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7.2 Billion for Broadband

There are tremendous opportunities for libraries to benefit from the broadband provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). We know there is tremendous excitement – and a fair amount of anxiety – in the library community about how libraries can benefit from the various competitive broadband grant programs.  The immediate challenge is the need for information about these broadband programs.  

We know that the ARRA authorized $7.2 billion for broadband programs – including $4.5 billion designated for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and $2.5 billion for the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).  Unfortunately, the ARRA only goes so far in answering our questions about the programs and the application processes that will be implemented by NTIA in the Department of Commerce and by the RUS programs in the Department of Agriculture.

We know that these agencies are working hard to organize their programs, essentially starting from scratch.  In the case of NTIA, the old “TOPS” program (the Telecommunications Opportunity Program) has not existed in a number of years. Few staff remain at NTIA that administered the original program.  Though former Washington State governor Gary Locke has been nominated to be Secretary of Commerce, he is not yet confirmed.  Nor is there yet a nominee to head NTIA.    

Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is in place as Secretary of Agriculture.  While the RUS has key staff in place to administer its existing programs, it is still a huge challenge to gear up to administer this new funding.  To date, there is no information on guidelines or application processes for the various “pots” of broadband money, including the no less than $200 million set aside for community computing centers, including public libraries and community colleges.

Also, the ARRA broadband programs are inherently different from the state-directed funds going to the governors and other state or local agencies that benefit public and school libraries.

New Broadband Information