ARRA Broadband Programs

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) appropriated more than $7.2 billion to the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the United States, increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits including the following programs:

• Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
• Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)
• State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program

RUS and NTIA recently announced Round Two funding availability for the Broadband Initiatives Program and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

Please note:

RUS recently extended its application submission deadline for BIP applications to March 29, 2010 at 5 p.m.

NTIA recently extended its application submission deadline for BTOP Community Infrastructure Projects to March 26, 2010 at 5 p.m.

Applications for BTOP Public Computer Projects and BTOP Sustainable Broadband Adoption Projects have not been extended and must be submitted by March 15, 2010 at 5 p.m.

Rhode Island’s Broadband Review Team

The Office of Economic Recovery and Reinvestment created a Broadband Review Team to develop goals, guidelines, and determine the best use of ARRA broadband competitive grant funding.

The mission of the Team is to increase awareness of broadband funding opportunities, explore opportunities for collaborative efforts amongst potential applicants for broadband funding, and to obtain public comment on broadband priorities for Rhode Island.

The Governor will be provided an opportunity to make recommendations concerning the allocation of funds for qualifying projects in or affecting Rhode Island during the BTOP application process. The Broadband Review Team has been tasked to review applications that the NTIA has deemed qualified and recommend to the Governor those projects that should be prioritized for funding by NTIA.

Broadband Review Team Members include:

• John E. Landers: Co-chair Chief Information Officer, State of RI
• Michael Pickett: Co-chair CIO, Computer and Information Services, Brown University
• Thomas Ahern: Administrator, Division of Public Utilities and Carriers
• Carole Cotter: Chief Information Officer, Information Services, Lifespan
• Stuart Freiman: Business Development Manager, Digital Media, RI Economic Development Council
• Chris Long: Policy Advisor, Policy and Legislative Affairs, Governor's Office
• Tony Lupinacci: Enterprise Network Service Manager, Division of Information Technology, State of RI
• David Porter: Director, Media and Technology Services, University of RI
• Richard Prull: Assistant Vice President for Information Services, Rhode Island College
• Stephen Vieira: Chief Information Officer/Executive Director of Information Technology, Community College of RI

What steps has Rhode Island taken related to broadband planning?

Date	Steps Taken
05/28/2010	Broadband Mapping Team reached its first major milestone by submitting their initial broadband data set to the national telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
05/29/2009	Broadband Review Team meeting: Developed Team Charter.
06/12/2009	Broadband Review Team meeting: Developed proposed criteria and decision making matrix to evaluate NTIA qualified grants.
07/10/2009	Broadband Review Team meeting: Preparation for Public workshop.
07/16/2009	Public workshop: Reviewed ARRA as it relates to the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program July 16, 2009 Public Workshop Presentation July 16, 2009 Public Workshop Summary Notes
08/21/2009	Broadband Review Team meeting: Review of BTOP Letters of Interest and Broadband Mapping Proposal.
08/27/2009	NTIA press release announcing receipt of 2,200 applications totaling $4 billion to expand broadband access and adoption.
09/10/2009	Broadband Review Team meeting: BTOP and Broadband Mapping Proposal Review.
09/18/2009	Broadband review team co-chair receives letter from Lawrence Strickling, Assistant Secretary for NTIA regarding review of BTOP applications. View all BTOP and BIP applications using NTIA searchable database.
09/29/2009	Broadband Review Team meeting: BTOP and Broadband Mapping Proposal Review.
10/14/2009	Governor Carcieri outlines Rhode Island’s BTOP Grant Recommendation in letter to Larry Strickland, Assistant Secretary for NTIA
11/10/2009	US Departments of Agriculture and Commerce press release on plan to consolidate final two rounds of funding for ARRA broadband grant and loan programs. US Departments of Agriculture and Commerce issue Request for Information seeking comment on BTOP and BIP enhancements.
12/23/2009	State of Rhode Island Receives $1.5 million ARRA Award for Broadband Mapping and Data Collection.
02/16/2009	Applicants may begin submitting applications for Round Two BIP and BTOP funding.
04/21/2010	Broadband Review Team met to review BTOP Round 2 Proposal.
05/13/2010	Rosemary Booth Gallogly outlines Rhode Island’s BTOP Grant Recommendation in letter to Larry Strickland, Assistant Secretary for NTIA.

