NTIA Awards $63 Million to 10 Stimulus Projects
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, March 29, 2010 · 
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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
RUS Awards $150 Million to 12 Stimulus Projects
Posted by Jesse Ward on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 · ·
RUS announced March 23 that it has awarded $150 million in Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) funding to 12 projects across eight states. An additional $68.2 million in private investment will be provided in matching funds, bringing the total funds invested to $218.2 million.
To date, RUS has awarded $1.05 billion to construct 67 broadband projects in 30 states and one territory. 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.
A complete list of the March 23 RUS awards on a state-by-state basis is listed below: 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
RUS Awards $254.6 million to 22 Stimulus Projects
Posted by Jesse Ward on Thursday, March 4, 2010 · (1) ·
RUS announced today the selection of the 22 broadband infrastructure projects in 18 states or territories that will receive broadband stimulus funding. In all, more than $254.6 million will be invested to bring broadband to rural unserved and underserved communities. An additional $13.1 million in private investment will be provided in matching funds.
Congress provided the USDA’s RUS with $2.5 billion in broadband funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. To date, $895.6 million has been provided to support 55 broadband projects in 29 states or territories.
A complete list of new Recovery Act broadband award recipients by state is below: 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
Qwest Considers Applying for Stimulus Funds
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, February 8, 2010 · ·
Following on the heels of significant rule changes, Qwest is considering applying for the second round of broadband stimulus funds.
As you may remember, Qwest and its RBOC counterparts AT&T and Verizon, along with cable giant Comcast declined to file in the first round citing onerous requirements. Qwest was particularly deterred by a first-round rule that would not permit projects to be built within 60 miles of a city or town, even if those areas lacked broadband. The rule has since been amended in a way that motivates the regional carrier to give the stimulus program a second review. Read more
USDA Awards $310 Million to 14 Broadband Providers
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, January 25, 2010 · (2) ·
The USDA announced today that it has selected 14 new BIP projects that will receive nearly $310 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, of which more than $250 million was awarded to NTCA members. An additional $3.5 million will be made available through private investment.
This is the largest amount of government funding that has been awarded since Congress allocated $7.2 billion for broadband deployment in last year’s stimulus bill.
The awards were in the form of 50/50 matching grants and loans. Among the awards: Read more