29
Apr/090

Google’s Small Business Network: Broadband Voices

Google starts a small business network to aggregate the power of small business opinions related to federal funding of the $7B for broadband.

Google’s Small Business Network was created to give small business owners the information and tools to promote business-friendly policies in Washington, D.C. and state capitols. The Internet provides an unparalleled opportunity for small businesses to start up, grow, and reach a worldwide customer base. But realizing its potential requires your participation.

via Small Business Network.

Filed under: Economic Stimulus 2009
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23
Apr/090

The Press Association: Rural broadband services under fire

Rural broadband is a job creator – this short article outlines well some of the reasons why broadband is an essential service like telephone and power.

  • “Government has a responsibility to consider the needs of all the citizens of the country. Rural businesses are losing out because of poor internet connections.”

The Press Association: Rural broadband services under fire.

Filed under: Economic Stimulus 2009
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8
Apr/090

Navajo Broadband: BTOP Comment: NNTRC

Deswood Tome from Navajo Telecommunications and Regulatory (NNTRC.org) posted these comments for BTOP. It is intersting to read the comments about how the Navajo Nation should be funded as a single entity and how they should receive priority over single state funding and private business applications.

Excerpt about Navajo Broadband and BTOP funding

  1. an entire reservation should be considered a single “area” for purposes of determining whether that area [qualifies]
  2. Tribal Entities Should Have Priority over Private Service Providers for Funding Projects in Indian Country
  3. The Navajo Nation urges that Indian tribes be considered on the same footing as states in consideration of broadband funding.

BTOP Comment | Web Form Comment.

Filed under: Economic Stimulus 2009, USDA Broadband Program
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7
Apr/090

Cisco offering help with Stimulus applications: WSJ

Recently Cisco has offered assistance to select entities to assist with successful applications for federal stimulus dollars. Given the work between the Navajo Nation and Cisco on VOIP are they going to step up and help with the Navajo applications ?

Tech Giants Help Clients Tap Stimulus Funds – WSJ.com.

Filed under: Economic Stimulus 2009
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30
Mar/090

$240Million+ for Native American Housing Block Grant Stimulus Program (Competitive) – HUD

The other HUD program with more than $240 million in funds to be obligated by Sept 2009 includes funds for housing utilities and infrastructure that could also be put to good use. Given the existing office on the Navajo Nation that works with these funds they could be streamlined to set aside  a portion for utilities including broadband access for existing and new housing.

The Native American Housing Block Grant program, authorized by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (“NAHASDA”) assists tribes in developing, operating, maintaining, and supporting affordable housing for rental and homeownership housing. Funds can be used for acquisition, new construction, rehabilitation of affordable housing, site improvement, development and rehabilitation of utilities and infrastructure, utility services, conversion, demolition, financing, administration and planning, improvement to achieve greater energy efficiency, mold remediation, investments that leverage private sector funding or financing for renovations, and energy conservation retrofit investments.

via Native American Housing Block Grant Stimulus Program (Competitive) – HUD .

Filed under: Economic Stimulus 2009, Status Updates
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30
Mar/090

Indian Community Development Block Grant Stimulus (Competitive) – HUD

$10 Million in funding available for housing that includes infrastructure and therefore last mile broadband equipment for housing developments on the Navajo Nation.

The Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) is funded through a set-aside of the Community Development Block Grant formula in title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5306). Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages may use block grants to improve housing stock, provide community facilities, make infrastructure improvements, and expand job opportunities by supporting the economic development of their communities. Activities which are eligible for funding include housing construction, rehabilitation, acquisition of land for housing, direct assistance to facilitate homeownership among low- and moderate-income persons, construction of tribal and other facilities for single or multi-use, streets and other public facilities, and economic development projects.


Indian Community Development Block Grant Stimulus (Competitive) – HUD .

Filed under: Economic Stimulus 2009
No Comments
23
Mar/090

Arizona GIS Broadband Survey

This Study identifies collaborative opportunities, architectural frameworks, and costs to sustain a blended GIS Broadband Assessment Project. Its primary purpose was to document the GIS data sources from the public sector (i.e., State, County, etc), Broadband Provider (commercial or contributed) to augment physical surveying (field, statistical, and via crowd sourcing) necessary to map the State’s broadband infrastructure capacity and availability. Finally it identifies the various pros and cons related to a scaled implementation of a Survey. Extensively documented is a State by State view of their respective Broadband assessment initiatives. From these can be derived cost estimates, best practices, strategic policy guidelines and quality of information metrics, helpful in informing Arizona’s future Survey efforts.

AZ GITA Broadband Assessment GIS Study – Jan 2009 (pdf)

via AZ GITA Telecommunications

Filed under: Economic Stimulus 2009, Status Updates
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20
Mar/090

Impact of Navajo Nation Telecommunications Regulatory Commission

It will be interesting to see how the NNTRC is able to collaborate with vendors on USDA Rural broadband programs and BTOP to extend broadband access.

The core strength of the NNTRC could be to leverage existing Navajo Nation assets for mounting equipment. A working relationship for vendors with the NNTRC and NTUA (Navajo Tribal Utility Authority) could provide access to significant microwave backhaul throughout the Navajo Nation.

NNTRC is also the group that organizes Right of Way (ROW) and equipment Collocation. Yearly NNTRC collocation fees are $2951.03 in areas with population count less than 100,000 and $4,721.66 in areas with up to 299,000.

Their collocation services focus on: Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR), Improved Mobile Telephone Service (IMTS), Air-to-Ground, Offshore Radio, Telephone Service, Cell Site Extenders, and Local Multipoint Distribution Services.

via Navajo Nation Telecommunications Regulatory Commission

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19
Mar/090

2009 Broadband Technology Opportunities Program

The U.S. Congress has appropriated $4.7 billion to establish a Broadband Technology Opportunities Program for awards to eligible entities to develop and expand broadband services to rural and underserved areas and improve access to broadband by public safety agencies. Of these funds, $250 million will be available for innovative programs that encourage sustainable adoption of broadband services; at least $200 million will be available to upgrade technology and capacity at public computing centers, including community colleges and public libraries; $10 million will be a transfer to the Office of Inspector General for the purposes of BTOP audits and oversight. Up to $350 million of the BTOP funding is designated for the development and maintenance of statewide broadband inventory maps.

via NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

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