BROADBAND STIMULUS
The Recovery Act passed last February charges NTIA and RUS with awarding $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus funds by September 2010. The first funding round took place last August 2009. The intent was to award roughly $4 billion in broadband stimulus funds as a result of applications filed during that window.
The Patton Boggs TechComm team helped clients to prepare and file 174 applications in the first round, totaling more than $463 million in requested funds. The applications seek to bring much needed broadband Internet access service to people living in more than 500 rural, unserved, and underserved communities in 35 states. To date, however, NTIA and RUS have awarded a small percentage of available broadband stimulus funding. It seems fairly certain that there could be $5-$6 billion in funds available to Applicants in the second funding round, and the agencies seem to have a keener sense of the kinds of projects they will fund.
The second broadband stimulus window opened February 16 and will close March 15 at 5:00 pm ET. The funding priorities for NTIA and RUS have changed for this round, and there is much to know in a very short time frame. RUS will principally concentrate on funding Last Mile projects for rural areas, although there is some funding available for Middle Mile projects, as well. NTIA will focus on Middle Mile applications, Public Computer Centers and Sustainable Broadband Adoption. Patton Boggs TechComm group has prepared detailed summaries of the Notices of Funds Availability for the two programs. We also have prepared scoring sheets to help you work through the viability of your project(s). Please contact Jennifer Richter, Co-Chair, Technology and Communications Group, if you need materials or a strategy session.
Click on the links below for some important overview facts about the second funding round:
APPLICATION INFORMATION
NTIA
RUS
HELPFUL SUMMARIES
WEBINARS
LINKS