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How will broadband affect burgeoning controversies over health care? The answers to this question and more came courtesy of a Broadband Cenus-hosted, hour-long panel discussion. View a video of the discussion.
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President Obama on Innovation and Sustainable Growth. President Barack Obama has new plans to strengthen the economy that will all favor people with hi-tech educations.
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Elevate Miami, a comprehensive Digital Inclusion program launched by the city of Miami, aims to serve youth, low-income families, minorities, seniors and residents facing barriers to digital inclusion.
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The Knight Center of Digital Excellence held its first Stimulus Webcast Session for Knight communities and program directors July 23. Watch it online now.
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By pushing hard on broadband, lawmakers hope to close the "digital divide" that has long separated rural America. In doing so, they hope to give rural consumers access to the same sorts of high-speed services and opportunities - think telemedicine, distance-learning and Web-based commerce - that city dwellers have enjoyed for years.
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Archive for the ‘RUS’ Category
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
Late this afternoon, the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced they are streamlining the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s (ARRA) funding to one round instead of two to increase efficiency and better accommodate applicants.
RUS’s Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) are intended to expand broadband access and adoption in America, advancing the goals of the ARRA by creating jobs and stimulating long-term economic growth and opportunity. The first round of these grants and loan programs produced about 2,200 applications requesting nearly $28 billion. The agencies are currently reviewing these applications and expect to award up to $4 billion in loans, grants and loan/grant combinations in this round beginning in December 2009.
“This will get the funds out the door faster to stimulate the economy and create jobs. It gives applicants and communities a greater opportunity to come together to form networks and find more creative ways to connect to the global economy through broadband,” said Jonathan Adelstein, administrator, Rural Utilities Service, USDA. “We are listening to applicants, reviewing applications received, and all indications suggest a need to revisit the application process. We will consider changes in the next NOFA [Notice of Funding Availability] to make the process more ‘applicant friendly’ from beginning to end.”
The agencies also announced they are seeking public comment on how best to administer the second round of funding for the programs in order to improve the applicant experience and maximize the ability of the programs to meet ARRA objectives. In a Request for Information (RFI) released today, the agencies are seeking feedback on procedural and policy aspects of BIP and BTOP. While inviting general input on the programs, the agencies identified specific areas for comment.
RUS and NTIA will utilize the feedback received in response to the RFI to set the rules for the second funding round, which the agencies expect to announce through a Notice of Funding Availability early next year.
Tags: Add new tag, American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, BIP, broadband, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BTOP, digital, Internet, Jonathan Adelstein, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NOFA, Notice of Funding Availability, NTIA, Request for Information, RFI, Rural Utilities Service, RUS, stimulus, stimulus watch, U.S. Department of Commerce, USDA
Posted in ARRA, Digital news, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, NTIA, RUS, Stimulus Package | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Organizations holding their breath in anticipation of hearing whether their first-round broadband stimulus applications were successful might want to take a break – NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling recently said the announcement of broadband bid winners will be delayed by at least “a few more weeks … to get this right.”
Saying he “will not fund a bad application,” Strickling shot down the original agency-imposed award deadline of early November during a Senate Commerce Committee’s Communications Subcommittee oversight hearing on the NTIA/RUS stimulus grant and loan program. RUS administrator Jonathan Adelstein and Mark Goldstein, of the Government Accountability Office, also spoke.
At the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, we feel the delay could be a good move.
A large initial concern was the lack of time states would have to sort through numerous applications, especially given hang-ups in the application process that pushed the due date back. A possible scenario discussed was that states would compensate for the crunch by simply picking their favorite (or most lobbied) programs, or only recommending the state-sponsored applications they knew. There was also the fear that the NTIA and RUS would then take the state recommendations without thorough review since their own volunteer processes weren’t working as smoothly or quickly as originally thought and time was quickly running out on their end as well.
The announcement demonstrates both agencies want their evaluation process to be handled correctly, delayed or not. Again, as Strickling stated, he “will not find a bad application.” To rely on the hurried responses from states, many of which did not have the resources to be as thorough as necessary, may have resulted in funding a number of applications that, in the long run, may not have been the best use of stimulus dollars.
Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, BIP, broadband, Broadband Expansion, broadband grants, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BTOP, Commerce Committee, Communications Subcommittee, Congress, Government Accountability Office, infrastructure, Internet, Jonathan Adelstein, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Larry Strickling, Mark Goldstein, network, NTIA, RUS, Senate, stimulus, stimulus funding request, stimulus watch
Posted in ARRA, NTIA, RUS, Stimulus Package | No Comments »
Friday, October 9th, 2009
During the recent 2009 FTTH Council Conference & Expo, Rural Utility Service (RUS) Deputy Administrator Jessica Zufolo ended rampant speculation by confirming the RUS and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) are strongly leaning towards merging the scheduled second and third rounds of broadband stimulus funding. Zufolo said the second round Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) would be issued in December, with funding to be doled out in summer 2010. In addition, the agencies will issue a request for information asking the public to provide some guidance on how to construct the next NOFA.
Saying the RUS is “painfully aware” of the numerous problems that plagued the first-round application process, Zufolo stated, “Everything is on the table for round two, and we want as much feedback as possible on how to expand the applicant pool to include more rural areas that are unserved by broadband.”
With this critical piece of information finally confirmed by an RUS administrator, it’s time to start thinking what the news means for potential second-round applicants.
On one hand, those who didn’t submit proposals in round one, weren’t successful and are contemplating another effort, or were going to wait for the third round to apply are now forced to “go for broke.”
On the other hand, taking more time with a single, second process could facilitate broader, more creative proposals that lead to better, more impactful projects.
