Sends Letter Requesting Funding Workshop in Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today announced an open application period for communities to apply for funding to help expand broadband access. Communities can apply for a portion of the $7.2 billion to expand access to broadband services included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“These grants and loans help individuals in communities with limited internet capabilities access the information many of us take for granted,” said Senator Casey. “I encourage communities from all over Pennsylvania to apply for this very important funding.”
Funding is available through the Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service’s Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the Department of Commerce National Telecommunications Information Administration’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The BIP and BTOP are competitive programs that provide funding for broadband projects to communities with little or no internet access.
Application submissions for the first of three rounds of funding will open July 14, 2009 and close August 14, 2009.
Workshops are currently being held across the country to inform perspective applicants about available funding and the application process. Senator Casey sent a letter to James Newby, Acting Administrator of Rural Development for the Department of Agriculture, and Larry Strickling, Assistant Secretary and Administrator for the National Telecommunications, Information Administration requesting that an additional workshop take place in Pennsylvania to better inform potential applicants.
For more information, please visit: http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov.
Full text of the letter is below.
Dear Acting Administrator Newby and Assistant Secretary Strickling:
As you are aware, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides funding to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Commerce to expand broadband access to rural and unserved parts of the country. I was pleased to learn of the commitment to transparency and accountability in the award process and the reporting requirements illuminated in the recently released Notice of Funding Availability.
Despite my overall support of the program, I am concerned that potential Pennsylvania applicants may be placed at a disadvantage in the application process. I understand that the USDA and the Department of Commerce are hosting a series of workshops to inform prospective applicants about available funding and the application process. The three closest workshops are located in Washington, D.C, Boston, M.A., and Charleston, W.V. and are scheduled to take place this week. Arranging for travel accommodations and lodging at such short notice would place a serious strain on the municipal budgets already stretched thin during this difficult time. Many potential applicants will likely determine workshop participation in a different state to be cost-prohibitive, thus foregoing the chance to acquire critical information and insight.
I request that an additional workshop take place in Centre County, Pennsylvania or another Pennsylvania location toward the conclusion of the month. This workshop will provide prospective applicants with a more affordable option in a more realistic time-frame. Centre County is located in the middle of an expansive rural area and is accessible by way of major interstate, making it an excellent workshop location. Pennsylvania would greatly benefit from better access to a workshop.
Proving broader internet access is an important step towards ensuring the Nation remains a competitive player in the global economy. I applaud your commitment to bringing the educational and economic benefits of the internet to communities throughout the country.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senate
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