SECRETARY LOCKE ANNOUNCES RECOVERY ACT INVESTMENTS TO EXPAND BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS AND SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH

News Media Contact:
Shannon Gilson, (202) 482-4883, sgilson@doc.gov

WASHINGTON – U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced 29 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs, and improve education and healthcare across the country. The investments, totaling more than $404 million in grants, will fund projects that lay the groundwork to bring enhanced high-speed Internet access to millions of households and businesses and link thousands of schools, hospitals, libraries, and public safety offices to the information superhighway.

“In a globalized 21st century economy, when you don’t have regular access to high-speed Internet, you don’t have access to all the educational, business and employment opportunities it provides,” Locke said. “These critical Recovery Act investments will create jobs and lay the groundwork for long-term sustainable economic growth in communities across America.”

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), funded by the Recovery Act, provides grants to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure, enhance and expand public computer centers, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service.

Today’s announcement begins the second round of BTOP grant awards, which will continue on a rolling basis. In the first round, NTIA awarded 82 BTOP grants worth $1.2 billion that will expand broadband access and adoption through projects that will affect 45 states and territories.  NTIA will announce all grant awards by September 30, 2010.

“We are investing in projects that will have a real, lasting impact on communities across the country. In particular, investing in ‘middle mile’ networks that bring high-speed Internet access to communities and connect key anchor institutions, such as schools, libraries, community colleges and hospitals, to the Internet allows us to get the most bang for every infrastructure grant dollar.” Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling said. “The level of interest in this program has been extraordinary, and is yet another indicator of the critical role broadband plays in achieving durable, sustainable economic growth.”

The following grants were announced today:

Comprehensive Community Infrastructure awards:

District of Columbia: Government of the District of Columbia, $17.5 million grant with an additional $7.5 million applicant-provided match to deploy a high-speed network to spur improved broadband service for residents and businesses, and provide direct Internet connections for approximately 190 community anchor institutions located predominantly in the city’s economically distressed areas.

Iowa: Iowa Communications Network, $16.2 million grant with an additional $7.6 million applicant-provided match to upgrade an existing 3,000-mile network to provide 10 Gbps-capable points of presence in each county in the state, while upgrading direct high-speed connections for more than 2,000 community anchor institutions.

Iowa: Iowa Health System, $17.7 million grant with an additional $9.9 million applicant-provided match to upgrade and enhance the health system’s existing fiber network that provides connections to over 200 healthcare facilities, as well as facilitate more access to broadband service for residents and businesses statewide.

Massachusetts: Massachusetts Technology Park, $45.4 million grant with an additional $26.2 applicant-provided match to bring affordable, high-speed Internet access to residents and businesses in western Massachusetts by constructing over 1,300 miles of new fiber and connecting approximately 1,400 community anchor institutions.

Minnesota: Zayo Bandwidth, $13.4 million grant with an additional $5.7 million applicant-provided match to fund almost 300 miles of new fiber network to connect 145 community anchor institutions, and make high-speed broadband services available to local Internet service providers in economically distressed counties north of the Twin Cities metro area.

Mississippi: Contact Network, Inc., $20.7 million grant with an additional $5.2 million applicant-provided match to deploy more than 600 miles of fiber optic middle mile broadband infrastructure in underserved areas of 16 counties in southern and central Mississippi, providing improved connections for 200 schools, hospitals, public safety facilities and other community anchor institutions in the region.

New Hampshire: University System of New Hampshire, $44.5 million grant with an additional $21.4 million applicant-provided match to fund a collaboration between state and local governments, non-profits, and private entities to bring next-generation broadband services to more than 200 community anchor institutions in all ten counties of the Granite State. The project also intends to upgrade the state’s existing microwave public safety networks.

Ohio: ComNet, Inc., $30 million grant with an additional $12.9 million applicant-provided match to construct almost 700 new miles of high-capacity fiber to expand an existing network throughout 28 western Ohio counties, providing direct connections to approximately 880 schools, government offices, public safety facilities, health care facilities, libraries and public housing facilities.

Oregon: Bend Cable Communications, LLC, $4.4 million grant with an additional $1.9 million applicant-provided match to construct more than 130 miles of new fiber in areas of central Oregon that lack adequate broadband connectivity, connecting four local municipalities as well as approximately 20 key health, educational, public safety, and business development entities.

