Nearly 2,200 Bidders Apply for Broadband Stimulus Funds
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, August 31, 2009 · 
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The results for round one are in! Nearly 2,200 bidders applied for almost $28 billion in broadband stimulus money from both the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) fund. That is almost seven times the $4 billion available in round one.
NTIA said the bidders committed another $10.5 billion of their own money in matching funds, which means taken as a whole, round-one bidders are coming forward with more than $38 billion in proposed projects.
The interest is somewhat surprising considering the three major incumbent providers—AT&T, Qwest and Verizon—and cable operator Comcast were absent from the party.
Broadband needs in all 50 U.S. states and territories, and the District of Columbia were addressed.
Applications came in from a diverse range of parties including state, local, and tribal governments; nonprofits; industry; anchor institutions, such as libraries, universities, community colleges, and hospitals; public safety organizations; and other entities in rural, suburban, and urban areas.
NTIA plans to announce round-one winners in November. As first reported back in July, another two rounds of bidding are planned for the remaining $3.2 billion in funds.
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