Cybersecurity Grant Program

The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board (“TECB”) was created “for the purpose of assisting emergency communications district boards of directors in the area of management, operations, and accountability, and establishing emergency communications for all citizens of the state.” (Tenn. Code Ann. § 7-86-302(a).)  The TECB is authorized to develop and implement a plan for providing statewide wireless enhanced 911 service, establish operating standards concerning acceptable uses of revenue for emergency communications districts and establish technical operating standards. The TECB is also authorized to act on the behalf of the state’s districts to implement wireless enhanced 911 service pursuant to Docket 94-102 of the Federal Communications Commission (hereafter, “the FCC”) and subsequent rulings and orders of the FCC, and other federal and state laws and regulations.

To further its statutory purpose, under Tenn. Code Ann. § 7-86-306(a)(10) the TECB has the power and authority to:

“Respond to requests from emergency communications districts, commercial mobile radio service providers or other parties and subject to availability of funds, review and approve requests for reimbursements for expenditures or payment of obligations incurred to implement, operate, maintain, or enhance statewide wireless enhanced 911 service in conformance with any rules or orders of the federal communications commission, and other federal and state requirements that pertain to wireless enhanced 911 service;”.

Pursuant to such authority, during the May 3, 2023, meeting, the TECB voted to provide a designated amount of grant funding per emergency communications district for reimbursements of seventy-five percent (75%) of ECD expenditures for obtaining cybersecurity items or services. Cybersecurity is defined as the protection of computer systems and networks from attack by malicious actors that may result in unauthorized information disclosure, theft of, or damage to hardware, software, or data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide. Compliance with the following procedures is required to be eligible for cybersecurity cost recovery.

Reimbursement Procedures

  1. The ECD must submit its request for reimbursement in writing (via email, fax, or mail) to the TECB Executive Director, describing specifically items or services to be obtained and the estimated cost thereof and justifying the purchase.  A menu of potential activities is provided as Attachment B to this document.  If your activity does not fall within a category described on this attachment, please provide a detailed explanation of the cybersecurity related benefits of your activity.
  2. The TECB Executive Director, relying on staff and others, will review all requests and notify the ECD of approval or rejection.  Appeals of rejections may be presented to the TECB members at the next scheduled meeting. Requests for appeal must be received no later than two (2) weeks prior to a board meeting to be considered during that meeting.
  3. A signed request for reimbursement certifying the funds were expended for cybersecurity items or services must be submitted with a copy of original invoice(s), along with proof of payment totaling or exceeding the amount being requested for reimbursement.  A sample Request for Reimbursement is attached hereto as Attachment A.
  4. TECB staff shall process payment through the state’s accounting system and keep records and schedules of requests and payments to ensure documentation is appropriate and maximum reimbursements are not exceeded.

Cybersecurity Grant Reimbursement Request forms and a list of pre-approved cybersecurity expenses and services are available upon request. To request these materials, obtain additional information regarding the program, or submit a request for reimbursement, please contact Barbara Shank (Barbara.Shank@tn.gov).