Oregon: County of Clackamas, $7.8 million grant with an additional $3.3 million applicant-provided match to bring affordable high-speed Internet service to 150 community anchor institutions and facilitate improved broadband service for local consumers and businesses across this northwestern Oregon county.

Texas: Valley Telephone Cooperative, Inc., $15.7 million grant with an additional  $6.7 applicant-provided match to build more than 150 miles of new fiber network in a region of south Texas with chronically high unemployment and a large percentage of minority populations. The project will partner with the University of Texas at Brownsville, UT Pan American, UT Health Service Center, South Texas College, and Texas State Technical College to improve broadband service to each campus, while connecting 30 additional community anchor institutions and enabling more affordable broadband access for local consumers and businesses.

Vermont: Vermont Telecommunications Authority, $33.4 million grant with an additional $14.8 million applicant-provided match to build a 790-mile fiber network across this small, rural state with rugged terrain. The project plans to provide direct high-speed connections to as many as 300 anchor institutions statewide, including community colleges and public safety entities, while enabling more affordable broadband access for local consumers and businesses.

Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York: Vermont Telephone Company, $12.3 million grant with an additional $5.3 million applicant-provided match to enhance the existing middle mile broadband infrastructure to address a bandwidth and transport capacity shortages and upgrade direct connections to close to 200 community anchor institutions.

Virginia: Bristol Virginia Utilities Board, $22.7 million grant with an additional $13.5 million applicant-provided match to build an almost 400-mile fiber network that intends to bring high-speed broadband middle mile service to rural, economically distressed areas in southwestern Virginia.

Wyoming: Silver Star Telephone Company, $5.6 million grant with an additional $1.6 million applicant-provided match to close a 90-mile gap in the company’s existing statewide fiber optic network, bringing comprehensive broadband services to 11 counties and providing direct connections for approximately 15 community anchor institutions in western Wyoming.

Wyoming and Idaho: Silver Star Telephone Company, $5 million grant with an additional $1.3 applicant-provided match close a 38-mile gap in its existing 159-mile fiber optic network in northwest Wyoming and southeast Idaho, bringing comprehensive broadband services to five counties in the region and direction connections for a dozen community anchor institutions, including Brigham Young University’s Idaho campus and Teton National Park service.

All States and the District of Columbia: University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development, $62.5 million grant with an additional $34.3 million applicant-provided match to interconnect more than 30 existing research and educational networks, creating a nation-wide high-capacity network that will enable advanced networking features for more than 100,000 essential community anchor institutions.

Public Computer Center awards:

Arizona: Arizona Office of Economic Recovery, $1.6 million grant with an additional $706,000 applicant-provided match to expand computer centers at 28 state and tribal libraries and to provide specialized virtual workforce workstations at 200 locations throughout the state.

District of Columbia: Government of the District of Columbia, $1.6 million grant with an additional $667,000 applicant-provided match to upgrade connection speeds, provide training, and deploy more than 1,000 new computer workstations at 24 public libraries, two recreation centers, three public schools, and one community college library.

Maine: Maine State Library, $1.4 million grant with an additional $589,000 applicant-provided match to upgrade public computer centers at more than 100 public libraries statewide. The project will increase the number of available broadband workstations by as much as 60 percent and improve training and employment-related services offered by libraries.

Minnesota: Leech Lake Reservation Business Committee, $1.7 million grant with an additional $790,000 applicant-provided match to create seven new public computer centers and upgrading ten existing facilities on three Indian reservations in Minnesota. The centers will be located at Boys and Girls Clubs within tribally operated community centers, providing public access to all residents.

Montana: Montana State Library, $1.8 million grant with an additional $867,000 applicant-provided match to provide more broadband computer access at faster speeds at 42 local libraries in 29 counties across the state within reach of 86 percent of Montana’s population.

Nevada: Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs, $806,000 grant with an additional $305,000 applicant-provided match to install more than 250 new workstations and expand the training and educational capacity at more than 30 libraries and other hubs for free computer access in 15 counties throughout the state.

