BTOP Broadband Grant Update

" A bipartisan group of 21 lawmakers on the House Small Business Committee wrote the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) and Rural Utilities Service (RUS), asking the agencies to lower barriers so small businesses can participate in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s broadband expansion initiatives. [read the rest at WY Biz Report]

'In a report to Congress, the NTIA said Wednesday that it won’t conclude doling out the first round of broadband stimulus funding until February 2010." [BroadbandCensus]

In other news we already guessed: "The USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced they are streamlining the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s broadband grant and loan programs by awarding the remaining funding in just one more round, instead of two rounds, to increase efficiency and better accommodate applicants." (More like its too hard on the agencies who can't seem to award any money except mapping). [PR-AU]