Abstract:
The ARRA appropriated $7.2 billion and directed the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to expand broadband access to communities across the U.S.,with emphasis on those that are unserved or underserved. The goals of this funding are to preserve and create jobs, to spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and to provide long-term economic benefits. The result is the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). Each will have three funding rounds, the first to begin this summer with funds distributed in the fall. There are significant opportunities for libraries to benefit from these programs, which are differentiated as follows: BIP will make loans and/or grants for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas; and BTOP will provide grants to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers, and sustainable broadband adoption projects.