US to Invest in 66 Broadband Projects
Last week U.S. President Obama announced investment in 66 new broadband projects, many of which fill in fiber “middle mile” gaps in rural communities.
The awarded projects are believed to “create approximately 5,000 jobs, help spur economic development in some of the nation’s hardest-hit communities, helping create jobs for years to come.
In total, tens of millions of Americans and over 685,000 businesses, 900 healthcare facilities and 2,400 schools in all 50 states stand to benefit from the awards.”
While the vast majority of projects is related to building and improving middle mile and FttH infrastructures, some of the projects aim to expand computer center capacity for public use in libraries, community colleges and other public venues.
The USD 795 million in grants and loans through the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture have been matched by over USD 200 million in outside investment, for a total public-private investment of more than USD 1 billion in bringing broadband service to these communities, most of which currently have little or no access.
The funds will be distributed by The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
Source: DSL reports, Whitehouse.gov
Read the full press release.
Read more:
Recovery Act Investments in Broadband: Leveraging Federal Dollars to Create Jobs and Connect America (pdf).
Related: Broadband stimulus program could get slashed 8% in budget cut (Connected Planet Online).
July 8th, 2010 at 2:09 PM
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