness gap). The funds available for this purpose are limited by the grant funds approved for the respective municipality and the municipal contribution underlying the approval – minus the own costs.