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Recovery Act Funding to Lay Groundwork for Enhanced Internet Services
For Immediate Release: October 26, 2009
Contact: Jess Schafer, 202-482-5670 or press@ntia.doc.gov
WASHINGTON –The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that it has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Arkansas, the District of Columbia, and New York under NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning. The data will be displayed in NTIA’s national broadband map, a tool that will inform policymakers’ efforts and provide consumers with improved information on the broadband Internet services available to them.
“This program will advance efforts to expand broadband access and adoption nationwide, which is vital to job creation and economic recovery,” said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling. “NTIA will continue to provide guidance to applicants where necessary to help them improve their proposed projects, so that all states and territories can soon participate in this initiative.”
NTIA received applications representing all 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia to participate in the program, meaning that all governments that were eligible to apply for grants did so, whether directly or through a designated entity. The first five grants under this program were announced earlier this month and the agency expects to continue announcing awards on a rolling basis throughout the fall.
With today’s announcement, NTIA has awarded Connect Arkansas approximately $1.6 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and almost $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a five-year period for the state of Arkansas, bringing the total grant award to nearly $2.1 million. Connect Arkansas, the designated entity for the state of Arkansas, is a private nonprofit organization based in that state.
NTIA has awarded the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Technology Officer (DC OCTO) approximately $993,000 for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a five-year period for the District of Columbia, bringing the total grant award to nearly $1.5 million. DC OCTO is the designated entity for the District of Columbia.
In addition, NTIA has awarded the New York State Office of Cyber Security & Critical Infrastructure (OCSCI) approximately $2 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a five-year period for New York, bringing the total grant award to approximately $2.5 million. OCSCI is the designated entity for the state of New York.
Awardees will collect and verify the availability, speed, and location of broadband across the state. This activity is to be conducted on a semi-annual basis between 2009 and 2011, with the data to be presented in a clear and accessible format to the public, government, and the research community.
The State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program is a matching grant program that implements the joint purposes of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA). The program will provide grants to assist states or their designees in gathering and verifying state-specific data on the availability, speed, location, and technology type of broadband services. The data they collect and compile will also be used to develop publicly available state-wide broadband maps and to inform the comprehensive, interactive, and searchable national broadband map that NTIA is required by the Recovery Act to create and make publicly available by February 17, 2011.
The national broadband map will publicly display the geographic areas where broadband service is available; the technology used to provide the service; the speeds of the service; and broadband service availability at public schools, libraries, hospitals, colleges, universities, and public buildings. The national map will also be searchable by address and show the broadband providers offering service in the corresponding census block or street segment.
Awardees are required to contribute at least 20 percent non-federal matching funds toward project costs. In addition, while the BDIA mandates that each state may designate only one eligible entity to receive funds under the program, each state’s applicant will be carefully evaluated and must meet the standards described in NTIA’s Notice of Funds Availability for this program in order to receive funding.
U.S. Department of Commerce’s NTIA serves as the executive branch agency principally responsible for advising the President on communications and information policy. For more information about the NTIA, visit www.ntia.doc.gov.
“Broadband is today what the highways were years and years ago. You had to have highways to get anywhere. Broadband connections are digital highways, and they are absolutely necessary for us to participate in the global economy.” James Winningham, Chairman of the Arkansas Broadband Initiative, says in regards to understanding the importance of broadband access to all Arkansans.
Broadband access enhances economic growth and performance. Documenting various measures of economic growth and performance between 1998 and 2003, an Economic Development Administration study concluded that communities which had mass-market broadband, “…experienced more rapid growth in employment, the number of businesses overall, and businesses in IT-intensive sectors, relative to comparable communities without broadband at that time.” The positive impact of broadband was found to be robust even for areas that were economically distressed. In short, the report states that, “Broadband is clearly related to economic well-being and is thus a critical component of our national communications infrastructure.”
In 2006, almost three-quarters of adults were online and 46 percent of households, or 54.6 million, had broadband access throughout the United States (“Broadband Worldwide: 2005-2011”). The use of IT has virtually transformed all sectors of the U.S. economy. E-Commerce retail sales have grown six times faster than total retail sales. Farmers use the internet to sell crops, track market prices and purchase supplies. The government issues E-Z passes to automate toll collection. Parents are even able to communicate virtually with their children’s school teachers. All of these uses translate into significant productivity gains and an increased standard of living.
According to the 2007 State New Economy Index, which ranks states based on their ability to compete in the new economy, Arkansas is significantly behind the rest of the country, ranking 47th in the nation (Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation). More specifically, the state has yet to catch up to the rest of the nation in regards to its competitiveness in today’s digital economy.
