How is the United States government going to allocate more than $7 billion to boost broadband take-up across the country? You tell them.

That’s the message from the first public meeting to discuss the spending, which is part of the much larger stimulus package designed to revive the U.S. economy. The three agencies overseeing the spending approved by Congress are asking for public opinion about how to allocate the cash.

Public meetings will take place in Washington, DC on March 16, 19, 23 and 24 at the Department of Commerce, with meetings on 17 and 18 March taking place elsewhere in the country at currently unconfirmed locations.

The meetings aim to get public views on several aspects of the administration of the funds. These questions include whether to divide the money between the states or give priority to the best projects regardless of location (though the rules say each state must get at least one grant).

Officials also want to know whether they should give priority to projects which deal with more than one of the stated aims (such as bringing broadband to areas that don’t have it, improving access in underserved areas, improving access for schools and hospitals, and job creation).

Another question is whether there should be priority for projects which may also achieve some of the aims stated in the wider stimulus package.

There’s also the issue of financing arrangements. The legislation says that a project should normally only get a maximum of 80 percent of its funding from the stimulus package. The meetings will help decide what the process should be for making exceptions to this rule, and what evidence applicants must give that they have the funds for their share of the financing.

Anyone who wants to express their views and can’t attend the meetings in person can submit their comments by e-mail at BTOP@ntia.doc.gov

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Entry was posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 at 2:06 pm under Politics.

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