(A) As used in section 122.4023 and sections 122.4030 to 122.4035 of the Revised Code, “challenging provider” means either of the following:

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(1) A broadband provider that provides tier two broadband service within or directly adjacent to an eligible project;

(2) A municipal electric utility that provides tier two broadband service to an area within the eligible project that is within the geographic area served by the municipal electric utility.

(B)(1)(a) A challenging provider may challenge, in writing, all or part of a completed application for a program grant for the project not later than sixty-five days after the provisional application scoring has been published on the web site as required under section 122.4019 of the Revised Code.

(b) The department of development, for good cause shown, may grant the broadband provider an extension of not more than fourteen days in which to submit a challenge.

(2) The challenging provider shall provide its complete challenge to the department, by electronic mail or such other means as may be established by the department. Within ten business days of its receipt of a challenge, the department shall provide, by electronic mail or such other means as may be established by the department, a complete copy of such challenge to the applicant whose application is the subject of a challenge.

(C) No challenge to an application may be accepted before the completed application is published in its entirety on the department’s web site pursuant to division (C)(2) of section 122.4019 of the Revised Code.