As the share of business and government transactions conducted through digital means continues to increase, it will become more crucial that Arkansas takes steps to retain and strengthen its digital infrastructure. The digital transformation has already revolutionized communities throughout the country and it can do the same for Arkansas. Although rural areas have been slow to join the global economy, the willingness of Arkansans to address these issues and embrace broadband deployment can help build the next generation communications infrastructure that will translate into job growth for Arkansans.
This week, Connect Arkansas learned that the NTIA announced the first four states receiving American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (a.k.a. stimulus funds). As released by the NTIA:
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that it has awarded the first four grants under NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program to fund activities in California, Indiana, North Carolina, and Vermont. The program will increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning. The data will be displayed in NTIA’s national broadband map, a tool that will inform policymakers’ efforts and provide consumers with improved information on the broadband Internet services available to them.
“Broadband will bring many benefits to the Nation, such as job creation and innovation, but these benefits have been delayed by the lack of comprehensive, reliable data on the availability of broadband service,” said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling. “This program addresses an important need and will provide a valuable tool in bringing broadband and jobs to more Americans.”
NTIA received applications representing all 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia to participate in the program, meaning that all governments that were eligible to apply for grants did so, whether directly or through a designated entity. The agency is currently reviewing the remaining 52 applications and expects to continue announcing awards on a rolling basis throughout the fall.
A summary of the four awards announced today is as follows:
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is awarded approximately $1.8 million; the Indiana Office of Technology (IOT) is awarded approximately $1.3 million; the Rural Economic Development Center, Inc. (e-NC Authority) is awarded approximately $1.6 million; and the Vermont Center for Geographic Information (VCGI) is awarded approximately $1.2 million to collect and verify the availability, speed, and location of broadband across the states of California, Indiana, North Carolina, and Vermont, respectively. This activity is to be conducted on a semi-annual basis between 2009 and 2011, with initial data coming available in November 2009 to inform broadband policy efforts. Awardees are to present the data in a clear and accessible format to the public, government, and the research community.
Connect Arkansas is the state’s designated non-profit organization appointed by the Governor to engage in and develop the state broadband coverage maps for Arkansas. Connect submitted a proposal for the NTIA “State Broadband Map and Data Development Program” on August 14, 2009 and is currently awaiting information from the NTIA about the status of the state’s proposal.
Connect Arkansas, a private, non-profit, is implementing a community-based initiative that will link all Arkansans, especially in rural areas, to the internet. The Connect Arkansas Broadband Act was signed into law by Governor Beebe on March 28, 2007, to ensure the creation of a competitive broadband, or high speed internet, infrastructure that will not only improve personal lives, but also the economic capabilities and of all Arkansans.
In economic development, education, and healthcare, broadband is a key strategic component.
Broadband in Arkansas. According to the 2008 State New Economy Index, which ranks states based on their ability to compete in the new economy, Arkansas ranks 47th in the nation. Arkansas also ranks 49th in deployment of broadband telecommunications.
In a recent survey of 608 registered Arkansas voters, 29% of the population have “never used the internet,” while another 7% were unsure of what broadband, or high speed internet access, meant. Even if broadband was affordable and was made available to every household in Arkansas, 30% of the population would not subscribe to the service. With regards to internet access, 51% do not have broadband service.
Capitol Recap: Broadband in Arkansas
http://www.talkbusiness.net/playvideo.aspx?document=395
Our Focus. To facilitate statewide broadband access, Connect Arkansas will focus on three major components:
> Determination of existing broadband infrastructure in Arkansas.
An important step in facilitating access is to create an understanding of local needs. By mapping the state’s existing broadband infrastructure, Connect Arkansas will provide a level of detail that is currently not available in Arkansas. These maps will show where access is available, and more importantly, where access is not available. With this information, broadband providers can strategically optimize their network deployment plans and communities can further their Information Technology (IT) planning initiatives.
> Education.
Connect Arkansas will work with community leaders to develop a strategic plan for IT deployment, while working with local communities to provide public internet access and computer training.
> Equipment and Access.
Through the Breaking Boundaries with Broadband Program, Connect Arkansas will work with existing community programs and create programs as needed to promote increased internet use and ownership of computer devices.
Creating Impact. At the Community Level.
The work of Connect Arkansas helps to build stronger communities. Through the creation of a competitive, local telecommunications infrastructure, communities will be able to sustain high-value jobs and provide a greater quality of life.
For the State
According to the CSE Freedom Foundation, full broadband deployment in Arkansas will create 8,200 new jobs and bring in over $2.6 billion annually in additional Gross State Product (GSP).
