NTIA Releases Second Round Notices for Broadband (BTOP) Grants

On Friday, January 15, 2010, the United States Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released the Notification of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the second and final round of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).  BTOP is available through the federal stimulus package, the American Recovery and Renewal Act (ARRA), which passed in February 2009.

BTOP includes $2.6 billion in funding dedicated to supporting efforts to bridge the digital divide across the United States.  Approximately $2.35 billion will be made allocated for infrastructure projects, approximately $150 million will be allocated to Public Computer Center projects, and at least at least $100 million for Sustainable Broadband Adoption projects.  According to the NTIA Press Release, “NTIA is adopting a “comprehensive communities” approach as its top priority in awarding infrastructure grants, focusing on middle mile broadband projects that connect key community anchor institutions – such as libraries, hospitals, community colleges, universities, and public safety institutions.”

From the NTIA website:

Press Release: NTIA and USDA’s RUS Announce Availability of $4.8 Billion in Recovery Act Funding to Bring Broadband to More Americans. (PDF Print Version 108Kb)

• Fact Sheet: (Acrobat PDF 122Kb)
• Federal Register Notice: Notice of Funds Availability and solicitation of applications for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. (Acrobat PDF 529 Kb)

More information can be found at www.broadbandusa.gov.  Applications and other materials will be available on BroadbandUSA Portal.

Please contact Kunal Malhotra [kmalhotra@council.nyc.gov] at (212) 788-6975 with any questions.

###

Open the Internet – Public Hearing on Net Neutrality

Committee Aims to Review Current Net Neutrality Rules

CITY HALL, NEW YORK – On Friday, November 20, 2009 at 10 a.m. in the Committee Room of City Hall, the New York City Council Committee on Technology in Government will hold a public hearing regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) six principles of Net Neutrality.  This hearing seeks to gain insight into these principles, which the FCC seeks to codify. The November 20 hearing will assess whether the Net Neutrality principles as articulated would effectively obtain the goal of maintaining a free and open Internet.  Also, the hearing serves as an opportunity to examine pending Resolution 712A-2007, which asks the FCC and Congress to set firm Net Neutrality regulations.  You can view the resolution at http://bit.ly/netneutralityreso.

The FCC announced the six principles – made up of four previous rules from 2005 and two new ones articulating regulation around network transparency and nondiscrimination – in late October 2009. The

FCC made a request for public comment on this matter and the Committee on Technology in Government will draw from the hearing’s testimonies to draft a letter that includes citywide input.

We encourage you to distribute this message widely. Furthermore, please suggest witnesses or individuals to whom we should reach out.

You can follow us on www.twitter.com/nycctechcomm and use the hashtag #reso712A.

If you want to attend and/or testify at this hearing, please contact Kunal Malhotra, Legislative and Budget Director, at kmalhotra@council.nyc.gov or Samuel Wong, Legislative Aide on Technology, at samwong.nycc@gmail.com.  Both are reachable at our City Hall Office at (212) 788-6975.