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First Round of Funding Nets and Overwhelming Response


Recovery.gov Stimulus Symbol

The numbers are in: 2,200 applications are requesting $27.6 billion in Round One of broadband stimulus funding.
The problem: There’s only $4.3 billion available.
With an excess of $23.3 billion in requests it is not going to be pretty.

According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), applications were submitted by a diverse range of applicants, including state, local and tribal governments; nonprofit organizations; industry; anchor institutions, such as libraries, universities, community colleges and hospitals; public safety organizations; and other entities in rural, suburban and urban areas.

While the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided a total of $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus funding, approximately $2.4 billion from RUS and up to $1.6 billion from NTIA is available in this first grant round.

According to a preliminary analysis of applicant-reported data, the applications break down as follows:
Infrastructure

  • More than 260 applications were filed solely with NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), requesting over $5.4 billion in grants to fund broadband infrastructure projects in un-served and underserved areas.
  • More than 400 applications were filed solely with RUS’s Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), requesting nearly $5 billion in grants and loans for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas.
  • More than 830 applications were both BTOP and BIP filings that requesting nearly $12.8 billion in infrastructure funding. (Applicants for infrastructure projects in rural areas had to apply for BIP funding, but were given the opportunity to jointly apply to BTOP in case the RUS declines to fund their application.)

Sustainable Broadband Adoption

  • More than 320 applications were filed with NTIA requesting nearly $2.5 billion in grants from BTOP for projects that promote sustainable demand for broadband services.  (The ARRA directs NTIA to make at least $250 million available for programs that encourage sustainable adoption of broadband services. Up to $150 million is allocated in the first round.)

Public Computer Centers

  • More than 360 applications were filed with NTIA requesting more than $1.9 billion in grants from BTOP for public computer center projects, which will expand access to broadband service and enhance broadband capacity at public libraries, community colleges and other institutions (The ARRA directs NTIA to make at least $200 million available for expanding public computer center capacity. Up to $50 million is allocated in the first round.)

Keep in mind the numbers released today represent applicants’ self-reported totals from proposals submitted before the Aug. 20 deadline. Both organizations said these results are preliminary estimates and may change as the applications are reviewed for errors, omissions and duplicates. Both organizations said they would post a searchable database containing summaries of all applications received within a few weeks.

However, the numbers clearly show the demand for broadband expansion across the country. And both organizations seem committed to getting the money necessary for this expansion in the hands of applicants as quickly (and as carefully) as possible.


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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Grants, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Non-profit organization, Philanthropy, Public library, Rural Utilities Service, Technology, United States

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 29th, 2009 and is filed under Broadband. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • http://telephony.net Mark Hewitt

    This is a very exciting time the demand for broadband in this country far exceeds anything we could have imagined. I am reminded that during Obama’s campaign pledge his commitment for Health, Energy, and Broadband were his top three objectives. Now it appears obvious that it is on the top of American’s list of priorities. I also recall a comment made during the initial commitment to the Broadband Stimulus that the initial $7.2 Billion is just a down payment.

    I know it may not be obvious to all however during the ramp up of the Space Program the resulting R & D (Research and Development) led to discoveries and innovations creating today’s computers, Internet, medical technologies, materials science, and discoveries in energy, flight, and the human condition. A new national broadband network extending access to everyone (and I note that that includes us in more metropolitan environments) will have access to high speed (at least 100 Mbps or more) connectivity. This will lead to a new innovative American engine, new technologies, energy, food, health care, safety and more will emerge.

  • http://telephony.net/ Mark Hewitt

    This is a very exciting time the demand for broadband in this country far exceeds anything we could have imagined. I am reminded that during Obama’s campaign pledge his commitment for Health, Energy, and Broadband were his top three objectives. Now it appears obvious that it is on the top of American’s list of priorities. I also recall a comment made during the initial commitment to the Broadband Stimulus that the initial $7.2 Billion is just a down payment.

    I know it may not be obvious to all however during the ramp up of the Space Program the resulting R & D (Research and Development) led to discoveries and innovations creating today’s computers, Internet, medical technologies, materials science, and discoveries in energy, flight, and the human condition. A new national broadband network extending access to everyone (and I note that that includes us in more metropolitan environments) will have access to high speed (at least 100 Mbps or more) connectivity. This will lead to a new innovative American engine, new technologies, energy, food, health care, safety and more will emerge.