Thats a lot of Stimulus

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Thats a lot of Stimulus

Over 2,200 Applications
Over 25 B Requested (4 B has been Allocated)


WASHINGTON- The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced today that they received almost 2,200
applications requesting nearly $28 billion in funding for proposed broadband
projects reaching all 50 U.S. states and territories and the District of Columbia.
This is the first round of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding
aimed at expanding broadband access and adoption to help bridge the
technological divide and create jobs building Internet infrastructure, with $4
billion available through loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations. 
 
The Recovery Act provided a total of $7.2 billion to NTIA and RUS to expand
access to and adoption of broadband services. Of that funding, NTIA will utilize
$4.7 billion to deploy broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas
in the United States, expand public computer center capacity, and encourage
sustainable adoption of broadband service. RUS will invest $2.5 billion to
facilitate broadband deployment in primarily rural communities. Approximately
$2.4 billion from RUS and up to $1.6 billion from NTIA is available in this first
grant round.
 
Applications came in from a diverse range of parties including  state,  local, and
tribal governments; nonprofits; industry; anchor institutions, such as libraries,
universities, community colleges, and hospitals; public safety organizations; and
other entities in rural, suburban, and urban areas. 
 
"Applicants requested nearly seven times the amount of funding available, which
demonstrates the substantial interest in expanding broadband across the Nation,"
said Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and
Information and Administrator of NTIA. "We will move quickly but carefully to
fund the best projects to bring broadband and jobs to more Americans."  
 
"The overwhelming response we received underscores the extensive interest in
expanding broadband across the country. Rural communities clearly recognize
that broadband can expand their economic opportunities and create jobs," said
Jonathan Adelstein, Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, USDA.  "The Obama
Administration's goal is to target funds to serve areas of greatest need.  The big
demand for loans as well as grants demonstrates that we can leverage private
investment with USDA's $2.5 billion to deliver the greatest bang for the
taxpayers' buck."
 
A preliminary analysis of applicant-reported data shows that NTIA and RUS
received requests for grants and loans totaling nearly $28 billion. When including
about $10.5 billion in matching funds committed by the applicants, there are over
$38 billion in proposed broadband projects. 
 
The applications break down as follows:
 
Infrastructure
 
• More than 260 applications were filed solely with NTIA's Broadband
Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), requesting over $5.4 billion
in grants to fund broadband infrastructure projects in unserved and
underserved areas. 
 
• More than 400 applications were filed solely with RUS's Broadband
Initiatives Program (BIP), requesting nearly $5 billion in grants and loans
for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas.
 
• More than 830 applications were filed with both NTIA's BTOP and
RUS's BIP, requesting nearly $12.8 billion in infrastructure funding.
(Applicants for infrastructure projects in rural areas must apply to BIP but
were given the opportunity to jointly apply to BTOP in case RUS declines
to fund their application.)
 
Sustainable Broadband Adoption 
 
• More than 320 applications were filed with NTIA requesting nearly $2.5
billion in grants from BTOP for projects that promote sustainable demand
for broadband services, including projects to provide broadband education,
awareness, training, access, equipment or support, particularly among
vulnerable population groups where broadband technology has
traditionally been underutilized. (The Recovery Act directs NTIA to make
at least $250 million available for programs that encourage sustainable
adoption of broadband services, of which up to $150 million is allocated
in this first round of grants.)

Public Computer Centers
 
• More than 360 applications were filed with NTIA requesting more than
$1.9 billion in grants from BTOP for public computer center projects,
which will expand access to broadband service and enhance broadband
capacity at public libraries, community colleges, and other institutions that
provide the benefits of broadband to the general public or specific
vulnerable populations. (The Recovery Act directs NTIA to make at least
$200 million available for expanding public computer center capacity, of
which up to $50 million is allocated in this first round of grants.)
 
In the coming weeks, NTIA and RUS will post online a searchable database
containing summaries of all applications received.  The dollar figures cited today
represent applicants' self-reported totals from proposals submitted before the
August 20, 2009, deadline at 5 p.m. ET. These results are preliminary estimates,
however, and may change as the applications are reviewed for errors, omissions,
and duplications.



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