Broadband Internet Grants

Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans on August 07, 2009 Source: Policy Dialogue on Entrepreneurship

Two broadband internet grants guides became available this week for small businesses interested in applying for $4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants to bring broadband internet service to underserved and rural communities across the nation.

Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., released the two grant guides, saying that “increasing access to broadband internet service will help to bridge the technological divide between rural businesses and competing companies that have long had access to internet and technology.” In a June 10th letter to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Department of Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, and others, Sen. Landrieu indicated that she plans to invite Federal agencies before her Committee later this year to testify on the impact of Recovery Act broadband funds on small business growth.

The deadline to apply for the first round of Recovery Act funding for broadband infrastructure is August 14, 2009.

Find the guide for   the U.S. Department of Commerce Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) at:
http://sbc.senate.gov/resources/Grant%20Guides/BTOP-Grant-Guide.pdf

The guide for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) is available at:
http://sbc.senate.gov/resources/Grant%20Guides/BIP-Grant-Guide.pdf

Category:  General