NTIA Reports $11B in Round 2 Broadband Stimulus Applications
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, April 12, 2010 · 
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NTIA announced last week that it received 867 applications asking for $11 billion in funding in the second round of the agency’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). This is less than half the 1,770 applications the agency received in the first round.
The drop off might be due to change in rules, which prohibit applicants from filing the same project with both NTIA and RUS. Read more
NTIA Awards $63 Million to 10 Stimulus Projects
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, March 29, 2010 · ·
NTIA announced March 25 that it has awarded $63 million in Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) funding to 10 projects. The investments will increase broadband access and adoption in more than a dozen states.
These latest winners applied in Round One in the broadband stimulus program. Both NTIA and RUS had originally planned to select all first round awards by the end of February, and well before the closing of the second round filing window, but they continue to award funds well past the eleventh hour.
The following grants were announced March 25: Read more
NTIA Awards $160 Million to 23 Stimulus Projects
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, March 8, 2010 · ·
On March 2, the NTIA announced 23 new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs and improve education and healthcare cross the country.
The grants, totaling more than $160 million, were awarded to projects in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
The awards includes 10 broadband infrastructure projects, six public computing center initiatives and two sustainable adoption projects.
Of particular note, Level 3 Communications won a total of $14 million in grants to add 47 new access points to its existing broadband network in six states, including California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Tennessee and Texas. Those access points will be open to local Internet service providers at speeds of 50 Mbps – 40 Gbps.
The nine additional broadband infrastructure award recipients included: Read more
New Stimulus Grants: NTIA Awards $357M, RUS Awards $277M
Posted by Jesse Ward on Friday, February 19, 2010 · ·
NTIA and RUS recently announced new broadband stimulus grant awards. NTIA announced yesterday 10 new grants, totaling $357 million, for broadband projects in eight states. This is a substantial chunk of the $1.4 billion made available to the organization for distribution in the first broadband stimulus funding round.
The following awards were announced: Read more
22% of Rural Americans: Broadband is Cost-Prohibitive
Posted by Jesse Ward on Thursday, February 18, 2010 · ·
As of October 2009, 64% of U.S. households reported having broadband connections. The finding comes from a new report released by NTIA showcasing American broadband usage.
Although this represents a 25% increase from just two years earlier, it still means that 35% of all households and approximately 40% of all persons lacked access to broadband services. It’s a harsh reality in a digital world where broadband access is critical to employment and improving your quality of life.
Americans cite various reasons for lack of broadband adoption, and their responses vary in regards to urban and rural users. Read more
Govt Announces Second Round of Broadband Funding
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, January 18, 2010 · ·
Last Friday, NTIA and RUS announced the second round of broadband stimulus funding in which $4.8 billion will be made available through ARRA grants and loans to expand broadband access and adoption in America.
The agencies announced the rules for this funding round in two separate but complementary notices of funds availability (NOFAs). Read more
NTIA, RUS Delay Announcing Stimulus Winners
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, November 2, 2009 · ·
The first broadband stimulus grants won’t be awarded until at least December, a month later than expected, federal officials announced last week, noting the complexity of the 2,200 applications received.
The news came during committee hearings. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and House Small Business Committee held oversight hearings on October 27 and 28, respectively, on the broadband stimulus programs being administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS). Read more