Posts Tagged ‘Stimulus’
Commerce Axes $80 Million Broadband Stimulus Award
Posted on October 31, 2011The Department of Commerce has terminated an $80 million Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) award made to the Louisiana Broadband Alliance, a collaboration among six Louisiana state agencies. According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration which administers the BTOP program, the award was originally made for a project to deploy a roughly 900 mile fiber-optic network and expand broadband Internet service in some of the most economically distressed regions of Louisiana. However, the award was terminated for material noncompliance with terms and conditions of the award. The project was significantly behind schedule due to an abandonment of the original project plans, and the organization was unable to sufficiently correct its deficiencies. This is the largest termination or rejection of an award yet under the broadband stimulus program. Funds obligated to the award will be returned to the U.S. Treasury’s general fund.
FCC Offers Guidance on 700 MHz Public Safety Operations
Posted on July 25, 2011The FCC has released an order addressing issues in a Request for Declaratory Ruling filed by the City of Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte was awarded Recovery Act funds to deploy a 700 MHz wireless public safety network, and it was also granted a waiver to pursue early deployment. Charlotte has requested guidance on the scope of permissible operations on the 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum under Section 337 of the Communications Act. Charlotte states that it needs certainty with respect to who is eligible to use the network (e.g., transportation entities) before expending funds to construct a network pursuant to its waiver. Here, the FCC has declined to issue a declaratory ruling on Charlotte’s proposed operations because this is a matter of statutory interpretation that is currently an open issue in an ongoing 700 MHz rulemaking. Nevertheless, the FCC states generally that there is already sufficient flexibility within the statute to encompass many of the uses contemplated by Charlotte. To the extent that any doubt remains as to a particular use, the FCC states that parties can seek a declaratory ruling, and it has delegated authority to the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to consider specific uses as appropriate.
Obama and Congress Sign Continuing Budget Resolution to Fund NTIA Until March 2011
Posted on December 23, 2010President Obama has signed a “continuing budget resolution” that will fund most federal government operations through March 4, 2011 at Fiscal Year 2010 levels. A continuing resolution essentially funds governments agencies and programs at a previous year’s levels, with some minor additions and subtractions. Generally, agencies cannot create new offices or begin new initiatives while operating under a continuing resolution. However, NTIA will receive extra funding in order to provide oversight of broadband stimulus grants. NTIA’s broadband grant program was funded in the last fiscal year through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Because the NTIA program included both grant money and oversight obligations the agency was spending more money than it was budgeted during the Fiscal Year 2010. Without the added funds directed by the continuing resolution, NTIA would have been forced to cease operations. The continuing resolution also extends funding for the FCC’s exemption from the Anti-Deficiency Act through the end of the 2011 calendar year, thus enabling Universal Service funds to be distributed before supporting funds are collected from service providers.
RUS to Issue Short Extension for BIP Public Response Period
Posted on May 18, 2010On Saturday May 15 and Sunday May 16, the BroadbandUSA website, the BIP portal, and the BroadbandUSA Mapping Tool were unavailable due to emergency maintenance. During this time, existing broadband providers were prevented from filing responses to 2nd round BIP applications. Prospective applicants under RUS’s recently issued request for proposals (RFP) for Satellite, Rural Library Broadband, and Technical Assistance grants were unable to download application materials.
RUS has made an announcement on the BroadbandUSA website that it will be issuing a short extension to the 30-day Public Notice Filing period and the application deadline for Satellite, Rural Library Broadband, and Technical Assistance grant programs. Exact details of the extension will be made known in the Federal Register.
NTIA Ends BTOP First Round
Posted on April 30, 2010The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced nine broadband stimulus grants, officially bringing an end to the first round of its Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The nine awards provide more than $114 million to 32 projects in 32 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Altogether in the first round of BTOP, NTIA awarded $1.2 billion in grants to 82 projects aimed at expanding broadband access and adoption in 45 states and territories. NTIA is currently reviewing second round applications with hopes of making its first round two awards this summer. Under the Recovery Act, NTIA was allocated $4.7 billion to make grants in what were originally three funding rounds, but later changed to two. With $1.2 billion obligated to first round projects, NTIA still has over half its funds to award in the second round of BTOP. Notable final first round awards include:
- One Economy Corporation received a $28.5 million grant for sustainable broadband adoption programs in 31 states.
- Digital Bridge Communications receive three separate infrastructure grants totaling roughly $3.3 million to provide wireless broadband in Idaho.
- Pine Telephone Company, Inc. received a $9.5 million infrastructure grant to deliver wireless broadband service to areas of Southeastern Oklahoma, including Tribal lands.
- Critical Hub Networks, Inc. received a $25.8 million infrastructure grant to deliver broadband connections to Internet service providers and to anchor institutions in Puerto Rico.
- Buggs Island Telephone Cooperative received a $19 million infrastructure grant to provide high-speed broadband services to South Central Virginia.
For additional information, please contact Tony Veach.
RUS Opens Response Period for Second Round BIP Applications
Posted on April 23, 2010The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has posted Public Notice Filings (PNF) for the proposed funded service areas of every 2nd Round Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) application. Existing broadband service providers now have 30 days to submit information relating to BIP infrastructure applications that propose to provide service within their territory. Each PNF contains basic information on the applicant and a map of the proposed funded service area. A list of PNFs that are searchable by state can be accessed using the BroadbandUSA Mapping Tool on the www.broadbandusa.gov website.
- RUS will consider the following information submitted by existing broadband service providers:
- Whether the respondent is an existing RUS borrower;
- Whether the respondent advertises speeds of 5 Mbps or higher;
- Number of premises that have access to 5 Mbps or higher service from the respondent;
- The number of existing residential broadband subscribers (5 Mbps or higher); and,
- The number of existing business broadband subscribers (5 Mbps or higher).
The response window opens April 23, 2010 and closes on May 23, 2010, at midnight CDT.
For additional information, please contact Tony Veach.
NTIA Announces $28.6 Million Broadband Stimulus Award
Posted on April 23, 2010The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently announced another first round broadband stimulus award in its broadband technology opportunities program (BTOP). Allegiance Communications received a $28.6 million grant for its Allegiance Fiber to the Home infrastructure project. According to Allegiance, the project hopes to expand broadband access to underserved areas of Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas by building and deploying more than 680 miles of new fiber-optic network in 35 communities. Fiber-to-the-premises technology will be used to offer broadband speeds to an estimated 12,700 households and 230 businesses in the four-state region. Allegiance also plans to directly connect 72 community anchor institutions, including police stations, fire stations, hospitals and educational facilities. The Allegiance project also lists six partner organizations. NTIA’s BTOP is currently in its second round evaluation period. The agency is reviewing a total of 867 applications requesting roughly $11 billion in funding. Of these second round applications, 335 are for infrastructure projects requesting approximately $8.4 billion in grants.
For additional information, please contact Tony Veach.