BTOP Schedule Released

"May 21, 2009 - The White House quietly announced the schedule for the broadband grants issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under the economic stimulus package signed into law in February." [BroadbandCensus.com]

"The filing confirmed the NTIA's commitment to release the "Notice of Funds Availability," together with final rules for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grants, by June 30, 2009. The list of dates and grant criteria was posted to the Recovery.gov website."

There are a series of quantifiable "measures" by which the effectiveness of the program could be measures. Those measures include:

• Job creation
• Number of areas where service will be available or improved, including the homes or businesses passed
• How projects stimulate private investment
• Whether projects provide service to "strategic institutions"
• Encouraging broadband demand

From the Recovery.org Web site

Schedule and Milestones

• Procurement for Grants Program Assistance Services - March - June 2009
• Award Contract for Grants Program Support - June 2009
• Preparation for Initial Solicitation for Proposals - April - June 2009
• Publish Notice of Funds Availability - June 2009*
• Initial Proposal Processing and Review - Sept - Dec. 2009
• Initial Grant Awards Made - December 2009
• Second Solicitation for Proposals - Oct - Dec 2009
• Third Solicitation for Proposals - April - June 2010
• All Awards to Be Made - September 2010

Milestone and Completion Date

• Award Contract for Grants Program Support - 06/30/2009
• Initial Grant Awards Ma-de 12/31/2009
• All Awards to Be Made - 09/30/2010

What does the application process look like? Good Question. The best I can come up with are for you to look here:

1. A comparison of the app processes, from ala.org.
2. "EDUCAUSE has released an update on the broadband funding process currently underway at the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture. The May 15 memo provides a rough outline for the application process expected at the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS). It also summarizes EDUCAUSE and other parties' submitted public comments on the government's broadband programs."
3. Occam Networks blog.