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Archive for August, 2009
Thursday, August 27th, 2009
The numbers are in: 2,200 applications are requesting $27.6 billion in first round broadband stimulus funding.
The problem: There’s only $4.3 billion available.
Welcome to the competition.
According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), applications were submitted by a diverse range of applicants, including state, local and tribal governments; nonprofit organizations; industry; anchor institutions, such as libraries, universities, community colleges and hospitals; public safety organizations; and other entities in rural, suburban and urban areas.
While the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided a total of $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus funding, approximately $2.4 billion from RUS and up to $1.6 billion from NTIA is available in this first grant round.
According to a preliminary analysis of applicant-reported data, the applications break down as follows:
Infrastructure
• More than 260 applications were filed solely with NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), requesting over $5.4 billion in grants to fund broadband infrastructure projects in unserved and underserved areas.
• More than 400 applications were filed solely with RUS’s Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), requesting nearly $5 billion in grants and loans for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas.
• More than 830 applications were both BTOP and BIP filings that requesting nearly $12.8 billion in infrastructure funding. (Applicants for infrastructure projects in rural areas had to apply for BIP funding, but were given the opportunity to jointly apply to BTOP in case the RUS declines to fund their application.)
Sustainable Broadband Adoption
• More than 320 applications were filed with NTIA requesting nearly $2.5 billion in grants from BTOP for projects that promote sustainable demand for broadband services. (The ARRA directs NTIA to make at least $250 million available for programs that encourage sustainable adoption of broadband services. Up to $150 million is allocated in the first round.)
Public Computer Centers
• More than 360 applications were filed with NTIA requesting more than $1.9 billion in grants from BTOP for public computer center projects, which will expand access to broadband service and enhance broadband capacity at public libraries, community colleges and other institutions (The ARRA directs NTIA to make at least $200 million available for expanding public computer center capacity. Up to $50 million is allocated in the first round.)
Keep in mind the numbers released today represent applicants’ self-reported totals from proposals submitted before the Aug. 20 deadline. Both organizations said these results are preliminary estimates and may change as the applications are reviewed for errors, omissions and duplicates. Both organizations said they would post a searchable database containing summaries of all applications received within a few weeks.
However, the numbers clearly show the demand for broadband expansion across the country. And both organizations seem committed to getting the money necessary for this expansion in the hands of applicants as quickly (and as carefully) as possible.
Read the Knight Center of Digital Excellence’s, “Back to your corners; Round one is over,” for information on some upcoming dates as they relate to BTOP funding.
Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, ARRA, BIP, broadband, Broadband Expansion, broadband grants, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BTOP, KCoDE, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NTIA, rural communities, Rural Utilities Service, RUS, stimulus, stimulus application, stimulus watch, underserved, unserved
Posted in ARRA, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, NTIA, RUS, Stimulus Package | No Comments »
Thursday, August 27th, 2009
Ding ding ding. Back to your corners; Round one is over.
Like punch-drunk prizefighters, legions of exhausted broadband stimulus applicants spent last weekend shaking off the marathon sessions of research, writing and failed attempts to submit their applications to overworked computer systems. So what happens now that the applications have been submitted and we wait to hear about the awards for round one and the start of round two?
Well, the BTOP “Quarterly Program Status Report” to Congress released August 17th provides the following schedule for the application/awards process:
| Application/Award Step |
Timeline |
| Applications reviewed |
NOW |
| Due Diligence Review and State Consultation |
Sept. 14, 2009 - Oct. 15, 2009 |
| Round Two BTOP Request for Information (RFI) |
Fall 2009 |
| Round Two BTOP NOFA Released |
Winter 2009 |
| Begin Announcing First Round of BTOP Awards |
November 2009 |
| Round Three BTOP RFI Released |
Winter/Spring 2010 |
| Round Three BTOP NOFA Released |
Spring 2010 |
| All BTOP Funds Awarded |
Sept. 30, 2010 |
But, and this is a BIG “BUT”, the NTIA is still recruiting, selecting, and training volunteer reviewers to handle the influx of complex BTOP applications. Even at the time of this post, there is still a “Call for Reviewers” on the BroadbandUSA website.
Assuming the NTIA recruits enough reviewers, the next step is an initial review, results of which will be announced NO EARLIER than Sept. 14. Reviewer’s scores will then be averaged and the most qualified applications will move on for further consideration. The NTIA will then, if needed, request applicants submit additional information.
In addition, the governor’s office of each state will receive a list of the applications under consideration and the states are then permitted to prioritize recommended projects and explain why the selected proposals meet the greatest needs of the state. Finally, the NTIA staff will review and analyze supplemental information, consider the recommendations made by each state and assign a rating to applications.
Once all the reviews and ratings have been completed, the NTIA’s current goal is to announce the round one awards in November, issue a second NOFA before the end of 2009 and a third in the spring of 2010. So, while we wait here is how you can prepare for round 2:
• Organize your research files so that you’re ready for any application challenges by agencies or incumbents. In the rushed last days before the applications were to be submitted, sorting and organizing source files and resources was not a priority. It should be now.
• Consider your best round two opportunities. The consensus is that there will be a much more urban focus on round two.
• Rethink your round one applications in anticipation of challenges or changes that may need to be made.
• If needed, line up your GIS/Mapping consultants/resources
Don’t forget to contact the Knight Center of Digital Excellence or check out our Stimulus Center - we’re here to help position you for success!
Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, BIP, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BroadbandUSA, BTOP, GIS mapping, Internet, KCoDE, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, network, NOFA, NTIA, Quarterly Program Status Report, RUS, stimulus, stimulus watch, urban
Posted in ARRA, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Stimulus Package | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
Now that the first-round stimulus funding deadlines (and extensions) have come and gone, applicants can sit back and catch their breath knowing full well all the “i”s are dotted and the “t”s crossed.
Or can they?
The Knight Center of Digital Excellence learned that may not necessarily be the case as a careful review of completed applications 24-hours after they were submitted revealed some attachments confirmed as uploaded really weren’t.
Despite receiving the electronic conformation, several documents supposedly uploaded successfully were actually caught in some kind of cyberspace limbo, if you will. They were still being uploaded. In transit. Being processed. Which means the document has NEVER been uploaded. The file name may be listed, but the document itself doesn’t exist. And what exists online is what the government will eventually see.
OK, so we have a problem. What are the repercussions?
• A reviewer could reject your proposal because it’s not complete.
• You could be penalized crucial points.
• You might end up ranking lower because of missing materials.
What can you do about it? First, thoroughly double-check your application, even though all deadlines have passed. Go through all your attachments and make sure they’re fully uploaded and viewable. If you find anything wrong, be sure to contact the BroadbandUSA Help Desk. You should receive a response fairly quickly. Our experiences with the Help Desk have been positive and we have found officials to be very helpful and responsive.
You’ve done the hard part, now make sure that all that work is received by double-checking your application.
Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, BIP, broadband, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BroadbandUSA, BTOP, Help Desk, Internet, KCoDE, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, network, NTIA, RUS, stimulus, stimulus watch
Posted in ARRA, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Stimulus Package | No Comments »
Thursday, August 20th, 2009
Both the RUS and NTIA have found another solution to the continued problems that have been plaguing the electronic broadband stimulus funding application process.
Extend the deadline – again.
While all core electronic applications need to be completed and submitted by the initial Aug. 20, 5 p.m. (EDT) extended deadline, applicants who have been unable to upload any attachments now have the option to hand-deliver or mail them. Those who choose to submit materials via a manual delivery service must ensure arrival by 5 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 24. Again, this will only be available for applicants who have already completed and submitted their core application electronically by the initial extended deadline: Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. (EDT)
According to BroadbandUSA, applicants that choose a delivery service requiring a contact name and telephone number should use LaShemma Simmons, (888) 861-5509 [option 5].
Be sure to read the BIP/BTOP NOFA Method of Acceptance of Supplemental Attachments to ensure you follow the proper procedure for manually delivered materials.
For those still attempting online submission, be aware that some users have been experiencing problems with certain browsers. According to BroadbandUSA, the situation is being looked into, though for now, it is advised that applicants try a different browser, such as Firefox. If this workaround is successful, be sure to notify BroadbandUSA at Helpdesk@broadbandusa.gov so the information can be passed around to other applicants.
As usual, the Knight Center of Digital Excellence will continue to monitor the process and inform you of any crucial updates.
Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, BIP, broadband, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BroadbandUSA, BTOP, core application, Firefox, Internet, KCoDE, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, LeShemma Simmons, NTIA, RUS, stimulus, stimulus watch
Posted in ARRA, Digital news, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Stimulus Package | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
As the Aug. 20 deadline for broadband stimulus applications comes closer, BroadbandUSA is releasing more crucial system updates:
“We have worked over this weekend to increase the efficiency of the intake system. We want to encourage you to log on and complete your applications as soon as possible so that you can avoid the rush on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Applicants should note that uploads larger than 16 megabits will not be accepted by the system. If you do not convert your upload files to a .pdf format prior to uploading, please be sure to use another standard format such as [Microsoft] Word or Excel. The system will reject .zip files and .html files and this will delay your application.
“In addition, if you encounter technical issues, please let us know immediately so that we can work through them. Please send us an e-mail with issues at Helpdesk@broadbandusa.gov.”
In short, be careful if you plan on waiting till the last minute to submit – it may become a lost cause by then.
For more information on how to avoid technical problems when submitting your application, read the Knight Center of Digital Excellence’s “You can help the stimulus application process run smoothly.” It features important tips to help the efficient processing of your application.
Tags: BIP, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BroadbandUSA, BTOP, Internet, KCoDE, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, network, NTIA, RUS, stimulus, stimulus watch
Posted in ARRA, Digital news, Stimulus Package | 1 Comment »
Monday, August 17th, 2009
As the Knight Center of Digital Excellence has previously written, many broadband stimulus applicants have run into a few technical road bumps while working to meet submission deadlines. (“Stimulus submission software glitches prompt an extension in electronic submission closing deadline”)
However, a few suggestions recently posted on BroadbandUSA may help applicants avoid some of those major software glitches while making the process more efficient for each other:
• Decrease generation of PDFs: Problems applicants were having in creating and storing PDFs proved to be a major reason why the system was getting bogged down last week. To reduce lag time, BroadbandUSA suggests applicants avoid creating PDFs while still working through the application, only doing so once the application is finished (or if creating a PDF is absolutely necessary).
According to BroadbandUSA, “when you upload a file, the system converts the file to PDF format for storage. This is causing a system bottleneck in an effort to convert the high volume of files we are receiving. That is the reason you often cannot view the file immediately after upload. The upload worked but the file is in the conversion queue. The number of files in the conversion queue will impact how long it takes before your file is converted.”
• Convert files yourself: While BroadbandUSA states, “We have more than doubled the server capacity to handle the spike in traffic, and are currently improving the processing power of our application to reduce system latency,” avoid being part of the bottleneck problem and convert your files to PDF format before uploading anything. Don’t have the software to do this? Don’t know how? There are a variety of free and easy-to-use products you can download or use online. Search for “free pdf convertor” or “convert to pdf.”
• Submit attachments once: Clicking the “upload” button more than once will not upload your files faster. With most online applications, this actually resets the process.
• Submit applications early and during non-business hours: BroadbandUSA suggests applicants submit application materials before the Aug. 20 deadline and after 8 p.m. (EST). To be safe, we recommend that you have your application completed by Wednesday (Aug. 19).
These are some simple tips BroadbandUSA offered to help its system run more efficiently, help you speed your application processing and ensure all applications are filed by the deadline. Keep in mind that if you have further questions, BroadbandUSA has extended its help desk hours this week and will operate from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Also be sure to pay attention to additional clarifying messages that have been posted throughout the step-by-step application process to help applicants navigate the process successfully.
Tags: BIP, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BroadbandUSA, BTOP, Internet, KCoDE, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, network, NTIA, PDF files, RUS, stimulus, stimulus watch
Posted in Digital news, Stimulus Package, broadband | No Comments »
Monday, August 17th, 2009
More than half of Americans have been hit hard during the current recession in a number of ways, according to a recent Pew Internet & American Life Project study (“The Internet and the Recession”):
• 35 percent of Americans have seen their investments lose more than half their value;
• 27 percent of those employed full time or part-time have had their pay cut, hours reduced, or benefits slashed;
• 27 percent of homeowners have seen the value of their home reduced by at least half; and
• 14 percent of Americans have been laid off or lost their jobs.
Startling numbers, to be sure. But guess where a large portion of these Americans are going for help - the Internet.
According to the Pew study, roughly 69 percent of Americans have used the Internet to cope with the recession in the past year “as they hunt for bargains, jobs, ways to upgrade their skills, better investment strategies, housing options and government benefits. That amounts to 88 percent of adult Internet users in the country.”
