Excitement is starting to bubble up again for the ARRA funding as organizations are receiving word that they have made the first cut.

CED Magazine reports that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana and Missouri. The total spent looks to be about $12 million.

CED also reports that WiMAX technology accounts for more than 25 percent of last-mile broadband deployment grant applications filed with the NTIA/RUS.

The Telecommunications Industry Association gave the NTIA/RUS some advice on the second round of funding such as lose the 50 mile rule where rural is defined as being 50 miles of an urban area.