Notice of Funding Availability: Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) Grants

From: HUD USER News
 
HUD would like to make owners and managers of public and
assisted housing aware of a new grant opportunity being
offered through the Department of Commerce's National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
As more and more types of transactions related to
government, employment, health, job training, and
education deliver services online, access to broadband is
becoming increasingly necessary. In response, the
Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) is making
funding available to connect unserved and underserved
populations to this important infrastructure.
 
BTOP's funding is made available through the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to help achieve the
Administration's goal of providing broadband access to
all Americans. Owners and managers of low-income and
affordable housing serve the very populations that BTOP
is attempting to reach, possess existing infrastructure
(including Neighborhood Networks centers), and other
resources that can be leveraged to create a more
competitive grant application, and ultimately, a more
viable and effective project.
 
There are two grant categories within the BTOP that will
be applicable to housing organizations: the Public
Computer Center Grant and the Sustainable Broadband
Adoption Grant. Owners of multifamily housing properties,
Public Housing Authorities, and other housing groups may
wish to submit applications in partnership with
organizations possessing expertise in information
technology delivery and training.
 
Grant applications are being accepted from July 14
through August 14, 2009. Electronic applications will be
available on or about July 31st. Paper applications for
grant requests of less then $1 million will be accepted.
To obtain the Notice of Funding Availability and
application materials, please
go to http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/info_lib.htm.
Informational workshops are being offered by NTIA through
July only. To register, please
visit http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/workshop.htm.
For additional information, please contact:
 
The Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
1401 Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Tel. 202-482-2048
Email: btop@ntia.doc.gov
 
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