Recovery Act: USDA and Commerce Announce Broadband Initiative; Release Round 1 NOFA; Applicants to Specify Jobs Created
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.
NTIA and RUS will be accepting applications for loans, grants and loan/grant combinations to be awarded by each agency under a single application form. This collaborative approach will ensure that the agencies' activities are complementary and integrated, make the best use of taxpayer funds and make it easier for applicants to apply for funding. This is the first of three rounds of funding the Agriculture and Commerce Departments will provide.
Approximately $4 billion of program level funding has been allocated to the NOFA announced on July 1 by RUS and NTIA. The remaining funds will be made available under subsequent NOFAs. The requirements for subsequent NOFAs may differ from the current NOFA "to better achieve the agencies' priorities."
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 between July 14, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) 36 until August 14, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Applications must be submitted through the "Broadband America" website.
News Release
NOFA