New Jersey: Thomas Edison State College, $5.1 million grant with an additional $2.4 million applicant-provided match to add computer workstations and/or upgrade connectivity at approximately 125 libraries, as well as provide job search assistance and workforce development programs at 365 libraries across the state.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City University, $1.4 million grant with an additional $747,000 applicant-provided match to expand broadband computer access options for the economically vulnerable community in which the university is located. The project will open two computer centers with almost 90 workstations to the general public and deploy a “mobile PCC” van with 20 laptops to serve the community at large.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma Department of Libraries, $2.3 million grant with an additional $1 million applicant-provided match to upgrade public computer centers at 45 libraries in 44 counties across the state to better equip them to meet local community needs.

Oregon: County of Crook, $3.9 million grant with an additional $1.8 million applicant-provided match to build a new, 65-workstation computer learning center in Prineville, the county seat, which will provide education, training, and broadband access to the county’s 25,000 citizens. The project also plans to deploy a mobile lab with satellite connectivity to provide instruction and training to remote areas of the county.

Pennsylvania: City of Philadelphia, $6.4 million grant with an additional $3.3 million applicant-provided match to create or enhance more than 75 public computer centers located in North, West, and South Philadelphia, with the goal of providing access for thousands more residents on a weekly basis.

Tennessee: Tennessee State Library & Archives, $557,000 grant with an additional $239,000 applicant-provided match to expand 29 public computer centers as part of its Bridging the Gap project, which will leverage the support of local community organizations to provide training and drive participation among patrons in the community.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided a total of $7.2 billion to NTIA and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to fund projects that will expand access to and adoption of broadband services. NTIA is utilizing $4.7 billion of that funding for grants to deploy broadband infrastructure in the United States, expand public computer center capacity, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service.

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The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

NTIA TO ACCEPT UPDATED GRANT APPLICATIONS FROM STATES FOR BROADBAND IMPROVEMENT AND MAPPING ACTIVITIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              CONTACT: Jessica Schafer, 202-482-5670

May 28, 2010                                                                                                              press@ntia.doc.gov

Awardees in NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Program Have Opportunity to Expand Efforts to Increase Broadband Access and Adoption

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that state governments and other existing awardees in its State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program may seek funding for various initiatives to help their communities compete in the digital economy and for up to three additional years of broadband mapping work.

“As Congress recognized, many communities are being left behind in the 21st Century economy and need improved broadband access and adoption to compete,” said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling. “Given the growing economic importance of broadband services, better data and strategic planning are needed on the state level. This will help us increase broadband availability and use across the country, which is critical to our global competiveness.”

Launched in 2009, NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program implements the joint purposes of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA). One of the primary purposes of the grant program is to assist states in gathering data on the availability, speed, and location of broadband services. The data they compile and display will also be used to create the comprehensive, interactive national broadband map that NTIA is required by the Recovery Act to produce and make publicly available by February 17, 2011.  The map, which NTIA plans to update every six months, will assist consumers with better information on the broadband services available to them and inform policymakers’ efforts to increase broadband availability nationwide.

To be fiscally prudent, NTIA originally funded state data collection efforts for a two-year period, allowing the agency to assess initial state activities before awarding funding for the remainder of this five-year initiative. With the program well underway, states (or their designees) can now apply for funding under the existing program rules for three additional years of mapping and data collection work.

Of significance, states may also seek funding for other activities that support BDIA’s goals, including state broadband task forces or advisory boards, technical assistance programs, local or regional technology planning efforts, and programs to promote increased computer ownership and Internet usage.

“Congress gave NTIA the resources to support broadband improvement efforts in the states. We are committed to investing these resources prudently and effectively,” Strickling said. “Now that NTIA has seen initial state data collection efforts, we are prepared to accept and evaluate proposals for additional funding.”

The Recovery Act provided up to $350 million for implementation of the BDIA and to develop and maintain a broadband inventory map. All 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia (or their designated entities) are eligible for funding through NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program to support these goals. NTIA has thus far awarded more than $100 million in grants to 54 of the 56 eligible entities to carry out the first two years of broadband data collection and mapping efforts, and for broadband planning activities. NTIA is directly informing the eligible entities that they may submit amended and supplemental applications until July 1, 2010 for additional broadband improvement and mapping activities.

NTIA serves as the executive branch agency principally responsible for advising the President on communications and information policy.  For more information about the NTIA, visit www.ntia.doc.gov.

