Internet Funding Requests Reported
More than 2,000 applications for broadband assistance received.
Compiled by staff
Published: Aug 31, 2009
There seems to be a lot of interest in supplying broadband and Internet services to rural and underserved areas of our nation. The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service have announced they have received almost 2,200 applications requesting nearly $28 billion in federal funding for proposed broadband projects reaching all 50 U.S. states and territories and the District of Columbia.
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.
In this first round of funding the Recovery Act is providing a total of $7.2 billion. 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 primarily in rural communities.
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