The Open Technology Initiative has released four application guides for those looking to apply for broadband stimulus funding.

The guides include general information on each of the four main broadband stimulus programs (BTOP and BIP broadband infrastructure, computer centers, and broadband adoption) as well as:
1. Primary sourcing to each application's requirements;
2. Check lists for the various records, written documents, budget items, etc. needed for the application;
3. Role breakdowns for building an application team; and,
4. Estimated timelines laying out the how long it will take your application team to fill out the application.

You can download the guides, along with the strategy memo and resource guide released by OTI and the Columbia Telecommunications Corporation from:

http://www.newamerica.net/programs/oti#programtabs-2

Or get the guides directly...

BIP BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE APPLICATION GUIDE:

http://www.newamerica.net/publications/policy/broadband_infrastructure_application_guide_bip

BTOP BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE APPLICATION GUIDE:

http://www.newamerica.net/publications/policy/broadband_infrastructure_btop_application_guide

SUSTAINABLE BROADBAND ADOPTION APPLICATION GUIDE:

http://www.newamerica.net/publications/policy/sustainable_broadband_adoption_application_guide

PUBLIC COMPUTER CENTER APPLICATION GUIDE:

http://www.newamerica.net/publications/policy/public_computer_centers_program_application_guide

Initial details regarding the actual parameters of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) are finally beginning to be released. The information is rather limited, but here's what we can glean thus far from the Recovery.gov website:

• Applications for the first wave of funding requests are going to be due[released by] June 30, 2009 (to be awarded in December 2009). This is remarkably short notice to turn around a well thought out proposal -- especially since the details of what these proposals should actually look like haven't been released.
• The second wave of funding requests will be from October to December, 2009.
• The third wave will take place from April to June 2010.
• All awards must be made by September 2010.
• $350 million will be available for broadband mapping.
• $250 million will be avialable to encourage sustainable broadband adoption.
• $200 million will be available to increase public computer center capacity.
• The key metrics for measuring success (and thus, evaluating the competitiveness of each grant application) look to be:
  Jobs created
  Census tracks served
  Homes/businesses passed
  Investment funding ARRA leverages
  New equipment/capacity/users of the network

Hopefully, more information will be release soon as this info is woefully incomplete. In the interim, many of us continue to search for insight into what NTIA and RUS have planned regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

If you have more info, please let me know.

I've been fascinated by the recent announcement that Australia is spending $31 billion USD to upgrade its broadband. With all the excitement and fuss over the broadband stimulus funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, it may seem strange to be claiming that the $7.2 billion is a pitifully small amount -- but let me bring this home for you:

Australia has a population of roughly 22 million people and is spending $31 billion USD. That works out to over $1400 per person.

The U.S. has a population of roughly 306 million people and is spending $7.2 billion USD. That works out to a bit under $25 per person.

To be commiserate commensurate with Australia, the US should be spending over $430 billion on its broadband infrastructure.