STIMULUS
WEBINAR “BTOP & BIP: How to Connect”
DATE: Friday, February 5th 1:30-2:30pm EST
REGISTER
Recordings of the NTIA and RUS webcasts/workshops were to have been available for reference 3-5 days after streaming but have not appeared so far. Monitor the site.
Important documents related to filing a Broadband Stimulus application with the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) or the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) are available here.
The application window opens on February 16 and closes on March 25th.
NTIA Secretary Strickland has encouraged all those who did not receive an award in the first round, to re-apply.
Feedback on last round’s applications will not be made available. Beside difficulty due to the volume involved, significant changes have been made from the first round that comments from that round would not be helpful for the second. Because of changes also in the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA), it is suggested that the new NOFA be read before applying.
Applicants are also advised to look for partners here
A blogger offers tips from the workshop.
On January 15, 2010 RUS and NTIA announced the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the last round of broadband stimulus funding.
The non-profit New America Foundation’s Open Technology Initiative has published analyses for the RUS and NTIA NOFAs as well as applications guides to help interested parties apply for broadband stimulus funding:
Read BIP Changes and other Details
Read BTOP Changes and other Details
Settles, Greg. “Ready, Set for Broadband Race Round 2” Daily Yonder.Com, January 26, 2010 link (February 4, 2010).
Also, the American Library Association continues its site “Know Your Stimulus,” with the important links and a section entitled “Lessons Learned.”
RUS AWARDS from Round One:
The USDA Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced awards of $313.5 million for broadband programs. Pennsylvania was not included.
The Department of Agriculture’s–Rural Utilities Service (RUS)–has issued a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP).