TIA OFFERS AGENCIES SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT STIMULUS AWARDS

摘要

TIA encouraged NTIA and the Rural Utilities Service to aim their broadband stimulus programsnat last-mile and sustainable adoption projects. Those projects can significantly spurnmiddle-mile broadband infrastructure development, the group said. If financing of last mile ornsustainable adoption projects is limited, investments in middle-mile projects probably willndecrease, it said. To get money to the best projects, the second notice of funds availabilitynshould allow all projects in rural areas, regardless of their location, to qualify for the RUS'snBroadband Initiatives Program under the tests in the first notice, the association said. And it'sncrucial for the grant agencies to be able to allow transfers of stimulus-funded facilities whennthat would serve the programs' purposes, it said. To increase participation, the agenciesnshould make it clear that the conditions on infrastructure and adoption projects apply only tonthe applicants and not to project partners, the association said. The agencies should clarifynwhich nondiscrimination rules apply in the case of any conflicts between FCC and stimulusnregulations and should consider setting a time limit on enforcement of the rules, it said. Andnthe agencies should change provisions of the first notice that clearly disadvantage applicationsnfor multistate or national projects, it said.