The following grants were announced today:

Multiple states: One Economy Corporation: $28.5 million sustainable broadband adoption grant with an additional $23 million applicant-provided match to implement a
comprehensive program of computer training, wireless Internet access, broadband awareness marketing, and online content and applications to residents of 159 affordable and public housing developments and low-income communities in 50 cities and towns across 31 states and the District of Columbia.
States impacted by this grant are: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana,  Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland,  Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.

Idaho: Digital Bridge Communications: $1.9 million broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $466,000 applicant-provided match to bring affordable wireless broadband service to rural, underserved communities in Cassia County, Idaho, including the towns of Albion, Burley, Declo, Malta, and Oakley. The project would expand Digital Bridge Communications’ existing network by adding five towers, 46 miles of new fiber, and a nine-mile microwave link. The project also proposes to offer speeds of up to 3 Mbps using both fixed and mobile wireless technology, as well as directly connect approximately 25 community anchor institutions at no charge.

Idaho: Digital Bridge Communications: $980,000 broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $246,000 applicant-provided match to bring affordable wireless broadband service to rural, underserved communities in Jerome County, Idaho, including the towns of Barrymore, Falls City, Greenwood, Haytown, Hunt, Hydra, Jerome, McHenry, and Sugar Loaf. The project would expand Digital Bridge Communications’ existing network by adding three towers, 15 miles of new fiber, and two microwave links. The expanded network intends to offer speeds up to 3 Mbps using both fixed and mobile wireless technology, as well as directly connect approximately 25 community anchor institutions at no charge.

Idaho: Digital Bridge Communications: $1.4 million broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $340,000 applicant-provided match to bring affordable wireless broadband service to underserved communities in Twin Falls County, Idaho, including the towns of Buhl, Burger, Clover, Deep Creek, Fairview, Filer, Godwin, and Hansen. The project would expand Digital Bridge Communications’ existing network by adding eight towers, three miles of new fiber, and nine microwave links. This expanded network intends to offer speeds up to 3 Mbps using both fixed and mobile wireless technology, as well as directly connect approximately 25 community anchor institutions at no charge.

Kentucky: City of Williamstown, Kentucky: $535,000 broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $134,000 applicant-provided match to deploy a high-speed fiber-to-the-home broadband network to unserved and underserved communities south of its existing network in Corinth, and north of its existing network to areas of Grant and Owen counties in northern Kentucky. The project intends to offer broadband speeds up to 10 Mbps and directly connect the three municipal organizations within the service area – Corinth City Hall, the Corinth Water District, and the Corinth Volunteer Fire Department – free of charge. In addition, the project expects to offer broadband Internet access for local consumers, including approximately 680 households and 20 businesses, and spur economic growth and job creation in the region.

Oklahoma: Pine Telephone Company, Inc.: $9.5 million broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $2.4 million applicant-provided match to deliver affordable wireless broadband service to underserved areas of Southeastern Oklahoma, including the Tribal lands of the Choctaw Nation and its 10 counties. The project intends to directly connect 20 community anchor institutions, including Choctaw Nation agencies, public schools, public safety agencies, fire and police departments, and a health clinic. The project’s last mile network plans to offer broadband speeds ranging from 1 Mbps to 3 Mbps to as many as 7,000 households and 75 businesses.

Puerto Rico: Critical Hub Networks, Inc.: $25.8 million broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $6.7 million applicant-provided match to provide fast, affordable broadband connectivity for last-mile Internet service providers and underserved areas of Puerto Rico, including of the islands of Culebra and Vieques. The project plans to purchase a 10 Gbps undersea fiber-optic cable directly connecting to Miami and deploy more than 180 miles of terrestrial middle-mile microwave network using 11 towers. The network will offer speeds from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps to anchor institutions, including more than 1,500 K-12 schools, and local Internet service providers.

Virginia: Buggs Island Telephone Cooperative: $19 million broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $5 million applicant-provided match to bring high-speed affordable broadband services to 15 underserved counties and the cities of Emporia and Franklin in South Central Virginia by expanding and enhancing its existing high-speed broadband and voice communications wireless network. The BIT Wireless project intends to offer wireless broadband at speeds of up to 10 Mbps to as many as 100,000 households, 14,800 businesses, and 800 community anchor institutions. In addition, the project will promote broadband adoption by discounting the cost of the equipment necessary to subscribe at home.

