With less than a quarter of the money awarded from Round One, the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) today announced Round Two: availability of $4.8 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants and loans to expand broadband access and adoption in America.

NTIA’s NOFA allocates approximately $2.6 billion in this funding round of which approximately $2.35 billion will be made available for infrastructure projects. RUS’s NOFA allocates approximately $2.2 billion in this funding round for broadband infrastructure projects.

So that’s the quick announcement. I’ll try to follow up soon with more detailed notes on the NOFA. Today I’m going to the BT Young Scientist & Technology. I mention that because it is wonderful to see what a big deal they make about young scientists in Ireland. I’ve seen this on the news and it made the cover of the Irish Times several days this week. The scientists are between 11-16 years old and they are very eager and smart. The big winner this year invented a stove of sorts that can be used in rural Africa.

So why do I mention this? Because maybe it’s something we should be doing more at home – giving opportunities to young scientists to raise awareness and interest. I know there are some programs but they don’t get the attention the program gets here.