Mar 2, 2010 1:41 PM,

Round 2 broadband stimulus deadlines extended to end of month

By Rich Karpinski

Slight delay prevents Round 1 awards, just now wrapping up, from crashing into round two applications

The NTIA and RUS today pushed back the deadlines for round two stimulus funding application from March 15 to March 26 and March 29, respectively. The announcement was made on the BroadbandUSA.gov Web site.

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While the delay may be criticized in some sectors, sources said applicants needed the additional time – if even only a few days – because the agencies are still completing their announcements, not only in terms of granting funds (for instance, Washington state won an award Monday) but perhaps even more importantly detailing exactly why certain applications were rejected.

That information is critical for round two applicants, not only so they can take a second stab at applying for funds but because second round grants cannot be made for the same project type in the same geographic area.

The situation remains tight, however, for applicants. “Round one applicants still need to get their application scores and feedback on why they were rejected so they can maximize the extension,” said broadband analyst Craig Settles, who works with local communities on broadband projects, including stimulus applications. “Any steps forward in this struggle are going to help raise the quality of applications, increase the number of good project proposals and ultimately help communities get better broadband.”

According to the BroadbandUSA.gov announcement, applicants for BTOP Comprehensive Community Infrastructure projects will have until March 26th to file their applications to NTIA.

Applicants for BIP infrastructure projects will have until March 29th to file their applications to RUS.

Applications in NTIA's two other project categories - -Public Computer Centers and Sustainable Broadband Adoption -- remain due on March 15th.

The Washington State award, the government’s latest, involved $84 million in grants for 840 miles of fiber network backbone and new microwave sites to support local community anchor institutions including schools, libraries and government buildings.