NTCA's The New Edge » RUS

RUS Awards $410 Million in New Broadband Loans

Jesse Ward — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:52:26 +0000

On Monday, the USDA announced funding for telephone utilities to build, expand and improve broadband in their rural service territories. As part of the traditional Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program, RUS awarded $410.7 million to 24 companies across 15 states for mainly fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) and fiber-the-the-home (FTTH) projects.

The announcement was made by USDA Rural Utilities Service Deputy Administrator Jessica Zufolo during an address at the annual meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in St. Louis, MO.

“Today’s funding will provide residents of these rural communities with high speed internet connections to improve healthcare and educational opportunities and connect to global markets,” Secretary Vilsack said in a press release. “In addition to providing much needed services to rural businesses and residents, these investments will increase jobs, not just in the near term, but through expanded opportunities in rural areas.”

The largest award was provided to NTCA member and North Dakota telco Polar Communications Mutual Aid Corp. The telco will use the funds to expand its FTTP broadband system throughout 18 exchanges. Upon completion of this RUS-funded project, all of Polar’s subscribers will be served with broadband via various technologies.

The following is a complete list of awardees:

Colorado

Eastern Slope Rural Telephone Association, Inc.–$18,725,000 will be used to upgrade the existing fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) network, capable of providing modern broadband services to subscribers in 10 exchanges.

Idaho and Utah

Albion Telephone Co.–$17,075,000 in loan funds will be used to install 453 miles of buried fiber optic cables throughout the proposed FTTP system, providing nearly 60% of subscribers with FTTP.

Illinois

McNabb Telephone Co.–$3,700,000 in loan funds will be used to make system improvements, including constructing new FTTP facilities. A total of 115 miles of buried fiber optic cable will be deployed to improve service to subscribers.
Shawnee Telephone Co.–$30,286,000 in loan funds will be used to construct FTTP facilities, allowing Shawnee to provide voice and data services at speeds of up to 100 Mbps to both residences and businesses.
McDonough Telephone Cooperative, Inc.–$15,728,000 in funds will be used to upgrade the rural areas with FTTH technology. Approximately 766 miles of buried fiber cable will be deployed to provide over half of the subscribers with access to improved broadband service. McDonough has been serving its rural subscribers for more than 60 years.

Indiana

Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc.–$29,139,000 in loan funds have been awarded to Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc., (PSC) which provides telecommunications services to nearly 6,000 subscribers over approximately 1,150 square miles in southern Indiana. This loan will enable PSC to start the process of designing and building FTTP to enhance broadband services across the service area.

Iowa

Mediapolis Telephone Co.–$13,401,000 in loan funds will be used to make system upgrades to the transport system and the network architecture from the existing copper DSL to FTTP broadband systems.
Griswold Cooperative Telephone Co.–$12,747,000 in loan funds will be used to complete a system-wide FTTP network, enhancing broadband service to all subscribers.
La Porte City Telephone Co.–$9,867,000 in loan funds will be used to make system improvements, including installation of a FTTP broadband network that will serve all of the borrower’s subscribers. A total of 297 miles of buried fiber optic cable will be deployed, enabling downstream data rates of up to 20 Mbps.

Kansas

The S & T Telephone Cooperative Association–$29,814,000 will be used to implement a full FTTH design to allow the migration to 10-20 Mbps broadband speeds to all subscribers and to provide IPTV in the near future.

Minnesota

Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative–$19,749,000 in Rural Development Broadband Loan Program funds will be used to extend Paul Bunyan’s existing FTTH network to serve the exchanges of Park Rapids Rural and Trout Lake in North Central Minnesota. With this extension of their network, Paul Bunyan will be able to provide advanced telecommunications services to more than 45,710 establishments (households and businesses) across all service areas. Paul Bunyan has been operating since 1952 and has been a telecommunications borrower with RUS since 1953.

New Mexico

Roosevelt County Telephone Cooperative Inc.–$12,358,000 will be used to deploy new equipment and install FTTP equipment to enhance the broadband network.