Washington: Public Utility District of Pend Oreille County: $27.2 million broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $6.8 million applicant-provided match to bring high-speed, affordable broadband   to underserved areas of Pend Oreille County in northeastern Washington State, which borders Idaho and Canada.  The proposed fiber-to-the-premises network would deploy approximately 526 miles of fiber-optic cable to deliver last-mile broadband Internet services and facilitate critical network redundancy in this rural area.  The project plans to offer affordable, high-speed broadband access to as many as 3,200 households, 360 businesses, and 24 community anchor institutions.

Link: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2010/042610_BTOP_finalRound1.html

Link:

http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/ServiceProviderResponses

OIG Findings

1. BTOP’s size and complexity have presented NTIA with significant challenges. NTIA’s program staffing levels appear to be insufficient to simultaneously perform the necessary first-and second-round award activities. The office must rely heavily on a few key individuals and personnel from other agencies to carry out the program’s operations.

2. NTIA’s inconsistent documentation of important information such as policies, procedures, staff roles, and key management decisions could lead to inefficiency and miscommunication.

3. The first round of BTOP grant application processing exposed several problems with the online grant intake system, which affected efficiency and users’ experiences.

4. A shortage of volunteer peer reviewers meant that application review for the fi rst round was delayed. As NTIA manages the second-round process and handles post-award activities for first-round grant recipients, it must be careful to obtain enough reviewers for the workload.

5. NTIA will need to closely monitor grantees during the post-award phase to ensure they are in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Recommendations

create a staffing plan that outlines the necessary resources to manage BTOP, and that makes provisions to adjust to the loss of key positions;

develop and implement policies and procedures that articulate key roles, responsibilities, and requirements for documentation;

have its in-house counsel document any program issues that arise and receive documented opinions from the Department of Commerce’s Offi ce of General Counsel;

supplement the existing pool of reviewers to address unforeseen delays or other impacts that could affect the application review timeline; and

continue to develop monitoring procedures to identify, track, and assist recipients at risk of experiencing delays in completing post-award NEPA requirements.

The welcome post to the new website is below.

COMMERCE ANNOUNCES CONTINUED DEMAND FOR FUNDING TO BRING BROADBAND TO MORE AMERICANS

More Than 860 Diverse Applications Received in Second Funding Round to Expand Broadband Access and Adoption

For Immediate Release                                 CONTACT:  Jessica Schafer 202-482-5670
April 7, 2010                                                              or press@ntia.doc.gov

WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today that it received 867 applications requesting $11 billion in funding for proposed broadband projects reaching across the United States. These applications are for the second round of NTIA’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding aimed at expanding broadband access and adoption to help bridge the technological divide; expand economic opportunities; create jobs; and improve healthcare, education, and public safety. NTIA allocated approximately $2.6 billion for the second round of its Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

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.

“For the second round of BTOP funding, we sharpened our program focus and encouraged applicants to create comprehensive proposals to meet the needs of their communities. We are pleased that a high percentage of applicants appear to have met our priorities and we look forward to reviewing this more targeted pool of applications,” said Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of NTIA. “We will move quickly but carefully to fund the best projects to bring broadband and jobs to more Americans.”

A preliminary analysis of applicant-reported data shows that NTIA received requests for grants totaling more than $11 billion. When including about $4.5 billion in non-Federal matching funds committed by the applicants, there are over $15.5 billion in proposed broadband projects. NTIA will employ a thorough review process with the goal of making the first Round 2 grant awards this summer.

BTOP applications were received in three categories and break down as follows:

Comprehensive Community Infrastructure: 355 of the applications, requesting approximately $8.4 billion in grants, are for Comprehensive Community Infrastructure projects, which focus on deployment of middle mile broadband infrastructure that connects community anchor institutions, such as schools, libraries, hospitals, and public safety facilities. For the second funding round, NTIA has allocated approximately $2.35 billion for such infrastructure projects.

Sustainable Broadband Adoption: 251 of the applications, requesting approximately $1.7 billion in grants, are for projects that promote sustainable demand for broadband services, including projects to provide broadband education, training, and equipment, particularly among vulnerable population groups where broadband technology has traditionally been underutilized. In the second funding round, NTIA has allocated at least $100 million for such projects.

