ARRA-Funded Broadband Programs In Louisiana
BIP & BTOP
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 appropriated $7.2 billion and directed the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (r u s) and The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (n t i a) to expand broadband access to un-served 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 r u s Broadband Initiatives Program (b i p) and the n t i a Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (b t o p).
b i p will make loans and grants for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas. b t o p will provide grants to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects. If you wish to learn more about grants that have been awarded in the Louisiana area, click here. You can also visit the n t i a’s award page at http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/louisiana
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State Broadband Data and Development Program
Launched in 2009, NTIA’s State Broadband Initiative (s b i) implements the joint purposes of the Recovery Act and the Broadband Data Improvement Act, which envisioned a comprehensive program, led by state entities or non-profit organizations working at their direction, to facilitate the integration of broadband and information technology into state and local economies. Economic development, energy efficiency, and advances in education and health care rely not only on broadband infrastructure, but also on the knowledge and tools to leverage that infrastructure.
Since the program’s inception, n t i a has awarded a total of $293 million to 56 grantees, one each from the 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia, or their designees. Grantees will use this funding to support the efficient and creative use of broadband technology to better compete in the digital economy. These state-created efforts vary depending on local needs but include programs to assist small businesses and community institutions in using technology more effectively, research to investigate barriers to broadband adoption, innovative applications that increase access to government services and information, and state and local task forces to expand broadband access and adoption.
State of Louisiana Division of Administration
- Broadband Data & Development $6,649,679
- Project serves: Louisiana
Project Components
State Broadband Capacity Building:
Through the capacity building program, the state will hire dedicated staff to manage broadband research and coordinate statewide broadband activities for the State of Louisiana. Staff will be responsible for supporting Louisiana broadband initiatives and coordinating the activity of the Louisiana broadband advisory council.
Technical Assistance/Planning Teams:
In cooperation with the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center Cooperative Extension, the technical assistance program will offer subgrants and provide direct training to eighteen targeted parishes in the Louisiana Delta and Florida Parishes regions, in order to develop local broadband assessment and planning efforts in the most underserved areas of Louisiana.
Data Collection, Integration, and Validation:
This project was originally funded for broadband planning activities and two years of data collection. In September of 2010, this project was amended to extend data collection activities for an additional three years and to identify and implement best practices.
Address File Development:
The State of Louisiana will build out address files through collaboration with all parishes, but specifically focusing on rural communities and Acadian Ambulance, which holds a point address file for 15 counties. Once the files are complete, Louisiana will possess an authoritative address file for the entire state, a street layer of census blocks greater than two square miles, and an electronic solution for managing addresses available to parishes.
To find out more about ARRA-funded programs in Louisiana or to track awarded grants, visit http://www.stimulus.la.gov/index.htm.
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