Broadband Internet coming near you

July 1, 9:34 PMUS Headlines ExaminerCharisse Van Horn

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Broadband Internet will be available across the country, according to Vice President Joe Biden. With an initiative that plans to bring broadband Internet to rural areas across the country as well as create new technological jobs, the news brings accolades from citizens across the nation. Vice President Joe Biden announced the availability of $4 billion in Recovery Act Loans and Grants that will fund the project to be released.

"Today's announcement is a first step toward realizing President Obama's vision of a nationwide 21st-century communications infrastructure – one that encourages economic growth, enhances America's global competitiveness and helps address many of America's most pressing challenges," said Vice President Biden while speaking at Seneca High School in Wattsburg, Pennsylvania.

The 4.7 billion is the first round of 7.2 billion dollars in funding that has been granted through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In attendance with the Vice President was Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski and Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper. The stop at Seneca High School is the first in what is being touted as the “President’s National Rural Tour.”

The $7.2 billion is provided to the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration or the NTIA, working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service or RUS. The name of the program is BIP or Broadband Initiatives Program. Grants, loans, or both grant and loan combinations will be awarded through BIP. The money is to go to areas that are underserved, remote, rural, or currently have no existing broadband capabilities.

On July 1, 2009, both RUS and NTIA announced a joint Notice of Funding Availability to be published in the Federal Register. It is anticipated that there will be three NOFAs until the money is completely distributed.

Workshops are being provided for those interested in seeking funds and learning more about the application process. The workshops will be held in Boston, Charleston, West Virginia, Minneapolis, Memphis, Lonoke, Arkansas, Birmingham, Alabama, Billings, Montana, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Los Angeles California.

Important Links

To register at the site, sign up for workshops, or download an application, please visit Broadband USA.

RUS

Notice of Funds Availability

Broadband Initiatives Program Fact Sheet