While many Americans still tend to rely on traditional media outlets for economic and personal finance information, the Internet is quickly closing the gap. And for those who have broadband at home, the Internet has become the favored option. A little more than half (52 percent) of the 64 percent of Americans who have broadband Internet at home cite the Internet as the preferred medium for personal finance information. Eighteen percent of adults said they search at least once a day for recession-related material.
And they’re not just learning – they’re contributing to the discussion. The study cites 34 percent of “online economic users” – about 30 percent of the online population and 23 percent of the entire adult population – have contributed content and commentary about the recession online.
These facts are just a few of the answers to the big broadband question, “So what?” At the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, a big part of our job is to help Knight communities understand the value of broadband Internet – to show them how to answer the “so whats” in their efforts to connect.
It’s no secret the recession has affected the better portion of our nation. And if we haven’t been directly affected, we probably know someone who has been – in a very dramatic way. The Pew study shows that the Internet is becoming a necessary, multi-functional tool for people looking to ease their recession burdens.
For a further look at how the Internet is changing our economy for the better, read the Knight Center’s “Advertising-supported Internet presenting new opportunities.”
Tags: broadband, Broadband Expansion, community, digital, economy, high-speed, innovation, Internet, KCoDE, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, mass media, network, Pew Research Center Internet & American Life Project, print media, recession, recovery.gov, so what, stimulus, stimulus watch
Posted in Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Opinion | No Comments »
Friday, August 14th, 2009
With the NTIA and RUS granting a last-minute extension for electronic submission of BIP and BTOP applications, the Knight Center of Digital Excellence would like to take a few minutes to alert you to three key considerations for those interested in, or already in process, of submitting a proposal.
No. 1
To qualify for the electronic filing extension (Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. [EDT]) for your BIP and/or BTOP proposal, you MUST follow these five steps by 5 p.m. (EDT) TODAY (Aug. 14) to make sure your application is considered PENDING in the Easygrants® System:
- Log into the Easygrants® System at www.broadbandusa.gov;
- Select “Start a new application” under, “Apply for a new grant/loan;”
- Select one of the two choices for available funding opportunities;
- Select “Continue;” and
- Select “OK” when prompted “Are you sure you want to apply for the program?”
NOTE: All other requirements for electronic submissions set forth in the NOFA remain unchanged. There are no changes to the filing instructions, requirements, or application deadline for paper submissions.
No. 2
If you are having trouble uploading your BIP/BTOP proposal and attachments to the Easygrants® System, IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY NTIA/RUS VIA E-MAIL and make sure to provide them with your contact information. Below are instructions for contacting the NTIA and RUS with your BIP or BTOP technical questions/issues:
- For general information or help desk requests, contact NTIA/RUS at Helpdesk@broadbandusa.gov
- For problems or issues with submitting NTIA and BTOP proposals, e-mail btop@ntia.doc.gov
- For problems with submitting RUS and BIP proposals, e-mail BIP@wdc.usda.gov
No. 3
Continue monitoring broadband news and announcements from the NTIA and RUS through:
- BroadbandUSA
- Subscribing to the Knight Center of Excellence’s Broadband Headlines Newsletter
- Accessing the Knight Center’s Stimulus Center
Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, BIP, broadband, Broadband Headlines Newsletter, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BroadbandUSA, BTOP, Internet, KCoDE, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Knight Center Stimulus Center, NOFA, Notice of Funding Availability, NTIA, OneCommunity, RUS, stimulus, stimulus watch
Posted in ARRA, Digital news, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, NTIA, RUS, Stimulus Package, broadband | No Comments »
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
Go ahead and take your finger off the “panic” button. It was just announced the application closing deadline for the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) is extended until Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. (EDT) for any electronic applications pending as of Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. (EDT). Meaning, applicants that have already begun the submission of their proposal prior to Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. (EDT) are permitted to EXTEND THE COMPLETION of their application submission until Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. NOTE: There will be NO CHANGES to the filing instructions for paper applications.
The news comes as a major relief for the many organizations that were running into some significant technical road bumps while working overtime to meet the original electronic submission deadline for the first round of broadband stimulus funding. And we’re not talking about road bumps in the way of collecting data or figuring out the proper procedures for answering certain questions.
We’re simply talking about submission.
Today the Knight Center of Digital Excellence spoke with officials that pointed out the software used by the government to accept applications has at least one major glitch – it won’t store submitted PDF files as it was designed to do.
It’s no secret an application requires significant expense in the way of both time and money as the work to get one together is so resource intensive – perhaps significantly more than the government originally anticipated. The broadband infrastructure grants application alone asks 56 questions, many of which are complex and require an applicant to file supporting documents. To make matters more complicated, a 46-page RUS loan document that needs to be reviewed but not submitted (to see if you qualify for funding) was added to the BroadbandUSA website last night.
Needless to say, there are plenty of hurdles to overcome. But the major one – whether applicants can get their proposals in before a system-wide crash – seems to have been addressed.
Before the week started, the Knight Center of Digital Excellence had heard many applicants planned on submitting as early as Tuesday to avoid a potential Friday crash. That may have been the smart way to go, as it seems the system has gotten considerably slower as the week has gone on due to more individuals logging on to work on their applications.
However, the news of an extension for pending applications is good news for applicants. But remember: The deadline for paper submissions has NOT changed and remains Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. (EDT)
Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, BIP, broadband, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BroadbandUSA, BTOP, digital, Internet, KCoDE, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, NTIA, PDF files, RUS, stimulus, stimulus watch
Posted in ARRA, Digital news, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Stimulus Package, broadband | No Comments »
Monday, August 10th, 2009
Our team at the Knight Center of Digital Excellence has been working around the clock to try to bring stimulus dollars to the communities we serve – and that’s only going to intensify as the Aug. 14, 5 p.m. (EDT) deadline for the first round of funding applications is quickly approaching.
Part of the work has been supplying communities with as much information on the process as possible through a number of resources. Below is an aggregated list of those resources (by topic) so those racing to meet the deadline can get what they need as quickly as possible.
Checklists and breakdowns:
• In a mad rush to apply for stimulus funding? Deep breath – and read on (Aug. 7) – As the Aug. 14 stimulus application deadline draws near, here are a few to-do items to include on your checklist.
• Breaking down BIP criteria (July 28)
• Breaking down BTOP criteria (Aug. 1)
• A quick prescription for EHR stimulus (July 21) – Interested in an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system for your community? Then it’s time to take advantage of funding opportunities in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA).
Compliance:
• Compliance to play a key role in stimulus applications (Aug. 7) – A big part of proving your program worthy of stimulus funding is proving it will be compliant with requirements set forth in the ARRA.
Details on important documents:
• A BIP/BTOP FAQ sampling (Aug. 5) – We’ve identified a few of the most commonly asked questions based on our attendance at workshops, and have provided them here, along with our perspective on why these issues are important.
• BIP/BTOP FAQ updated (Aug. 5)
Methodology:
• Solid supporting data can give stimulus applicants an edge (Aug. 3) – There’s an opportunity for communities to strengthen their broadband stimulus funding requests provided their methodology and data are solid.
Stimulus workshop debrief:
Read some key learnings identified by the Knight Center of Digital Excellence at a recent Broadband Application Training workshop.
• Part one (July 23)
• Part two (July 24)
Terminology:
• Stimulus alphabet soup (July 16) – A broadband stimulus funding acronym “cheat sheet.”
• The seven “dirty” stimulus words you need to know (July 16) – A dictionary reference of seven commonly-used broadband stimulus funding terms.
Additional blog topics:
• Planning to seek future stimulus funds? Pay attention now (Aug. 10) – Organizations not participating in the round one scramble for broadband stimulus funds still need to pay attention - both to the application process and how the money is eventually awarded.
Additional Knight Center Resources:
• Knight Center of Digital Excellence website: http://www.knightcenter.org/
• Knight Center of Digital Excellence Stimulus Center: http://www.knightcenter.org/stimuluscenter.html
• Knight Center Stimulus Webcasts: http://beta.knightcenter.org/stimulus-webcasts
• Questions: info@knightcenter.org
Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, ARRA, bandwidth, Beta, BIP, broadband, Broadband Application Training Workshop, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Stimulus Funding Webcast, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BTOP, community, compliance, digital, economy, EHR, Electronic Health Record system, FAQ, FCC, healthcare, infrastructure, innovation, Internet, KCoDE, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Knight Center of Digital Excellence Stimulus Center, methodology, network, NTIA, OneCommunity, rural communities, RUS, stimulus, stimulus watch, telemedicine
Posted in ARRA, Digital news, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Stimulus Package | No Comments »
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