Broadband: Ready, Set, Go....

Created by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on July 1, 2009

Enjoy your Holiday weekend after reading the 120 page Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the Broadband Initiatives Program released today, July 1, as promised. If you are one of the many higher education related entities that are planning on submitting a proposal under either of these programs, you can find the complete document at the Broadband USA website along with a helpful fact sheet and a schedule of ten workshops. Online registration is available for the workshops and they are scheduled around the country starting July 7 in Washington, DC and ending July 24 in Los Angeles.

EDUCAUSE will be issuing a full analysis of the Notice as soon as possible.

The release of the NOFA couldn’t have been staged better with several major events leading up to its release. Both the FCC and the NTIA are now poised to move ahead on both the broadband stimulus funding programs and the development of a national broadband strategy. On Thursday, June 25^th, the Senate confirmed Larry Strickling as the head of the NTIA and Julius Genachowski to be the next Chairman of the FCC. Robert McDowell was approved for a second term as an FCC Commissioner and President Obama nominated Meredith Baker, former head of the NTIA, to help round out the Republican commission staff. Mignon Clyburn has been nominated to fill the final Democratic vacancy. With these positions filled, Genachowski has made it known that Broadband will be the Commission’s top priority now that the digital TV transition is winding down.

In addition, on June 19, Commerce Secretary Locke “granted a limited waiver of the Recovery Act’s Buy American requirements with respect to BTOP funds used for the following essential components of a modern broadband infrastructure.” The waiver applies to broadband switching, routing, and other equipment and relieves a major concern for applicants of finding American manufacturers of such equipment.

Complimenting all of this, four significant broadband studies were released recently as well. New America Foundation and the Broadband Forum both released studies depicting Asia as leading in broadband growth and affordability. The Public Policy Institute of California released a study that confirms findings by the most recent Pew Internet & American Life Project that broadband usage is up but still has a long way to go to become ubiquitous in the U.S.

So spread a little NOFA on those burgers and dogs this weekend and enjoy!

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		Broadband: Ready, Set, Go.... Created by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on July 1, 2009 Enjoy your Holiday weekend after reading the 120 page Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the Broadband Initiatives Program released today, July 1, as promised. If you are one of the many higher education related entities that are planning on submitting a proposal under either of these programs, you can find the complete document at the Broadband USA website along with a helpful fact sheet and a schedule of ten workshops. Online registration is available for the workshops and they are scheduled around the country starting July 7 in Washington, DC and ending July 24 in Los Angeles. EDUCAUSE will be issuing a full analysis of the Notice as soon as possible. The release of the NOFA couldn’t have been staged better with several major events leading up to its release. Both the FCC and the NTIA are now poised to move ahead on both the broadband stimulus funding programs and the development of a national broadband strategy. On Thursday, June 25^th, the Senate confirmed Larry Strickling as the head of the NTIA and Julius Genachowski to be the next Chairman of the FCC. Robert McDowell was approved for a second term as an FCC Commissioner and President Obama nominated Meredith Baker, former head of the NTIA, to help round out the Republican commission staff. Mignon Clyburn has been nominated to fill the final Democratic vacancy. With these positions filled, Genachowski has made it known that Broadband will be the Commission’s top priority now that the digital TV transition is winding down. In addition, on June 19, Commerce Secretary Locke “granted a limited waiver of the Recovery Act’s Buy American requirements with respect to BTOP funds used for the following essential components of a modern broadband infrastructure.” The waiver applies to broadband switching, routing, and other equipment and relieves a major concern for applicants of finding American manufacturers of such equipment. Complimenting all of this, four significant broadband studies were released recently as well. New America Foundation and the Broadband Forum both released studies depicting Asia as leading in broadband growth and affordability. The Public Policy Institute of California released a study that confirms findings by the most recent Pew Internet & American Life Project that broadband usage is up but still has a long way to go to become ubiquitous in the U.S. So spread a little NOFA on those burgers and dogs this weekend and enjoy! Washington Update \| broadband stimulus funding \| National Broadband Policy \| NOFA \| Notice of Funding Availability \| NTIA \| RUS Wendy's blog Login or register to post comments 104 reads
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