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2,200 Applied For Broadband Stimulus Funds
Anonymous reviewers now get to work digging through applications...
The nation's larger broadband companies didn't apply for broadband stimulus funds, largely because they don't want government scrutiny into their business practices, don't like the fact they had to use the funds just on under-served rural areas, and frankly, many don't need the cash. That said, there's plenty of smaller operations who do want to do business in rural America; in fact there's 2,200 of them according to the latest statement from the NTIA and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service. According to Uncle Sam, thousands of applicants from different sectors requested proposed $28 billion worth of projects (there's only $7.2 billion to go around):
quote:
Applications came in from a diverse range of parties including state, local, and tribal governments; nonprofits; industry; anchor institutions, such as libraries, universities, community colleges, and hospitals; public safety organizations; and other entities in rural, suburban, and urban areas. "Applicants requested nearly seven times the amount of funding available, which demonstrates the substantial interest in expanding broadband across the Nation," said Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of NTIA. "We will move quickly but carefully to fund the best projects to bring broadband and jobs to more Americans."
Meanwhile, we're privately hearing from a number of reviewers tasked with picking and choosing between the applicants. One tells us they're forced to sign this (pdf) conflict of interest and confidentiality form. From the form:
quote:
I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, I do not have a financial conflict of interest and that my particular circumstances are not likely to raise the appearance of a financial conflict of interest, impropriety, or the appearance of impairment of objectivity with respect to any BTOP application I am asked to review or on which I am asked to comment.
Reviewers are kept anonymous, but a few insiders have agreed to risk life and limb to share with us the internal workings of how the approval process works over the coming weeks. We assume they're kept anonymous in order to keep lobbyists from plying them with shiny baubles, but time will tell just how well that concept works.
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FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5

Premium Member

Small companies build out then nationals buy up later

Many of these small companies that will win Fed grants will not be viable several years from now. That is when the national providers like Comcast, TWC, AT&T, & Verizon can come in and buy them up during bankruptcy and without having to honor any special conditions. So why should the national providers do anything now?

Leechy
@embarqhsd.net

Leechy

Anon

Re: Small companies build out then nationals buy up later

You didn't read the NOFA. The "special conditions" apply for the life of the funded assets. If a small ISP wins a grant for a fiber network, that network has to be open, neutral, etc for the life of the fiber, even if the ISP goes bankrupt and sells the fiber to Comcast or Verizon.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Small companies build out then nationals buy up later

said by Leechy :

You didn't read the NOFA. The "special conditions" apply for the life of the funded assets. If a small ISP wins a grant for a fiber network, that network has to be open, neutral, etc for the life of the fiber, even if the ISP goes bankrupt and sells the fiber to Comcast or Verizon.
»broadbandusa.sc.egov.usd ··· nofa.htm
2. Sale or Lease of Project Assets
The sale or lease of any portion of the award-funded broadband
facilities during their life is prohibited, except as provided herein.
The agencies may approve a sale or lease if it is: a. For adequate
consideration; b. the purchaser or lessee agrees to fulfill the terms
and conditions relating to the project after such sale or lease; and c.
either: i. the sale or lease is set forth in the original application
and is part of the applicant's proposal for funds; or ii. the agencies
waive this provision for any sale or lease occurring after the tenth
year from the date of issuance of the grant, loan or loan/grant award.
Generally you are correct, but I'll bet the awarding agencies will make exceptions if the alternative is shut down of the assets. And bankruptcy courts have wide powers to override the conditions of any existing contracts.

mrkevin
Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.
Premium Member
join:2007-08-07
Aurora, ME

mrkevin to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
Not all these grants are for broadband infastructure.
To provide access to broadband service to consumers residing in unserved areas of the country;

To provide improved access to broadband service to consumers residing in underserved areas of the country;

To provide broadband access, education, awareness, training, equipment, and support to community anchor institutions (e.g., schools, libraries, medical facilities), or organizations and agencies serving vulnerable populations (e.g., low-income, unemployed, aged), or job-creating strategic facilities located in state- or federally designated economic development areas;

To improve access to, and use of, broadband service by public safety agencies; and

To stimulate the demand for broadband, economic growth, and job creation.
I wonder how many of these grants are for computers and training on how to use Internet Explorer.
banner
Premium Member
join:2003-11-07
Long Beach, CA

banner

Premium Member

Hopefully there is an objective criteria for evaluation

There should be some scoring system for comparing the cost & benefits of each proposed project.

It should weigh and compares factors like:
How many people served
# of businesses that would benefit
Cost
Can it fit with other existing projects
Can future projects build off the current project

Those are the first that came to mind.

NOYB
St. John 3.16
Premium Member
join:2005-12-15
Forest Grove, OR

1 edit

NOYB

Premium Member

WiMAX

Someone (Clearwire for example) should apply for broadband stimulus and add WiMAX service at:

Zip Code: 97463

There is a cell tower at (Datum NAD27):
N43.734
W122.442

SHABAZZ
join:2008-07-13
Seattle, WA

SHABAZZ

Member

Re: WiMAX

Are you could build your own.

NOYB
St. John 3.16
Premium Member
join:2005-12-15
Forest Grove, OR

NOYB

Premium Member

Re: WiMAX


What would I need to do?
What equipment would be needed and where to get?
How to get tower space, and internet access service?
What FCC Regulations, approvals, etc. need to be met?

I would be willing, if the entry barriers and cost is not to steep.

rawgerz
The hell was that?
Premium Member
join:2004-10-03
Grove City, PA

1 edit

rawgerz

Premium Member

Re: WiMAX

Standard rates for cell towers are $1-2 per foot a month. Private towers are whatever the owner asks. $ to hire professional tower climber. Internet can be backhauled to tower from another location if phone is not at tower site. Single T1 is $550 a month, at best, T3's and you are looking at around 5K a month. Equipment should be less than 5K, at least tower equipment, not counting CPEs. That tower looks to be most likely owned by fish and game.

Killa200
Premium Member
join:2005-12-02
TN

Killa200

Premium Member

Re: WiMAX

Your looking at more than 5k for a viable, self paying wimax tower setup.

Other numbers are about right though, though i'd be skipping anything lower than a few (read three or more) bonded t1's for a wimax setup, unlike the single t1 that can start you up on a proprietary or 802.xx setup.