Public Computer Centers: 261 of the applications, requesting more than $922 million in grants, are for public computer center projects, which will expand access to broadband service and enhance broadband capacity at public libraries, community colleges, and other institutions that serve the public. In the second funding round, NTIA has allocated at least $150 million for such projects.

NTIA has posted online a searchable database containing summaries of applications received.  The dollar figures cited today represent applicants’ self-reported totals, however these totals are preliminary estimates and may change as the applications are reviewed for errors, omissions, and duplications.

The Recovery Act provided a total of $7.2 billion to NTIA and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to expand access to and adoption of broadband services. Of that funding, NTIA will utilize $4.7 billion to deploy broadband infrastructure, expand public computer center capacity, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service. RUS will invest $2.5 billion to facilitate broadband deployment in rural communities.

COMMERCE DEPARTMENT’S NTIA AWARDS GRANTS FOR BROADBAND MAPPING AND PLANNING IN VIRGINIA AND AMERICAN SAMOA

Recovery Act Funding to Lay Groundwork for Enhanced Internet Services

For Immediate Release: March 5, 2010
Contact:  Jessica Schafer, 202-482-5670 or press@ntia.doc.gov

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that it has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Virginia and American Samoa under NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning. The data will be displayed in NTIA’s national broadband map, a tool that will inform policymakers’ efforts and provide consumers with improved information on the broadband Internet services available to them.

NTIA received applications representing all 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia to participate in the program, meaning that all governments that were eligible to apply for grants did so, whether directly or through a designated entity. NTIA has now awarded 54 grants totaling approximately $102 million under the program, including today’s announcement.

“Congress rightly recognized that increasing broadband access and adoption in communities being left behind in the 21st Century economy depends on better data collection and broadband planning. Our goal is to carry out this initiative on schedule and at the lowest cost necessary to do the job right,” said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling. “We have now awarded all but two of the grants in the program and will continue to work with the remaining applicants so they can bring the benefits of broadband to more of their citizens.”

American Samoa: NTIA has awarded the American Samoa Office of the Governor approximately $558,000 for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a two-year period in American Samoa, bringing the total grant award to approximately $1.1 million. The Office of the Governor is the designated entity for the territory of American Samoa.

Virginia: NTIA has awarded the Virginia Center for Innovative Technology $1,799,979 for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a two-year period in Virginia, bringing the total grant award to approximately $2.3 million. The Virginia Center for Innovative Technology is the designated entity for the state of Virginia.

NTIA carefully evaluates each application to determine whether the applicant directly represents the interests of the state. This state-applicant connection is especially critical in the context of the broadband planning activities that NTIA considers the responsibility of the state. CNMI and Guam are providing direction and supervision to the planning activities that will be undertaken by its designated entity, which is a non-state government entity, to ensure that planning funds are used to address the specific needs of the state.

Awardees will collect and verify the availability, speed, and location of broadband across the state. This activity is to be conducted on a semi-annual basis in the next two years, with the data to be presented in a clear and accessible format to the public, government, and the research community.

The State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program is a matching grant program that implements the joint purposes of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA). The program will provide grants to assist states or their designees in gathering and verifying state-specific data on the availability, speed, location, and technology type of broadband services. The data they collect and compile will also be used to develop publicly available state-wide broadband maps and to inform the comprehensive, interactive, and searchable national broadband map that NTIA is required by the Recovery Act to create and make publicly available by February 17, 2011.

The national broadband map will publicly display the geographic areas where broadband service is available; the technology used to provide the service; the speeds of the service; and broadband service availability at public schools, libraries, hospitals, colleges, universities, and public buildings. The national map will also be searchable by address and show the broadband providers offering service in the corresponding census block or street segment.

All awardees, except the Territorial governments in Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, are required to contribute at least 20 percent non-federal matching funds toward project costs. In addition, while the BDIA mandates that each state may designate only one eligible entity to receive funds under the program, each state’s applicant will be carefully evaluated and must meet the standards described in NTIA’s Notice of Funds Availability for this program in order to receive funding.

U.S. Department of Commerce’s NTIA serves as the executive branch agency principally responsible for advising the President on communications and information policy.  For more information about the NTIA, visit www.ntia.doc.gov.

Link:

http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/files/IRS_guidance030910.pdf