North Dakota

BEK Communications Cooperative–$26,746,000 in loan funds will be used to expand a FTTH broadband system. Upon completion of this RUS-funded project, 100% of BEK’s subscribers will be served by fiber.
SRT Communications Inc.–$24,832,000 in loan funds will be used to install 2,143 miles of buried fiber optic cable and related equipment throughout the proposed FTTP system. The FTTP system will be constructed in areas outside of towns in twelve of the borrower’s 26 exchanges. The service areas in the towns will continue to be offered DSL at speeds of at least 55 Mbps with its relatively new copper plant.
Polar Communications Mutual Aid Corp.–$32,939,000 in loan funds will be used to expand the Borrower’s FTTP broadband system throughout the borrower’s 18 exchanges. The upgraded system will help meet current and future requirements for delivery of voice, video and high speed data to subscribers. Upon completion of this RUS-funded project, 100 percent of Polar’s subscribers will be served with broadband via various technologies.

Oklahoma

Terral Telephone Co.–$4,855,000 in loan funds will be used to convert the existing copper network to a FTTH system, and connect new subscribers. The proposed FTTH deployment includes construction of over 62 miles of fiber plant in and around Terral, and the replacement of the existing softswitch and power plant. This FTTH deployment will create nine jobs and save seven jobs.

South Carolina

Sandhill Telephone Cooperative, Inc.–$5,930,000 will be used to provide for system improvements, including purchase of a new switch.

Tennessee

North Central Telephone Cooperative Corp.–$27,069,000 will be used to upgrade portions of North Central’s outside plant and network infrastructure by deploying a FTTP network.

Washington

Inland Telephone Co.–$24,823,000 in loan funds will be used to expand Inland’s FTTP broadband system and connect new subscribers.
The Toledo Telephone Co. Inc.–$18,091,000 in loan funds will be used to install 292 miles of buried fiber optic cables and related equipment throughout the proposed FTTP system, offering enhanced service to all Toledo subscribers.

Wisconsin

Union Telephone Co.–$13,308,000 in loan funds will enable Union to deploy approximately 336 miles of fiber, which will provide approximately 60% of Union’s subscribers with access to improved broadband services.
Marquette-Adams Telephone Cooperative Inc.–$19,781,000 Marquette-Adams will use loan funds to complete a system-wide FTTP network, including over 370 miles of new or modified buried fiber, providing enhanced broadband service to all subscribers.

Committee Launches Investigation into RUS Loan to Open Range

Jesse Ward — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:52:36 +0000

On October 9, the House Energy and Commerce Committee launched an investigation into the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $267 million loan to Open Range Communications, which filed for bankruptcy protection in early October.

Six bipartisan members of the committee sent a letter to Rural Utilities Service Administrator Jonathan Adelstein requesting the firm’s complete loan application and any documents related to the decision to approve it. The current balance of Open Range’s loan — the largest made to rural broadband providers between 2002 and 2008 — is $73.5 million.

The letter also notes refers to concerns from the Agriculture Department’s inspector general about the oversight of broadband loan programs in light of the fact that $340 million had been paid out despite “incomplete applications, loans that defaulted, and grant funds used for inappropriate purposes.”

“Open Range’s bankruptcy potentially puts $73.5 million of taxpayer money at risk,” wrote committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), ranking member Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and others. “In light of Open Range’s bankruptcy, the Energy and Commerce Committee requests a bipartisan briefing to explain the RUS application review process for the Open Range loan and the oversight RUS conducted to ensure taxpayer funds were used as intended. At the briefing provided by you or your staff, please be prepared to provide additional information about the total number and amount of broadband loans provide pursuant to the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills, whether any of the recipient companies have experienced or are experiencing financial difficulties, and the oversight RUS conducts to monitor their progress”

If any improprieties are revealed, it could raise concern about the awarding of broadband stimulus funds.

As the New Edge first reported back in 2009, Open Range obtained a $267-million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Utilities Program (from the traditional telecom program, not a stimulus loan) to deliver portable and eventually mobile voice and Internet services. The company also received another $100 million in private financing from an arm of J.P. Morgan Chase. When it filed for bankruptcy protection on October 5, Open Range listed $114 million in total assets and $110 million in total liabilities.

Open Range initially planned to offer WiMAX service to 546 communities across 17 states, serving six million people by 2014. However, Open Range now serves 140 markets spanning more than 12 states and 20,000 subscribers, according to the Denver Business Journal.

For more, see this article in The Hill.

USDA Awards $103 Million for Broadband Projects

Jesse Ward — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:28:08 +0000

The USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced today that 18 recipients will receive more than $103 million in funding for 23 projects to provide broadband services to unserved and underserved rural communities. The projects fall under two USDA programs: the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program and the Rural Development Community Connect Program.

Of the $103 million, approximately $90 million in loan funding is set aside for five broadband infrastructure projects.

The largest infrastructure award was given to Vernon Telephone Cooperative, in Westby, Wis., which was selected for a $24 million loan to build a FTTP system in areas outside the town. Vernon also plans to make other system improvements in several area exchanges.

Also of note, the Dubois Telephone Exchange has been selected for an $11.4 million infrastructure loan to provide broadband to nearly all of the businesses and residents in Wyoming’s Upper Wind River country and Little Snake River Valley. The loan is expected to create 100 jobs and save up to 150 others.

The Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program funds facilities and equipment to upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural telecommunications networks. USDA will make a $690 million investment during FY 2011 in the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program. This is in addition to the $3.5 billion in broadband funding RUS awarded for projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Also contained in today’s $103 million announcement are funds awarded under the USDA Rural Development Community Connect program.

The program provides grants to rural, economically challenged communities. Funds can be used to construct, acquire or lease facilities to deploy broadband to community facilities such as schools and public safety buildings, as well as residents and businesses in the community. Each project requires a matching contribution and must serve an area where broadband is not available. The grantee must agree to provide local community centers in the selected towns with at least 10 computers which are accessible free for two years.

Of the Community Connect grants being announced today, seven grants will provide broadband to communities that are plagued by persistent poverty. One of today’s successful applications is from Wichita Online, Inc., which will use a Community Connect grant to provide broadband to the rural community of Tushka Town, Okla. Rural Development’s $480,000 grant to Wichita Online Inc. will provide residents with broadband service and new opportunities for economic development.

The Karuk Tribe in Orleans, Calif., also will receive a Community Connect grant to provide Internet services to 570 tribal members in a mountainous region of Northern California.

“Without broadband, rural communities, agricultural producers and business owners face a substantial challenge,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “These loans and grants will bring the benefits of broadband, including new educational, business and public health and safety opportunities, to residents living in some of the most remote parts of our Nation.”

For a complete list of the awards, click here.

RUS Awards $192M in Broadband Loans

Jesse Ward — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:37:34 +0000

The USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced yesterday that it has awarded $192 million in loans for projects that will deliver broadband services to rural customers across eight states.

This financing is part of the $690 million investment USDA will make during FY 2011 in the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program, which funds facilities and equipment to upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural telecommunications networks. This is in addition to the $3.5 billion in broadband funding RUS awarded for projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“A significant portion of America still does not have adequate broadband for job and economic development activities,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “Working with our partners, including cooperatives and the telecommunications industry, USDA delivers broadband to rural areas, creating jobs and providing critical financial, educational and health care services. We’ve made a good start, but it is clear that the work of the Obama Administration and USDA is far from done.”

The largest financing recipient is 3 Rivers Telephone Cooperative Inc. in Fairfield, Montana, which received a $70 million loan to install nearly 1,700 miles of buried cable, construct buildings, and install electronic equipment to upgrade 10 exchanges. The deployment of this equipment will make upgraded broadband services available to approximately 4,700 households, 500 businesses and 82 critical community organizations, such as public safety departments. 3 Rivers provides telecommunications services to subscribers over nearly 17,000 square miles of Montana.