The Knight Center of Digital Excellence sees the compressed timeline almost forcing the RUS and NTIA to combine the rounds if they truly want this to be a “stimulus” project. If they kept the third round for next year, as originally scheduled, they might have lost the “stimulating” of the economy effect. (According to an earlier schedule, all BTOP funds should have been awarded Sept. 30, and the round two BTOP Request for Information should be released this fall.)
But if Zufolo’s comments at the expo are any indication, it seems both agencies are committed to taking the necessary time to ensure the application process is run in a more efficient and effective manner. Her statements also show public input will play a role in how everything shapes up.
Tags: 2009 FTTH Council Conference & Expo, American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, BIP, broadband, Broadband Expansion, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BTOP, infrastructure, Internet, Jessica Zufolo, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NOFA, Notice of Funding Availability, NTIA, Rural Utilities Service, RUS, stimulus, stimulus watch
Posted in ARRA, NTIA, RUS, Stimulus Package | No Comments »
Thursday, September 10th, 2009
Courtesy of the NTIA and RUS, a searchable database went live recently that provides public information on broadband stimulus applications. The measure is part of the federal government’s promise of transparency throughout the grant process.
Right now, a Knight Center of Digital Excellence look at the numbers shows 2,186 applications are contained in the database, representing a total of $21.2 billion in grant requests and $6.5 billion in loan requests. The largest number of applications came from the states of Virginia (222), California (178), North Dakota (130) and Texas (112), with Georgia and New York submitting 97 each. On the low side was Delaware, with only two submissions.
Here’s a further breakdown of the applications by type. Keep in mind the database doesn’t include paper applications or applications received for the State Broadband Data and Development Program.
Applications per Program:
BIP: 400
BTOP: 953
BIP/BTOP: 833
Applications per Project Type:
Last Mile: 113
Last Mile Non-Remote: 633
Last Mile Remote: 383
Middle Mile: 368
Public Computer Center: 361
Sustainable Adoption: 328
Applications are searchable by organization, keywords, project type, program and state. Searches also list applicant contact information, project title, the amount of grant money requested and a project description. According to the NTIA and RUS, those who want to protect proprietary information have until Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. (EDT) to provide an adjusted copy of their executive summary; otherwise the agency will indicate that information isn’t available when searchers look for it. If you’re planning to provide an adjusted copy, keep in mind applicants are being told they can only remove information, but not add to or alter it.
Tags: BIP, broadband, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BroadbandUSA, BTOP, California, database, Delaware, executive summary, Georgia, government transparency, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Last Mile, Middle Mile, New York, North Dakota, NTIA, OneCommunity, public computer centers, RUS, State Broadband Data and Development Program, stimulus, stimulus watch, sustainable broadband adoption, Texas, Virginia
Posted in Digital news, NTIA, RUS, Stimulus Package, broadband | No Comments »
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
 With the deadlines for the first round of broadband stimulus funding finally past, applicants for Round 2 can now anticipate the NOFA out … well, hold on a minute.
Rumors, hopes, or predictions that the Round 2 NOFA would be coming in September flies in the face of what we at the Knight Center of Digital Excellence have been told.
We know what the BTOP “Quarterly Program Status Report” to Congress released Aug. 17 stated, at least in terms of the first round BTOP schedule:
| Application/Award Step |
Timeline |
| Applications reviewed |
NOW |
| Due Diligence Review and State Consultation |
Sept. 14, 2009 - Oct. 15, 2009 |
| All BTOP Funds Awarded |
Sept. 30, 2010 |
However, as of Sept. 1, BroadbandUSA officials pointed out to us that the software problem encountered by many applicants when creating and storing PDFs is still a major one. Attachments associated with more than 1,000 applications still can’t be viewed. According to the agency, developers are working on the issue and are hoping to finally resolve the problem this week.
Which means the review process for first-round applications has not begun. When it is initiated, BroadbandUSA said reviewers would have direct access into the system itself (so they will not be dependent upon the PDF version). As of now, there is no other way to get a copy of the application, an issue that is causing worry and starting to put the agency under significant pressure.
| Application/Award Step |
Timeline |
| 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 |
The answer is: We really can’t say quite yet – and neither can anyone else, even the RUS and NTIA. A source close to the process recently told the Knight Center, “The [RUS and NTIA] are still not decided about the timing on Round 2, and are still evaluating whether to have a large, later Round 2 and no Round 3, or to do two smaller rounds, with a NOFA this fall. There’s also still no decision on whether to have a comment period. It’s a lot of uncertainty.”
So what can be done in the meantime? As David Villano, assistant administrator of the Telecommunications Program at RUS, mentioned in the Knight Center’s “Stimulus: Where we’ve been, where we (should be) going and predictions,” agencies plan to seek seek input from the public on how we can improve the process for Round 2. If you have concerns or suggestions, plan on finding a way to make sure your voice is heard.
Also, just as the RUS and NTIA are looking to learn from their Round 1 experiences, so should you. Rethink your Round 1 applications in anticipation of challenges or changes that may need to be made. Take some time to organize your research files so that you’re ready for any potential application challenges. Don’t wait for the “winter” NOFA release – start gathering your research now, as Round 1 has taught us what type of data your application will need.
Be sure to follow the Knight Center blog for major stimulus updates as they’re released. If you have questions, e-mail us at info@knightcenter.org.
Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, BIP, broadband, Broadband Expansion, Broadband Initiatives Program, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BroadbandUSA, BTOP, David Villano, Internet, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, NOFA, Notice of Funding Availability, NTIA, PDF files, Quarterly Program Status Report, RUS, stimulus, stimulus watch
Posted in ARRA, Digital news, NTIA, RUS, Stimulus Package | 1 Comment »
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 »
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 »
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