The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has updated its BroadbandUSA website. The website contains database access to programs that go beyond well-known infrastructure efforts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Federal Communications Commission by including information about 57 federal broadband funding programs from 14 federal agencies. Available funding totals billions of dollars.
The site, created with the help of participating federal agencies, was designed to make it easier for providers and stakeholders to find federal funding and permitting information.
SUBHEAD: Federal Broadband Funding
The 57 federal programs provide funding for industry, state and local governments, schools, libraries, small businesses and other community institutions that are interested in expanding broadband access, according to an NTIA blog post. The funding includes direct grants, loans and indirect support, as well as discounts.
Applicants can search for programs by agency, program purpose and eligible recipients. Several programs offer grants and loans for targeted populations and specific regions of the country.
For example, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) provides grants through its Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs, which can be used to support broadband infrastructure projects, digital skills training, and smart cities development in the context of local or regionally driven comprehensive economic development strategies.
This latest round of federal broadband funding updates is designed help ensure that the public has easy access to the most up-to-date information possible to best facilitate broadband buildout and economic development, NTIA said.