Here is a complete list of the rural utilities approved for funding:

Farmers Mutual Telephone Co. (Iowa): $18,205,000
IAMO Telephone Co. (Iowa and Missouri): $14,972,000
Wilson Telephone Co. (Kansas): $14,312,000
3 Rivers Telephone Cooperative Inc. (Montana): $70,000,000
Molalla Telephone Co. (Oregon): $22,500,000
Coleman County Telephone Cooperative Inc. (Texas): $22,540,000
Western Wahkiakum County Telephone Co. (Washington): $12,708,000
Baldwin Telecom Inc. (Wisconsin): $16,716,000

RUS to Discontinue Telecom Program’s List of Materials

Jesse Ward — Mon, 23 May 2011 21:33:01 +0000

–updated May 24, 2011, at 10:50 a.m. with new information –

NTCA spoke with RUS officials May 23, Monday afternoon, and learned that agency will be discontinuing the telecom program’s “approved” list of materials (LoM). RUS said that it does not have the staff resources to continue this project. The official announcement was posted May 24 to the RUS website.

In the past, broadband service providers that received RUS grants or low-interest loans to construct, upgrade or maintain their networks were only allowed to install new products which were on the approved LoM. (The one exception to this rule was applicants to the BIP program.)

RUS Administrator Jonathan Adelstein made the official announcement in an open letter: “Effective immediately, Rural Development will no longer accept applications for equipment to be added to the List of Materials for Telecommunications and Rural Development will cease publication of the List of Materials for Telecommunications.”

Now that the list is dead, for rural telcos this will clearly reduce the amount of paperwork required to complete a loan. Unfortunately the industry also relied on the guidance the list provided.

Adelstein said that the agency has a new plan to ensure that equipment adheres to industry best practices: ”To protect our loan security and compliance with continuing Buy America statutory mandates, we will transition from a listing process to an approach which ensures that construction financed by RUS meets applicable industry standards. This new approach will be incorporated into our review of individual projects and the approval of loan advances.”

For more, including guidance for existing borrowers, see the official announcement and the RUS website.

RUS Loans $40 Million for FTTP Projects

Jesse Ward — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:15:58 +0000

Yesterday, the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced support for telecommunications projects in seven states to improve broadband service to rural residents and businesses.

RUS will loan $40 million for projects in Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, Montana and Oklahoma. The telephone companies and cooperatives that have been selected to receive the financing will construct more than 1,000 miles of fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) systems.

The funding is part of the USDA’s Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program, which supports facilities and equipment for upgrades, expansion, maintenance and replacement of rural networks. Administered by RUS, this infrastructure financing is in addition to the $3.5 billion in broadband funding RUS awarded for rural broadband projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

USDA Rural Development funded more than 16,000 miles of FTTP projects during fiscal year 2010 to upgrade, expand or replace networks and perform system maintenance.

“Investment in broadband technology will create jobs across the country and expand opportunities for millions of Americans,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. ”Broadband provides the opportunity for rural Americans to receive improved educational services, health care, and public safety. These USDA broadband loans provide rural communities the level of financial assistance required to make them full partners in the digital age and keep them competitive on a local, national and global level.”

Funding for each project is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan agreement. A complete list of utilities that were selected for funding yesterday is below:

Georgia

Pembroke Telephone Co. Inc.; $11,954,000

Illinois

Alhambra-Grantfork Telephone Co.;$8,775,000
Woodhull Telephone Co.; $3,403,000
Oneida Telephone Co.; $2,619,000

Iowa

Minburn Telephone Co; $2,921,000

Kansas

Zenda Telephone Company Inc.; $2,950,000

North Dakota/Montana

Reservation Telephone Cooperative; $2,293,000

Oklahoma

Medicine Park Telephone Co.; $4,236,000

For more, see this release. Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov for additional information about the agency’s programs or to locate the USDA Rural Development office nearest you.

