by Alex Goldman

Big businesses that depend on government money, such the phone company, have large and well paid staff to handle the quirks of government rules, changes, and deadlines -- but small businesses do not.

Grant opportunities are all too often funded late, and the rules fixed close to the deadline for grant submission. This puts small business at a disadvantage. Yes, you have a few weeks to get the grant written, but you also have a small business to run, and unlike Verizon, you don't have $400 per hour lawyers and accountants to do the work for you.

So it makes sense to prepare for the grant writing process before the rules are fixed.

The executive summary of your broadband stimulus application is very important. In Denver, speakers said that some applications were rejected instantly because of poorly written executive summaries.

The RUS has decided that, in round 2, there will be a specific and clearly defined role for satellite internet service providers.

Satellite service grants will be accepted for specific areas (the map showing those areas has not yet been published).

Satellite service is designed for those areas where wireline and wireless won't work, where either would cost over $10,000 per home connected.

More areas will be eligible for stimulus grants, as the RUS addresses a complaint made by several people including the influential Rick Boucher (D-VA).

The definition of broadband is 768 / 200 Kbps but there is also a definition of high speed, which is 5 Mbps symmetrical. Any area without high speed service can be underserved, which opens up a large portion of the country to grants.

NARUC 121st Annual Convention: More Info
11/17/09
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
5th Floor - Ballroom D
National Broadband Stimulus Update

Larry Strickling, Director of NTIA and Jonathan Adelstein, Administrator of the USDA Rural Utility Service provide an update on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act broadband grant and loan programs.

Moderator: Hon Phil Jones – Commissioner: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
Panelists:

There was some big news out of today's Senate Commerce Committee oversight hearing on the BIP/BTOP programs, which just ended. Copies of the prepared testimony by the RUS, NTIA and OMB witnesses are attached but, as usual, the best information came out in the oral testimony.

The big news relates to the schedule for making grants under the first NoFA. In his testimony, NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling announced that application processing is proceeding slower than anticipated.

Below is the letter we sent to the NTIA's Inspector General's office concerning BTOP application procedures. Thanks to all for your contributions and support. Obviously, we'll keep everyone posted on any significant developments.

It looks like there will be only two rounds of the stimulus.

In addition, Congressman Rick Boucher wants more needy areas in the Eastern U.S. to be eligible in round 2.

Commerce and Agriculture Announce Strong Demand for First Round of Funding to Bring Broadband Jobs to More Americans –Nearly 2,200 Diverse Applications Submitted for Share of $4 Billion in Funding to Expand Broadband Access and Adoption

Full story available here: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2009/BTOP_BIP_090827.html

Engineering requirements could slow or exclude major broadband-stimulus projects, a group of potential applicants, consultants and a broadband trade association told the NTIA and the RUS in a letter sent Friday. The signers, led by wireless providers, took issue with a provision in the notice of funds availability that would require applicants seeking more than $1 million in stimulus money to have their system designs and project timetables certified by a professional engineer. The engineer must be registered in the state where the project would take place.