For more information on Broadband Initiatives in Rhode Island, contact:
John Landers
401-222-4444
John.Landers@DoIT.ri.gov

Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)

The Program makes available funds through loans and grants to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas.

Second Round of Funding Notification:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) recently announced Round Two funding under ARRA. Approximately, $2.2 billion is available to states for broadband infrastructure projects in five categories:

1. Last Mile Projects (up to $1.7 Billion): Proposals are being accepted to provide broadband service to end users or end-user devices (including households, businesses, public safety entities, and critical community facilities).
2. Middle Mile Projects (up to $300 million): Proposals are being accepted for broadband infrastructure projects, that provide interoffice transport, backhaul, internet connectivity, or special access (including point-to-point projects), which furthers rural economic development.

Additional projects to be funded after Last and Middle Mile Projects:

3. Satellite Projects (up to $100 million): Funds will be made available for projects that provide satellite broadband service to unserved rural premises (including households, businesses, public safety entities, and critical community facilities), either by funding equipment and/or discounted broadband service for at least one year.
4. Technical Assistance Grants (up to $100 million): These funds may be used for the development of a regional strategy. Under this program, applicants will work in public/private partnerships to provide broadband service in rural areas that remain unserved.
5. Rural Library Broadband Grants (up to $100 million): Applications that propose to bring broadband services to rural libraries. Applicants may submit for a grant to reimburse the associated costs for connecting any rural library in their proposed funded service area.

Changes from the First Round of Funding:

RUS has made a number of changes to its application process. Applicants now file for RUS and NTIA grants separately. To learn more about additional changes, visit: www.broadbandusa.gov

Application Submission and Deadline: The application packages are available at: www.broadbandusa.gov Applications will be accepted for Last Mile and Middle Mile Projects until March 29, 2010 at 5 p.m.

Award Announcements: Award announcements will be made by September 30, 2010.

Guidance and Notice of Funding Availability are posted on www.broadbandusa.gov

Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)

Second Round of Funding Notification:

The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently announced Round Two funding under ARRA. Approximately, $2.6 billion is available to states in three categories:

1. Comprehensive Community Infrastructure (approximately $2.35 billion)
2. Public Computer Center (at least $150 million)
3. Sustainable Broadband Adoption (at least $100 million)

Changes from the first Round of Funding:

RUS has made a number of changes to its application process. Applicants now file for RUS and NTIA grants separately. To learn more about additional changes, visit: www.broadbandusa.gov

Application Submission and Deadline: Application packages for electronic submissions are available at: www.broadbandusa.gov

Applications for Comprehensive Community Infrastructure Projects must be received by March 26, 2010 at 5 p.m.

Applications for Public Computer Center Projects and Sustainable Broadband Adoption Projects must be received by March 15, 2010 at 5 p.m.

For guidance visit:

• www.broadbandusa.gov
• BTOP Notice of Funds Availability for Second Round – Fact Sheet
• Press Release of Round Two BIP and BTOP Funding
• Key Revisions in Second Notice of Fund Availability

State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program

The Program provides funds to develop and maintain a comprehensive, interactive, and searchable nationwide inventory map of existing broadband service capability and availability in the United States. This map will depict the geographic extent to which broadband service capability is deployed and available from a commercial or public provider throughout each state.

RIEDC’s Broadband Rhode Island Initiative Receives Additional $3.02 Million Federal Grant

The State of Rhode Island receives a $1.5 million ARRA Award for Broadband Mapping and Data Collection