Parsing the NOFA | EDUCAUSE

Created by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on July 8, 2009

It has been one week since the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the broadband stimulus funding was released to the public and the analysis, webinars, and client reports are just beginning to emerge en masse. Within hours of the release there were brief “first impressions” that tried to outline the potential winners and losers (general agreement ran to rural wins, urban loses)… then there was dismay at the low speeds set in the definitions and the lack of attention placed on “anchor institutions” (an EDUCAUSE priority)… but today some optimism has returned.

Yesterday was the first in a series of ten workshops that the NTIA and RUS are sponsoring for potential applicants. The workshop took place in D.C. and coincided with the release of the actual detailed application guidelines that can be found at www.broadbandusa.gov. There were two general themes coming out of the workshop:

Only serious applicants need apply. The application is arduous, time consuming, and the requirements for eligibility could be costly (in terms of needing expert counsel if nothing else).
Network operators that provide high-capacity broadband connections to anchor institutions should not be discouraged from applying; they are eligible under the “middle” mile category despite the lack of emphasis in the NOFA.

This is good news for our members who build, own and run networks. But EDUCAUSE members that offer public access to the Internet and are interested in funds for items other than infrastructure, such as equipment, wiring, routers, and training, are also encouraged to apply under the Public Computer Center (Track 2) category.

However, several significant problems remain with the programs and EDUCAUSE plans to work with the Schools, Hospitals and Libraries Coalition to obtain further clarity regarding anchor institution’s eligibility and to request rule changes that would give proposals from our community higher priority. In the meantime, there are ways to get news of Webinars, reports, and other resources that could help in the applications process:

Join the EDUCAUSE telecom-he listserv
Check Internet2’s Stimulus Legislation Community Resource Guide regularly and join their stimulusupdatelistserv.

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		Parsing the NOFA Created by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on July 8, 2009 It has been one week since the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the broadband stimulus funding was released to the public and the analysis, webinars, and client reports are just beginning to emerge en masse. Within hours of the release there were brief “first impressions” that tried to outline the potential winners and losers (general agreement ran to rural wins, urban loses)… then there was dismay at the low speeds set in the definitions and the lack of attention placed on “anchor institutions” (an EDUCAUSE priority)… but today some optimism has returned. Yesterday was the first in a series of ten workshops that the NTIA and RUS are sponsoring for potential applicants. The workshop took place in D.C. and coincided with the release of the actual detailed application guidelines that can be found at www.broadbandusa.gov. There were two general themes coming out of the workshop: Only serious applicants need apply. The application is arduous, time consuming, and the requirements for eligibility could be costly (in terms of needing expert counsel if nothing else). Network operators that provide high-capacity broadband connections to anchor institutions should not be discouraged from applying; they are eligible under the “middle” mile category despite the lack of emphasis in the NOFA. This is good news for our members who build, own and run networks. But EDUCAUSE members that offer public access to the Internet and are interested in funds for items other than infrastructure, such as equipment, wiring, routers, and training, are also encouraged to apply under the Public Computer Center (Track 2) category. However, several significant problems remain with the programs and EDUCAUSE plans to work with the Schools, Hospitals and Libraries Coalition to obtain further clarity regarding anchor institution’s eligibility and to request rule changes that would give proposals from our community higher priority. In the meantime, there are ways to get news of Webinars, reports, and other resources that could help in the applications process: Join the EDUCAUSE telecom-he listserv Check Internet2’s Stimulus Legislation Community Resource Guide regularly and join their stimulusupdatelistserv. Washington Update \| anchor institutions \| broadband stimulus funding \| middle mile funding \| NOFA \| NTIA workshops Wendy's blog Login or register to post comments 108 reads
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