[Libs-Or] Information: Second-round of broadband stimulus funding gives priority to libraries

[Diedre Conkling]

Second-round of broadband stimulus funding gives priority to
libraries<http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=4277>
January 19, 2010 ( 2
Comments<http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=4277#comments>)

Contact: Jenni Terry <jterry at alawash.org>
Press Officer, ALA Washington Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) says changes made
to the second round of funding for the Commerce Department’s National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband
Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the USDA’s Rural Utilities
Service (RUS) Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) will expand the
opportunities for libraries and other community anchor institutions to apply
and receive funding.

In November, the ALA filed comments <http://www.wo.ala.org/?p=4072> to both
agencies describing the challenges faced by library applicants in the first
round. Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the ALA Washington Office,
said the association was pleased to note a number of these comments were
incorporated in the round-two BTOP Notice of Funds Availability
(NOFA)<http://www.ntia.doc.gov/frnotices/2010/FR_BTOPNOFA_100115.pdf>and
BIP
NOFA<http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/files/RUS%20Round%20Two%20NOFA%20Final.pdf>,
which were released Friday.

“The round-two NOFAs recognize the important role libraries play in
communities throughout the country,” Sheketoff said.

“The changes to the NOFAs released Friday reaffirm that advocacy on behalf
of libraries can make a difference.  The BTOP NOFA states the application
process has been streamlined making it less burdensome, especially for
smaller applicants. We heard from our members that this was a major hurdle
in round one. Libraries and other community anchor institutions have been
given priority in the second round.”

As with the first round of funding applications, the ALA Washington Office
will support library applications by posting resources and information about
this final round of funding to ALA’s Web site, www.ala.org/knowyourstimulus.
The Web site will soon include a Resource Library with an overview of the
key changes between the round-one and round-two NOFAs, summaries of the
round-one awarded library projects, case studies of five successfully
networked library systems, and other documents produced by the Washington
Office in response to the new NOFAs.

The Washington Office will also host a series of webinars for library
applicants.  The first webinar, to be held on Friday, January 22 from 1:30
to 2:30 p.m., will focus on the changes between round one and round two with
time reserved for a Q&A. Register for the webinar
here<https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/951534251>
.

Finally, www.ala.org/knowyourstimulus will link to important resources
developed by NTIA and RUS so that libraries have access to the most
up-to-date official information and resources.
 http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=4277


-- 
Diedre Conkling
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR  97365
Work phone & fax:  541-265-3066
Work email:  diedre at beachbooks.org
Home email:  diedre08 at gmail.com
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