Internet Access News
Total: 3
District to Submit Application for Grant from $4.7 Billion Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)
The recovery package includes $4.7 billion for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), which will provide grants to stimulate the economy through the increased use of broadband. The Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) is leading the development, writing, and submission of a consolidated BTOP grant application for the District government. The BTOP is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
OCTO has held meetings with District agency stakeholder representatives to develop the consolidated grant application. The grant program is intended to award competitive grants to accelerate broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas and to strategic institutions that are likely to create jobs or provide significant public benefits, and to fund improved use of broadband by the Public Safety community.
Starting on March 16, 2009, OCTO participated in six broadband stimulus roundtables sponsored by NTIA. Concurrently, OCTO began meeting with over 30 stakeholder agencies to gather their broadband requirements; those interviews were completed on April 28, 2009. OCTO is currently compiling the data for presentation and discussion with the stakeholders during the week of May 15.
On April 13, 2009, OCTO submitted comments to NTIA on behalf of the District urging that NTIA establish appropriate rules for administration of the grant program.
Though the specifics of the District’s BTOP grant application are still developing, the general types of initiatives that District agencies have proposed for inclusion are as follows:
1. Public Use of Broadband
a.Free Hotspots at Government Locations. Wi-Fi hotspots to offer free and open Internet access at government locations, including libraries, recreation facilities, government buildings, and outdoor locations such as parks and plazas.
b.Citywide Broadband Network. Wireless Internet bandwidth to privately sponsored nodes, from which residents could use inexpensive self-meshing wireless repeater devices to share the bandwidth, growing the network organically.
c.Computer Training. Expand existing computer training programs and develop new ones at libraries, recreation centers, housing developments, senior centers, job training facilities and non-governmental organizations.
d.Computers. Develop low-cost computer ownership programs tied to training programs, through both government agencies and NGOs.
e.Content. For new Internet users, make content readily accessible that demonstrates the value of broadband, including online access to government services, educational resources, etc.
f.Supplemental Fiber Infrastructure. Supplement existing city-owned fiber infrastructure.
2. Public Safety Use of Broadband
a.Secure Use of Wireless Network. Provide public safety users a highly secure method of connecting to wireless networks. This solution will enable public safety users to combine multiple wireless services, including government and commercial, cellular and Wi-Fi, to increase reliability, capacity, and coverage.
b.Links and Mesh for High-capacity, Fixed-location Uses. From locations attached to city-owned fiber infrastructure, use point-to-multipoint wireless links provide high-capacity transport for fixed-location uses, extending and sharing transport via self-meshing hotspots.
c.Public Safety-grade, Dedicated Wireless Cellular Network. Leveraging infrastructure deployed for the District’s existing public safety cellular pilot network, construct a new, scalable network to provide mobile data access for first responders and other government users on a prioritized basis.
NTIA has indicated that it will issue guidelines for applications in mid-May and that it will make awards in three waves. For the applications for the first wave of awards, NTIA has indicated that the due date will likely be in late June.
District Applies for Federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Stimulus Program
On August 20, 2009, the District’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) submitted the District’s application for funds from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), administered by the US Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The District’s recent application is for funds made available in what will be the first of three funding rounds; the District will also be able to apply in the second and third rounds, with applications expected to be due in early and mid-2010, respectively.
In last week’s BTOP application, the District requested $40.6 million to fund the following:
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$28.5 million for broadband infrastructure which includes the physical wired and wireless equipment to allow for new or improved broadband access at 228 existing and new sites, including public libraries, public housing, charter schools, senior centers, health clinics, recreation centers and other community-based facilities.
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$10.5 million for projects that would create and sustain broadband adoption by creating more on-line services for residents (such as better access to job and career training resources), additional broadband wireless access, computer training and reduced cost/free equipment to residents. The request includes a significant augmentation of computers and learning tools for 150 middle and high school classrooms in the DC Public School System.
Under the rules for this first funding round, proposed projects must be directed primarily at “underserved” areas, which are geographical areas with low levels of broadband adoption in the home. OCTO’s analysis showed that the city’s underserved area covers wide portions of Wards 5, 7 and 8. Though the grant request will also bolster broadband availability outside of these wards, Wards 5, 7 and 8 are the focus of the majority of projects to increase computer availability and training. This is where the need is greatest, largely due to a significant income and education gap as compared to the rest of the city. In these wards, 27 percent of the population is below poverty level, median income is $30,142 and the population has the lowest levels of educational attainment in the District.
These projects were included in the application based upon the rules specified by NTIA for this funding round. The District intends that other projects not included, particularly those specific to public safety, will be included in later funding rounds if the rules allow.
NTIA Awards Grants for Broadband Mapping and Planning in the District Recovery Act funding to lay groundwork for enhanced Internet services
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 the District of Columbia. 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 has awarded the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Technology Officer (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. OCTO is the designated entity for the District of Columbia.
The District of Columbia is a densely developed urban area enjoying a thriving market for broadband services. District residents and businesses can choose among multiple fixed line and wireless broadband providers. Yet, even in the nation’s Capital, many Americans are missing opportunities to learn, interact, and transact because they are not online or are using outmoded technology.
The District’s policy goal is to enable all residents and businesses to access and adopt broadband services. Specifically, the District’s goal for Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA) related funds is to establish and sustain a common source of data, allowing all stakeholders (federal, District, private and nonprofit) to effectively improve the accessibility and encourage the adoption of broadband.
More information is available
here.
Agencies 
