News and Updates

State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program Online Workshop

On July 24, 2009, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will host an online workshop on its recently announced grant program to fund collection of state-level broadband data, as well as state-wide broadband mapping and planning. This initiative will provide consumers with better information on the broadband services available to them and inform efforts to increase broadband availability nationwide. The workshop is intended to present information and answer questions about the grant application process for potential applicants.
The State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program is a competitive, merit-based 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 up to approximately $240 million in grants to assist states or their designees to develop state-specific data on the deployment levels and adoption rates of broadband services. These data, including publicly available state-wide broadband maps, will also be used to develop the comprehensive, interactive national broadband map that NTIA is required by the Recovery Act to create and make publicly available by February 17, 2011.

The workshop will be recorded and made available online at  www.broadbandusa.gov. Grant applications for this program will be accepted through the online grants.gov system until August 14, 2009.

Pre-registration for the workshop is required and NTIA recommends registering no later than two hours in advance.  Potential applicants are invited to email questions about the grant program to  broadbandmapping@ntia.doc.gov in advance of the workshop.

Register for the Broadband Mapping Online Workshop, which will be held on July 24 at 1pm.