RUS Loans $247 Million for FTTH Projects

Jesse Ward — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:54:26 +0000

Late last week the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced nearly $247.9 million in funding for telecommunications projects that will improve broadband service to rural residents and businesses in 11 states. This funding, which is part of the $690 million investment from the USDA’s Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program during fiscal year 2010, will finance over 16,000 miles of fiber to the home (FTTH), bringing high speed Internet service to rural areas. The loans were granted in 12 states and ranged in value from $5.5 million to $38.8 million.

Administered by RUS, this infrastructure financing is in addition to the $3.5 billion in broadband funding RUS awarded for rural broadband projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The telecommunications infrastructure program funds facilities and equipment for upgrades, expansion, maintenance and replacement of rural networks. RUS funded approximately $537 million in FTTH projects during fiscal year 2010.

“USDA’s investment in telecommunications services will continue to meet the growing needs of homeowners and business in rural America as we continue striving to spur economic activity and job creation,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “These loans help provide the level of financial assistance required to deliver healthcare, educational, social and financial services to benefit rural economies.”

View a complete list of the loan recipients.

NTIA and RUS Complete Broadband Stimulus Awards

Jesse Ward — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:16:16 +0000

Last week NTIA and RUS announced a handful of new investments as both agencies scrambled to meet the September 30 deadline to award nearly $7 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding. With these awards the government has now formally announced all the winners in the broadband stimulus program.

NTIA awarded $206.8 million in grants to 14 new investments, including two comprehensive community infrastructure awards ,six public computer center awards and six sustainable broadband adoption awards. This follows closely on the heels of a$115.2 million grant to the Maryland Department of Information Technology.

In total, NTIA has invested in 233 Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) projects, mainly middle-mile ventures. Based on estimates provided by grant recipients, the projects will:

fund the installation or upgrade of approximately 120,000 miles of broadband networks, including fiber-optics, wireless, microwave and other technologies
provide broadband access to approximately 24,000 community anchor institutions, including schools, libraries, government offices, health care facilities and public safety entities
deploy middle-mile infrastructure in areas with nearly 40 million households and 4 million businesses
invest in more than 3,500 new or upgraded public computer centers in libraries, schools, community centers and other public locations
invest in more than 35,000 new or upgraded public computer workstations
make public computer center workstations and training available to more than 1 million new users

Also of note, NTIA awarded $190 million to support state efforts to compete in the digital economy. Fifty states, five territories and Washington, D.C., received awards in the State Broadband Data and Development (SBDD) grant program. These state-created efforts vary depending on local needs but include programs to assist small businesses and community institutions in using technology more effectively, research to investigate barriers to broadband adoption, innovative applications that increase access to government services and information, and state and local task forces to expand broadband access and adoption.

For its part, RUS announced four new Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) investments, including awards in the amount of:

$2.63 million to Digital Bridge Corp. to bring 4G service to northern Mississippi
$7.75 million, matched by $148,500 in private contribution, to the Arizona Nevada Tower Corp. to offer a microwave backbone and middle-mile system in southwest Nevada
$791,947, matched by $245,510 in private funding, to The Willard Telephone Co. to offer FTTH in eastern Colorado
$7.3 million, with more than $2.4 million in private investment, to Windstream Corp. to provide digital telephone, high-speed Internet and high-definition video and entertainment services in central Arkansas

By leveraging $2.5 billion in Recovery Act funding authorized by Congress, RUS has been able to provide loans and grants of $3.6 billion to construct 307 broadband infrastructure and satellite projects in 46 states and one territory.

Govt Announces $1 Billion in New Broadband Stimulus Awards

Jesse Ward — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:50:34 +0000

This past Monday was a broadband stimulus bonanza, with the federal government awarding a little more than $1 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) grant funding.

RUS announced that $518 million will be invested in 43 new broadband infrastructure projects that will create jobs and provide rural residents in 27 states and Native American tribal areas access to improved Internet service. An additional $34.1 million in private investment also will be committed to the projects.

