There are federal stimulus grants that will be available for broadband deployment-related activities. By statute, all of the funds have to be awarded between release of the National Broadband Plan by the FCC, currently scheduled for March 17, and the end of fiscal year 2010. More about the Plan here. <http://www.broadband.gov/>
The following excerpts are cherry-picked from Title VI of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, PDF pp. 398-402, linked from <http://www.recovery.gov/About/Pages/The_Act.aspx>. The entire four pages of the Title should be reviewed if anyone decides to pursue a grant, as should the National Broadband Program report when it is released. >>> (b) The purposes of the program are to— (1) provide access to broadband service to consumers residing in unserved areas of the United States; (2) provide improved access to broadband service to con- sumers residing in underserved areas of the United States; (3) provide broadband education, awareness, training, access, equipment, and support to— (A) schools, libraries, medical and healthcare providers, community colleges and other institutions of higher edu- cation, and other community support organizations and entities to facilitate greater use of broadband service by or through these organizations; (B) organizations and agencies that provide outreach, access, equipment, and support services to facilitate greater use of broadband service by low-income, unemployed, aged, and otherwise vulnerable populations; and (C) job-creating strategic facilities located within a State-designated economic zone, Economic Development District designated by the Department of Commerce, Renewal Community or Empowerment Zone designated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or Enterprise Community designated by the Department of Agriculture; (4) improve access to, and use of, broadband service by public safety agencies; and (5) stimulate the demand for broadband, economic growth, and job creation. ... (e) To be eligible for a grant under the program, an applicant shall— (1)(A) be a State or political subdivision thereof, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, an Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450(b)) or native Hawaiian organization; (B) a nonprofit— (i) foundation, (ii) corporation, (iii) institution, or (iv) association; or (C) any other entity, including a broadband service or infrastructure provider, that the Assistant Secretary finds by rule to be in the public interest. In establishing such rule, the Assistant Secretary shall to the extent prac- ticable promote the purposes of this section in a techno- logically neutral manner; ... (f) The Federal share of any project may not exceed 80 percent, except that the Assistant Secretary may increase the Federal share of a project above 80 percent if— (1) the applicant petitions the Assistant Secretary for a waiver; and (2) the Assistant Secretary determines that the petition demonstrates financial need. (g) The Assistant Secretary may make competitive grants under the program to— (1) acquire equipment, instrumentation, networking capa- bility, hardware and software, digital network technology, and infrastructure for broadband services; (2) construct and deploy broadband service related infra- structure; (3) ensure access to broadband service by community anchor institutions; (4) facilitate access to broadband service by low-income, unemployed, aged, and otherwise vulnerable populations in order to provide educational and employment opportunities to members of such populations; (5) construct and deploy broadband facilities that improve public safety broadband communications services; and (6) undertake such other projects and activities as the Assistant Secretary finds to be consistent with the purposes for which the program is established. (h) The Assistant Secretary, in awarding grants under this section, shall, to the extent practical— (1) award not less than 1 grant in each State; (2) consider whether an application to deploy infrastructure in an area— (A) will, if approved, increase the affordability of, and subscribership to, service to the greatest population of users in the area; (B) will, if approved, provide the greatest broadband speed possible to the greatest population of users in the area; (C) will, if approved, enhance service for health care delivery, education, or children to the greatest population of users in the area; and (D) will, if approved, not result in unjust enrichment as a result of support for non-recurring costs through another Federal program for service in the area; and (3) consider whether the applicant is a socially and economically disadvantaged small business concern as defined under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637). <<< Best regards, Paul E. Merrell, J.D. (Marbux) -- Universal Interoperability Council <http:www.universal-interop-council.org> _______________________________________________ EUGLUG mailing list [email protected] http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug
