Community and Economic Development

Washington, June 11 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is touting the creation of 5,000 jobs through broadband deployment programs funded under last year’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Broadband Initiatives program.

Washington, May 12 – The Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service last week issued the latest request for proposals for projects to improve access to broadband Internet service in rural communities.

Washington, March 9 – Despite previously rejecting calls from congressional leaders and industry groups to extend the deadline for applications under the popular Recovery Act broadband stimulus programs, officials at the Rural Utilities Service and National Telecommunications and Information Administration have changed their minds and agreed to a short application deadline extension.

Washington, March 1 – Calls from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and other public interest groups looking for a broadband stimulus deadline extension fell on deaf ears at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration which has decided to adhere to it’s March 15^th deadline.

Washington, Feb. 16 – At 8 a.m. this morning, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Rural Utilities Service began accepting applications for the $4.8 billion in Recovery Act funds that remain available for round two of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program and the Broadband Initiatives Program.

Washington, Jan. 27 – One of the most prominent components of last year’s stimulus package is set to undergo a significant overhaul, due in large part to feedback from the applicants and stakeholders who will be competing for funds.

Washington, Jan. 13 – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Rural Utilities Service have announced the launch of BroadbandMatch, a new online tool to facilitate partnerships among prospective applicants to the agencies’ broadband grant and loan programs.

Washington, March 24 – If you are filing an application for a share of the funding available under the Comprehensive Community Infrastructure Project component of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program – you are getting a deadline extension. Applications are still due this Friday, March 26, but you now have until 10:00 p.m. EDT to electronically submit your application.

Washington, Nov. 16, 2009 – In an effort to improve and streamline the Recovery Act’s broadband grant program, a pair of federal agencies is asking for comments on how they can improve the program and they have announced that they will only offer one more round of funding.

Washington, Nov. 13 – Following the influx of applications that requested nearly seven times the amount of available broadband funding provided by the Recovery Act, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and Rural Utilities Service now have their hands full with many logistical challenges.