The NTIA recently posted state recommendations for Round Two ARRA applicants – including Minnesota’s recommendations. (As you may recall, early on in the Round One broadband ARRA funding process each State was asked to look at the applications for their State and make funding recommendations to the NTIA and RUS. There was a lot of turmoil revolving around the fact that Minnesota did not share its list with anyone.)
Below are their recommendations. You can do a search on the Broadband USA site for details on any project.
For Comprehensive Community Infrastructure:
- Highly Recommended – US Cable Fiber Ring Southern Minnesota (6607)
- Recommended – Greater Minnesota Broadband Collaborative (4866) and
- The Southern Minnesota Broadband Enhancement Program (4433)
Sustainable Broadband Adoption:
- Highly Recommended – New Bundled Broadband for Older Adults, Disabled, and Healthcare Adoption (6698)
- Recommended – Regional Electronic Learning Commons (6405) and
- BridgIT.now: Urban Broadband Access Project (5423)
Public Computer Center:
- Highly Recommended – Opportunities and Pathways to Education (OPEN) at MnSCU (5177)
- Recommended – Anoka CAN (4472)
They did not comment on Minnesota-based applications involving only Tribal Lands; rather they have deferred to tribal leaders to make those recommendations.
Hi Ann, in your estimation, what does the recommendation really mean? Is it anything more than the State’s endorsement?
By: Jeff Pesek on May 13, 2010
at 6:09 pm
I don’t think it’s more than the State’s endorsement. Because we didn’t know the State’s recommendations last time around, it’s tough to say how much the Federal folks have weighted their advice in the past.
By: Ann Treacy on May 13, 2010
at 10:04 pm