The largest grant, $66.4 million, was awarded to Lake County in Minnesota for a fiber-the-premises (FTTP) network. Other RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) grants of note:

Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Inc. in Oklahoma received $35.9 million to provide fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service to remote areas within its 76 western Oklahoma telephone exchange boundaries.
Windstream Communications was awarded $26 million for three new projects in New Mexico, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
Tri-County Telephone Membership in North Carolina received $14.1 million, matched by more than $2 million in private contribution, to offer broadband using FTTP technology.
Arrowhead Electric Cooperative Inc. in Minnesota received $16.1 million, matched by $600,000 in private contribution, to build a last-mile FTTH network.
Digital Bridge Communications received $794,000 to provide 4G broadband and VoIP service via fixed and mobile WiMAX technology.

Despite the looming September 30 deadline to announce all the winners in this funding round, many projects are still under review. Digital Bridge submitted 30 projects in this funding round; 29 are still under review. NRTC also submitted 30 projects, all of which are under review and rely on the Digital Bridge wireless network in which NRTC is a part owner. And finally, Qwest’s single application for $348 million to provide service throughout its 14-state territory is still pending.

For its part, NTIA announced 35 new investments, totaling $482.4 million. Twenty-five of the awards went to computing centers and sustainable broadband adoption programs designed to improve access and spur Internet usage and adoption.

However, the majority of the funds, $360.5 million, were awarded to 10 infrastructure projects to construct middle-mile networks. Colorado’s Centennial Board of Cooperative Educational Services received the largest grant totaling $100.6 million, followed closely by the Connecticut Department of Information Technology which received $93.9 million.

Monday’s NTIA and RUS grant awards are part of the second round of ARRA grant announcements, which will continue on a rolling basis and are slated to be completed by September 30, 2010. In total, NTIA has thus far announced 216 grants that benefit communities across the nation. For its part, RUS has awarded $3.6 billion to construct 307 broadband projects in 46 states and one territory.

RUS has a complete list of the projects which were awarded ARRA broadband grants this past Monday. NTIA’s release also has details on the administration’s recent awardees.

New Broadband Stimulus Awards Include Satellite, Public Safety Networks

Jesse Ward — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:31:11 +0000

Yesterday Vice President Biden announced that as part of the second round of broadband funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the government has awarded $1.8 billion to 94 new broadband projects within 37 states.

This announcement includes 66 grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) to deploy broadband and connect community anchor institutions, create and upgrade public computer centers, and encourage the sustainable adoption of broadband service. It also includes 28 awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) for broadband infrastructure and satellite projects that will provide rural residents in 16 states and Native American tribal areas access to improved service.

The University of Arkansas received the largest financial award,$102 million, to connect community anchor institutions throughout the state. Other winners include Windstream which received more than $64 million for four new projects; Yadkin Valley Telephone Membership Corp. which received more than $21 million for a FTTH network; and Peoples Telephone Cooperative which was awarded more than $28 million to provide middle-mile broadband service in eastern Texas, connecting 190 community institutions to broadband.

For the first time the stimulus winners include four satellite operators:

Hughes Network Systems received $59 million to offer satellite broadband service to rural residential and commercial subscribers nationwide. Approximately 258,685 people stand to benefit, as do 3,200 businesses.
WildBlue Communications was awarded $20 million to offer satellite broadband service in the West and Midwest United States. Approximately 110,150 people stand to benefit, as do roughly 4,896 businesses.
Spacenet received an $8 million award to offer satellite broadband service to rural residential subscribers in Alaska and Hawaii.
Echostar was awarded $14 million award to offer satellite broadband service to rural residential and commercial subscribers. The funds will provide service to 42,478 people and 1,888 businesses.

Also for the first time, the NTIA awards contain five grants totaling $220 million for the construction of five public safety broadband networks. The public safety awards went to government entities, with the exception of Motorola which received $50 million to build a network in the greater San Francisco Bay area. All of the networks will utilize 4G technology, and meet the FCC’s standards for nationwide interoperability.

Finally, Qwest’s application for $348 million is still pending.

A list of the new projects receiving ARRA broadband grant awards can be viewed online.