Overview

President Obama believes that modernized infrastructure, which includes everything from a national broadband plan to new healthcare information technology, is a necessary part of the foundation for long term economic stability and prosperity.

Click here for more information on President Barack Obama’s Guiding Principles On Technology.

The FCC is working in coordination with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to perform the FCC’s role under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, specifically in conjunction with the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program established by the Act to create a National Broadband Plan to ensure all Americans have access to broadband.

Click here for the Federal Communications Commission’s national broadband plan website.

Congress recognized the importance of broadband in Section 706 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act.

The Commission’s goals are as follows: Broaden the deployment of broadband technologies; Define broadband to include any platform capable of transmitting high-bandwidth intensive services; Ensure harmonized regulatory treatment of competing broadband services; Encourage and facilitate an environment that stimulates investment and innovation in broadband technologies and services.

Click here for the FCC’s broadband opportunities for rural America.

Click here for other FCC broadband sites.

Regulation

On Thursday, October 22nd, the FCC voted unanimously to begin crafting rules on "net neutrality," and is seeking comments on the proposed rule changes, which are expected to come in January. Members of Congress who oppose the regulatory changes have begun working on their own bill seeking to limit the FCC's authority. The day after its announcement, the FCC also unveiled an updated website, allowing for more user feedback and suggestions on its home page.

FCC rules are located in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) is responsible for the maintenance of FCC rules located in Parts 2, 4, 5, 15, and 18 of the Title.

Click here for more information about FCC Rules.

Many States are taking action to provide high-speed Internet access to underserved areas.

Click here for state broadband statutes.

National Conference of State Legislatures has a list of state laws, links to state broadband commissions and task forces, and other information.

Click here for state broadband task forces, commissions, or authorities.

Legislation

Broadband Conduit Deployment Act. Legislation and info.

Thomas: Click here to search federal legislation.

NCSL: Click here for National Conference of State Legislatures state legislative reports.

Tech America: State Government Affairs-Bill Tracking can be viewed here.  

American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Of 2009

The Recovery Act appropriated $7.2 billion and directed the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the U.S.

This will ultimately increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits.

Click here for the portal to apply for broadband funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Click here for the U.S. government’s official website providing easy access to data related to Recovery Act spending and allows for the reporting of potential fraud, waste, and abuse.

Click here for the National Governors Association analysis of the ARRA, a report on state implementation and several NGA Center for Best Practices reports that analyze specific components of ARRA.

• NGA paper describing the opportunities available to states in the broadband deployment programs area can be viewed here.

Click here to find out what’s new at BroadbandUSA.gov.

Department Of Commerce - Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)

Funded at $4.7 billion, BTOP provides grants to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas, to enhance broadband capacity at public computer centers, and to encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service.

Click here for more information about NTIA’s BTOP.

On July 9, 2009, the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture issued a joint Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) containing detailed rules governing grant eligibility, applicable broadband definitions and the types of projects favored for stimulus funds.

Click here to read the joint NOFA. Click here and here for details on how to apply. Click here to view the Broadband Mapping Grants Tool.

Department Of Agriculture - Broadband Investment Program (BIP)

Funded at $2.5 billion for Loans and Grants, Rural Utilities Service Broadband Investment Program (BIP) will support the expansion of broadband in rural areas through financing and grants to projects that provide access to high speed service and facilitate economic development in locations without sufficient access.

Click here for more information about the Rural Utilities Service’s BIP.

Department Of Justice

Under the Recovery Act, OJJDP awarded $48.5 million for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program and $97.5 million for local and national mentoring initiatives.

Click here to read more about funding available through the DOJ’s Internet Crimes Against Children.

Department Of Health & Human Services

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act provisions of the Recovery Act create an opportunity to improve the health of Americans and the performance of the nation’s health system through investment in health information technology (HIT).

Click here for more HHS Health IT information related to the Recovery Act.

• Click here for information about the HITECH Grant Program.
• Click here for more information about the Health Information Technology Extension Program.
• Click here for more information about the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program.
• Click here for more information about the Indian Health Service health information technology project.

More Broadband Funding Opportunities

Fed Biz Opps: Search more than 34,200 federal business opportunities.

Grants.gov is your source to find and apply for federal government grants.