BTOP at AC

Putting the Stimulus Package to Work for You

btopac1 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:55:52 +0000

When

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 2pm, ET

Description:

There is no charge to attend, however advance registration is required.

Colleges and universities stand to reap the benefits of tens of billions of dollars in federal stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The legislation will impact everything from student aid and research funding to technology investments and projects planning. It represents an unprecedented partnership between higher education and the federal government to help kick-start our economy and get it back on track. But, as they say, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Funding requests must fulfill requirements, provide conditions, and often meet strict timelines.

Join a panel of experts to learn how colleges and universities can access stimulus funds that will help them invest in the technology and infrastructure improvements that will help reshape higher education after the economic crisis.

There is no fee to attend thanks to sponsorship by GovConnection.

Recommended for:

Recommended for presidents, CFOs, business officers, administrators, procurement directors, pruchsing specialists, and others. Anyone may register.

Speakers to be announced soon.

During the web seminar, attendees may submit questions to the speakers via chat mode for discussion during the Q&A period following the presentations. Following the live webcast, registrants can access a rich media recording of the webcast. Space is limited. Please register today, and briefly test your computer to ensure optimum web seminar video and audio.

ALA Know Your Stimulus Webinar

btopac1 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:45:24 +0000

John Windhausen from Telepoly, Chris McLean (former Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service) and Greg Rhode (former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration), now partners in the e-Copernicus consulting company will guide you through an overview of the application process for broadband stimulus money and answer any questions you may have.

When:
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM EDT

Texas issues broadband stimulus RFI

btopac1 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:36:13 +0000

The RFI, viewable here, asks experienced applicants for help in mapping the state’s broadband availability gaps, planning ways to spur demand for online applications and “work[ing] collaboratively with broadband service providers and information technology companies to encourage [broadband] deployment and use.”

Rural Utilities Service’s broadband program faced heavy criticism in 2005

btopac1 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:28:26 +0000

The Rural Utilities Service’s broadband program faced heavy criticism in 2005 when auditors found irregularities (PDF) with a quarter of the funds the program had received in its first four years of operation. In one case, the program loaned $45 million to wire affluent subdivisions in the Houston suburbs—including one that was built around a golf course and another outside one of the richest cities in Texas.

Rural Broadband Stimulus Program Slammed in Gov’t Report

btopac1 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:22:26 +0000

A key stimulus program to bring Internet service to rural America may not be up to the job of spending its $2.5 billion in extra funding effectively, according to a report (PDF) released April 29, 2009 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s inspector general.

Workshops for Recovery Act Loans and Grants Announced

btopac1 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:53:40 +0000

Commerce and USDA officials will host public workshops in July to share information about the funding availabilities and the application process. Forums will be held in Boston, Mass.; Charleston, W.Va.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Memphis, Tenn.; Lonoke, Ark.; Birmingham, Ala.; Billings, Mont.; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Los Angeles, Calif.

Applications will be accepted beginning July 14, 2009, through 5:00 p.m. EDT on August 14, 2009.

Albuquerque, NM
Marriott Albuquerque Pyramid North
5151 San Francisco Road NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
800-262-2043
July 23, 2009

Applications will be accepted beginning July 14, 2009, through 5:00 p.m. EDT on August 14, 2009, for the first round of funding.

BIP and BTOP Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)

btopac1 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:42:20 +0000

The Recovery Act appropriated $7.2 billion and directed 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 U.S., increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits.

The result is the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

BIP will make loans and grants for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas. BTOP will provide grants to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects.

For details on the definitions and requirements of these programs, please refer to the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Fact Sheet.
For details on the “Buy American” waiver for the RUS broadband initiative, please refer to the July 1 Federal Register notice.

RUPRI Comments on Proposed National Broadband Plan

btopac1 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:00:59 +0000

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) invited comments to inform the development of a National Broadband Plan. On June 8, 2009, the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) was party to two submissions to the FCC.

The Future of Rural Texas Broadband

btopac1 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:55:21 +0000

The Telecommunications and Information Policy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin announces an upcoming meeting to bring interested parties together to discuss the future of rural Texas broadband development.

RSVP
Please RSVP with your contact information and the number of your party that will attend to this address: doriepickle@gmail.com

We look forward to a lively and productive discussion!

Meeting Details:
July 8, 2009 (Wednesday)
8:30 am – 12:00pm
512-471-4071
University of Texas
CMA 5.160

Directions
We are at the corner of Guadalupe St and Dean Keeton St (26th St).

Buy American Exemption under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

btopac1 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:02:49 +0000

The National

Telecommunications and Information

Administration (NTIA) hereby provides

notice that on June 19, 2009, the

Secretary of Commerce granted a

limited waiver of section 1605 of the

American Recovery and Reinvestment

Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), Pub. L. No.

111–5, 123 Stat. 115, 303 (2009) with

respect to certain broadband equipment

that will be used in projects funded

under the Broadband Technology

Opportunities Program (BTOP).

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hereby provides notice that on June 19, 2009, the Secretary of Commerce granted a limited waiver of section 1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), Pub. L. No. 111–5, 123 Stat. 115, 303 (2009) with respect to certain broadband equipment that will be used in projects funded under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).