Quarterly reports from the government agencies responsible for awarding broadband stimulus funding, issued last week, recap previously reported information about broadband stimulus but also contain some new details.
According to the Rural Utilities Service, as of October 12, 2009, the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) had moved 18 applications to the second step of the agency’s two-step process and “expects to move additional qualified applications on a rolling basis in the coming weeks.” The agency also said it expects to issue awards in December, although a summary page still shows a November 2009 date for “initial funding awards.”
“Those applications with the highest scores based on our objective scoring criteria will be invited to participate in step two of the application process by submitting additional documentation, which must further support representations made in step one of the application process,” the report authors wrote.
Applicants will have 30 days to provide the additional information, the authors said, also cautioning that “advancement to step two does not guarantee a proposal will be funded.”
In its quarterly Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) report, dated Nov. 16 and available on its site, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration said it also hopes to begin awarding funds, which be in the form of grants only, in December. The agency also indicated a February 2010 date for completion of the first round of awards. Those dates are dependent, at least in part, on the RUS, as applicants from areas that are at least 75% rural are required to apply initially to the RUS, but may be considered by the NTIA if the RUS turns them down.
Like this post? Sign up for our RSS Feed, and/or Twitter
Categories: Broadband, Broadband Stimulus
