The State Broadband Data Program under the Recovery Act requires that the National Telecommunications Information Agency (NTIA) within the Department of Commerce to develop and maintain a comprehensive and interactive national broadband mapping program.
Stimulus funding provides $350 million in grants to develop and maintain a broadband inventory map. NTIA expects grant awards to range between $1.9 million and $3.8 million per state for the mapping portion of each project. Up to $500,000 will be available for the planning portion of each project.
The State Broadband Data Program will fund projects to:
- Gather comprehensive and accurate state-level broadband mapping data to be used to develop maps
- Aid in the development and maintenance of a national broadband map
- Fund statewide initiatives for broadband planning
The applications will be accepted from July 14th to August 14th and must be submitted to http://www.grants.gov/. For more information, contact Edward “Smitty” Smith, Program Director, State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program at 202-482-4949. The full announcement can be located at http://www.grants.gov/ and in the July 8th Federal Register.
