State Input Necessary for Broadband Stimulus Success, Strickling Says
SEATTLE -- High-quality information from the states will be important in deciding how effective and efficient the distribution of federal broadband money is, NTIA head Larry Strickling said Monday at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ summer session.
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“States are a vital and necessary participant in this broadband program,” Strickling said. He was joined by officials including RUS Chief of Staff Lisa Zaina, NTIA Senior Advisers Mark Seiffert and Larry Atlas, and Jennifer Schneider, an aide to FCC Commissioner Michael Copps. The officials were peppered with questions by state commissioners on the notice of funds availability. Strickling asked that experienced commissioners do their “patriotic duty” and volunteer to review broadband project applications.
The NTIA will work with states with weather problems, so they can finish projects within the required three years, Seiffert said, but federal law sets limitations. Several states, including Alaska and Vermont, have called the uniform deadline unfair to states with short construction seasons.
The agencies began taking applications for the $7.2 billion stimulus on July 14. Applications are due Aug. 14, leaving states and companies not much time to create business plans and provide required information on “served” and “unserved” populations, officials said.