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Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 7.21.09     By Gregory Monroe - July 21, 2009 11:29 am Greetings! Welcome back to Merit Network's continuing coverage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This post is just one of many weekly updates intended to keep you informed on the latest developments in funding opportunities for cyber-infrastructure, research and education. Once again, as everyone continues to sort through the joint BIP-BTOP NOFA and the recently released BIP-BTOP Application, there are few major updates to convey this week. As I mentioned last week, the BIP-BTOP Application reads like a distilled version of the NOFA—that is to say, certainly no small task to complete. The Application is 38 pages long with 26 more pages of separate attachments, requiring everything from detailed information regarding proposed service areas to in depth documentation of the economic viability of a project and pro forma business plans. Many organizations that had originally intended to submit applications for this round of funding have since pulled themselves out of the running, citing the stringent auditing and accounting reports which accompany any granting of funds for up to five years after the initial award. For some it seems that a successful application would mean that they would have to hire a full-time finance person just to keep up with the workload. The latter, coupled with the very specific documentation, mapping and current broadband offering information for proposed service areas that would appear to require a GIS and census specialist, has led many to the conclusion that small organizations were not accounted for in this NOFA. 5% of one's requested funding amount can include Pre-application expenses such as those listed above. The advice being that one should start tracking those now due to the rigorous accounting and transparency standards. Those attending the BroadbandUSA Workshops have reported visible frustration from NTIA and RUS Officials regarding a disconnect between what they would like NOFA to reflect, and what the NOFA actually does state. That leads me to believe that a 'best effort' on an application will carry an organization far in the process. And hopefully, we will all see the NTIA and RUS improve the NOFA in subsequent rounds. For more information regarding the content of the Broadband USA Workshops, the presentation slides from the meetings are now posted on the Workshop tab of the BroadbandUSA homepage. For some time last week, BroadbandUSA featured a BIP Eligibility map; however, it has since been taken down for maintenance. Those of you following the NOFA are most likely familiar with the provision that requires all applications that serve areas that are 75% rural to submit to BIP for consideration before being passed on to BTOP. The manner in which the NOFA and Application defined rural created some problems. The map served to indicate clearly what areas of the country were considered rural by the RUS. It was rather impressive. Check back periodically for the new updated version if you are having trouble determining whether or not you must submit to the BIP. On side note, a 'Rural Area' is defined: "Any area, as confirmed by the latest decennial census of the Bureau of the Census, which is not located within: (1) a city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants; or (2) an urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants." In other words, any city or town with a population less than 20,000 that is not a bordering suburb of a city with a population of more than 50,000. This caused some confusion due to the fact that census data includes a rural classification. For this NOFA, rural is defined by population, not by census classification. The 75% clause refers to square mileage of the total proposed services area. For those of you stumped by the task of supplying existing broadband subscription rate information for your proposed service areas. Two companies have emerged offering such a services, of course it will cost you. A company called Brian Webster Consulting claims that it can help BIP-BTOP applicants determine whether a census block has broadband for purposes of meeting the unserved/underserved test. I understand it charges $5,000 per county. The second is the Broadband Consulting Group. Of course, these are not endorsements, just want to spread the word. Thanks for reading and have great week! Post a Comment   Blog Archive   Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 11.16.09 By Gregory Monroe - November 16, 2009 9:50 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 11.12.09 By Gregory Monroe - November 12, 2009 12:35 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 11.3.09 By Gregory Monroe - November 03, 2009 12:21 pm Merit Network Blog Members in the News 10.30 By Brian Warkoczeski - October 29, 2009 4:28 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 10.26.09 By Gregory Monroe - October 26, 2009 10:42 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 10.19.09 By Gregory Monroe - October 19, 2009 10:58 am Merit Network Blog Members in the News 10.08 By Brian Warkoczeski - October 08, 2009 1:03 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 10.6.09 By Gregory Monroe - October 06, 2009 1:19 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 9.29.09 By Gregory Monroe - September 29, 2009 12:33 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 9.21.09 By Gregory Monroe - September 21, 2009 12:35 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 9.16.09 By Gregory Monroe - September 16, 2009 12:41 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 9.8.09 By Gregory Monroe - September 08, 2009 11:25 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 8.24.09 By Gregory Monroe - August 24, 2009 10:36 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 8.17.09 By Gregory Monroe - August 17, 2009 12:09 pm Merit Network Blog Members in the News 8.14 By Brian Warkoczeski - August 14, 2009 9:14 am Professional Learning MJTS Call for Presentations By Brian Warkoczeski - August 06, 2009 12:53 pm Merit Stimulus Blog Members in the News 7.24 By Brian Warkoczeski - July 24, 2009 12:47 pm Merit Network Blog Members in the News 7.16 By Brian Warkoczeski - July 16, 2009 11:05 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 7.13.09 By Gregory Monroe - July 13, 2009 11:06 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 7.7.09 By Gregory Monroe - July 07, 2009 11:19 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 7.2.09 By Gregory Monroe - July 02, 2009 11:55 am Merit Network Blog Members in the News 6.30 By Brian Warkoczeski - June 30, 2009 4:20 pm Merit Network Blog NANOG46 Videos Available By Brian Warkoczeski - June 25, 2009 9:31 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 6.23.09 By Gregory Monroe - June 23, 2009 11:54 am Professional Learning Archived Merit Member Conference videos now available By Brian Warkoczeski - June 17, 2009 9:43 am Merit Stimulus Blog Merit Stimulus Blog 6.15.09 By Gregory Monroe - June 15, 2009 11:41 am Professional Learning Merit Member Conference Concludes By Brian Warkoczeski - June 12, 2009 3:57 pm Professional Learning Day Two of Merit Member Conference Begins By Brian Warkoczeski - June 12, 2009 10:32 am Professional Learning Dale Dougherty Brings Ingenuity to Merit Member Conference By Brian Warkoczeski - June 11, 2009 2:47 pm Professional Learning Merit Member Conference Extra! 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