Stimulus Starts to Go Broadband

Back in October, we reported on the roughly $7.2 billion that was being earmarked for broadband-access projects in poorer and more remote areas of the country, and how $4 billion was going to be awarded soon. Well, it looks like the first round of broadband grants and loans are coming to fruition.

According to this Computerworld article, $182 million in funding (with a $46 million private investment match) will go to 17 states. It's the first of $2 billion to be announced over the next month and a half. This money comes from the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that Congress approved earlier this year.

One of the states set to profit is Georgia, and Governor Sonny Perdue was quoted in the article as saying: "Internet access is as important to our communications infrastructure today as reliable telephone service was a century ago. Creating an advanced network will promote economic development, expand educational opportunities and improve the availability and efficiency of government services."

According to a USDA release, four different types of awards were made:

Middle Mile Awards - $121.6 million to help communities that don't have sufficient broadband accessLast Mile Awards - $51.4 million to connect end users (such as homes, hospitals, etc.) to broadband infrastructure in their communityPublic Computing - $7.3 million to expand the capacity of computer centers for public useSustainable Adoption - $2.4 million to fund projects promoting broadband demand in populations where it's been underutilized

You can find out more here about specifically where the money will be spent.

 

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng