Merit Stimulus Blog
Introducing Merit Stimulus Blog
By Gregory Monroe - May 26, 2009 12:56 pm
Greetings,
Welcome to a new fixture of Merit Network's continuing coverage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), more commonly referenced as the Stimulus Package.
This post is the first of many weekly updates intended to keep you informed on the latest developments in funding opportunities for cyber-infrastructure, research and education.
Since the ARRA was signed into law in February, a great deal of speculation has surrounded the $7.2 billion in grant funds designated to enhance the country's broadband infrastructure.
This week, we'll try and sort through everything that has happened thus far and give you a brief overview of the highlights. Hopefully, we'll also draw attention to some key items to watch for in the coming weeks—and maybe even posit some speculation of our own!
To begin, let's back-track to February and early March: the ARRA charges the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the task of developing a National Broadband Plan, and taps two Federal organizations, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service (USDA’s RUS), to distribute the $7.2 billion in stimulus broadband funds.
The NTIA was allotted roughly $4.7 billion and created the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) to disperse it. Most (if not all) of the funding will be made available in the form of competitive grants to the public.
The USDA's RUS is set to distribute $2.5 billion of ARRA funds. These funds are designated for proposals that will provide service to rural areas of the country.
The BTOP and the RUS grants will serve areas and communities that are currently "unserved" or "underserved" with regard to broadband service. Though at this point, each organization has balked at clarifying these definitions further.
The Obama Administration has touted the ARRA's promise to provide unprecedented levels of transparency for all Federal funds awarded. In an effort to uphold this commitment, the Administration created the website, Recovery.gov, so the public can track their tax dollars at work as projects hit the ground running.
Recovery.gov now features "Agency Recovery Plans" for nearly all ARRA funded programs. Both the NTIA's BTOP and the USDA’s RUS have Recovery Plans posted.
The BTOP Recovery Plan confirms the expected release of the program's "Notice of Funds Availability" (or NOFA) and final guidelines by June 30, 2009. Applicants should anticipate a rather short window this summer to apply for the first round of grants. Proposal processing and review is expected to run September to December '09, with grant awardees from the first (of three expected) solicitation(s) announced in December. There is a rumor circulating that the second solicitation phase may be dropped completely, or that the second and third solicitations may be consolidated in some way.
The latest update to the RUS Recovery Plan portal states that Rural Development will finalize a contract for assistance with the administration and implementation of funds by June 12, 2009. A NOFA for the first round of RUS funding is expected to be released also in June, with awards made by the end of September '09 or the end of the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2010.
Also listed in the Recovery Plan, the RUS plans to award funding in three forms: competitive grants, direct loans, and guaranteed or secured loans. Currently eligible applicants include: Private sector companies, other private institutions, small businesses of less than 500 employees and non-profit or public organizations (such as institutions of higher learning, health care facilities etc.).
Note: The USDA's RUS states that preference shall be given to previous recipients of RUS broadband grants. This should not dissuade any potential entity from applying. The RUS is expected to receive significantly fewer proposals than the BTOP, even when considering the difference in funding. So there should still be a healthy chance that your proposal will be accepted.
In each Agency Recovery Plan there is a section entitled, Measures, listing "performance metrics for Recovery targets" that translate to key items to consider when preparing potential proposals.
The RUS Measures seek proposals that give specific consideration to new or retained businesses as a result of an award; jobs created or saved; the number of homes and business receiving first-time access; and the number of homes and businesses receiving improved broadband access and educational, health care and public safety providers receiving access.
The BTOP Measures seek proposals with emphasis on job creation; expanded broadband access; the number of homes and businesses passed, not connected as a result of a potential project; private sector investment/economic stimulation; and connectivity to public strategic institutions.
In other BTOP news, Larry Strickling, Obama's nominee to head the NTIA, is still awaiting confirmation on the Senate floor. The Senate Communications Committee confirmed Strickling earlier last week on May 21st. His nomination was expected to be ratified before the Senate adjourned for holiday recess; however, his name was not on the list of nominees—which included Aneesh Chopra, the nation’s new Chief Technology Officer—confirmed Friday. The Senate will reconvene on June 1st.
Strickling is a Chicago attorney with extensive public and private sector experience as a technology policy expert. Without anyone in Strickling’s executive role, the NTIA has been greatly handicapped in their efforts thus far. He is expected to immediately begin the decision-making process necessary to start the next phase of the application cycle.
Also of recent interest, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released solicitations for its Academic Research Infrastructure Program (ARI) and Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI). There is now also an unexpected EPSCor Program for Cyber Connectivity. No entity within Michigan is eligible to receive EPSCor funding, for further information see the NSF website.
The Merit Stimulus Legislation Guide contains the latest updates on the ARI and MRI programs. In addition, the website is host to a wealth of helpful material and links to other ARRA programs related to cyber-infrastructure, research and education. Be sure to check back periodically throughout the week for the latest information as it becomes available.
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