Broadband Stimulus, Multicom, and You 

Multicom is your One-Stop Broadband Stimulus Resource: For Today's Projects and Tomorrows BroadBand Stimulus Roll-Out Multicom can support and provide these services: Broadband Stimulus Home CATV/CCTV Systems Satellite Broadband Systems Fiber and FTTH Systems Wireless Broadband Systems Structured Cabling Systems Design and Engineering Services Broadband Stimulus Reference Guide Multicom - 13,000 Products Under One Roof! Multicom will also be providing support to customers engaged in the proposal process. Please consult the Multicom sales team for details. Contact Multicom

The Recovery Act appropriated $7.2 billion and directed the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the U.S., increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits. 

The result is the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

BIP will make loans and grants for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas. BTOP will provide grants to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects.

Broadband Stimulus Application Checklist –

 Considerations for Funding:

Identify your potential project:

• Will project increase the affordability of and subscribership to the greatest population of users in an area?

• Will it enhance service for health care delivery, education, or children to the greatest population of users in an area?

• Will the project enrich an area due to additional support from another Federal program?

• Application must support a socially and economically disadvantaged small business concern.

• Will the project provide the greatest broadband speed possible to the greatest population of users in an area?

• Will your project wisely invest the people’s money to create jobs and offer credible, functioning, and scalable models for accelerating the deployment of broadband?

Understand the broadband availability for your targeted community:

• Broadband mapping will likely not be available for many areas, need to research and understand the community (demographics, subscriber projections) and its access to broadband.

• Identify who are the key supporters and investors in your project:

• Address local, state and federal support for your project.

• Identify key local and grassroots supporters of your project (education, health, etc.)

• Identify the congressional leaders in the projects district and make them aware of it and ask for their support.

Know which funding process is right for you:

NTIA – National Telecommunications and Administration Association

• At least one grant per state

• 20% matching fund requirement

• Report requirements will be instituted and projects must be prepared to detail regular updates

• Project demonstrate it would not be accomplished without federal assistance

RUS – Rural Utilities Service

• Area served must be 75% rural

• Report requirements will be instituted and projects must be prepared to detail regular updates

• Project demonstrate it would not be accomplished without federal assistance

• Registration for grant application:

• All applicants must register with www.grants.gov before they can submit a grant application.

• Timelines

Business plan preparation:

• Government wants to see compelling evidence that the preliminary plans will result in a wise and successful investment

• Description of the project

• Disclose previous applications with the state/federal government that have been made in the past

• Understand what the project implementation entails and all associated costs to deploy it

• Detail your funding development (which sets of funds, you choose and any other available funding)

• Detail your budget and revenue plan - projects should be self sustainable post funding

• Provide proper documentation proving your plan

• Demonstrate your project will be fully-funded and completed on time (I.E. shovel ready)

• Identify the local requirements for implementation: right of way, zoning and permits

• Identify federal statutes and regulations

Develop your technology plan:

• Consider all aspects of network and service architecture

• Leverage existing infrastructure

• Identify all equipment vendors and their manufacturing certifications (Buy America, RUS certified)

• Detail your network design, services and management

• Fully detail your timeline for implementation. Note all projects must start within 90 days of funds received and completed with two-years.

Apply for your grant:

• Set a deadline, preferably one week before the actual deadline

• Finalize your business and technology plan that effectively articulates your business vision and how you plan to achieve your vision with this funding

• Don’t include materials other than what is specifically requested

• Keep accurate, organized records of your organization’s finances

• Don’t wait until it’s too late to ask for professional writing help.

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