The first $4 billion in rural broadband stimulus soon to be handed out: WNC consortium asks for $38 million

Here's the link to the DailyWireless.org post:

The federal government will soon start handing out the first $4 billion in stimulus funds for broadband Internet connections, reports the Associated Press. The government received $28 billion in requests.

An online searchable database listing broadband applications for stimulus funds is now open to the public. It was created by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and Rural Utilities Services (RUS) for their Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), respectively.

I did a quick review of North Carolina projects, and list a few of note below. First, let me highlight the big one for Western North Carolina - a $38 million request from the Education & Research Consortium of Asheville. Here it is:

Applicant: Education & Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas, Inc.

Asheville, NC

Contact Hunter Goosmann/ 828-350-2415/ hgoosmann@ercbroadband.org

Project title WNC partnered multi-county fiber solution serving residential, public safety, and medical needs.

Project type Middle Mile

Grant request* $ 38,755,734

Descriptio:n ERC Broadband will add 72 miles of sustainable middle mile fiber infrastructure in Graham and Buncombe counties supporting anchor institutions, public safety facilities, and government entities. A last mile fiber-to-the-home network to 97 percent of households and businesses in Yancey and Mitchell counties will be combined with a 43-mile middle mile fiber build through McDowell County for redundancy.

This kind of infrastructure is critical for WNC if we're going to continue to attract high-tech jobs and people who want to live in our mountains and who want to work, shop or network online. Critical.

A few of the other proposed projects for WNC:

Applicant

McDowell County Schools

Applicant	Cherokee Cablevision Inc
	Cherokee, NC
Contact	Charles Baldwin
	561-247-3889
	cherokeecablevision@bitstream.org
Project title	CATV Upgrade for Cherokee Reservation
Program	BIP
Proposed Project Area	NC
Project type	Last Mile Remote Area
Grant request	$ 2,685,600
Loan request	$ 75,000
Status	Application Received
Description	This project seeks funding to upgrade an existing coaxial CATV network to an all fiber(FTTH) architecture to provide broadband internet access and enhanced services to residents of the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina. Due to the rugged, mountainous terrain of this area, no other broadband service is available on the reservation and the residents therefore only have access to dial-up.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)

Applicant	Mitchell County Historic Courthouse Foundation
	Bakersville, NC
Contact	Daniel Barron
	828-284-1914
	drdanbarron@gmail.com
Project title	Mitchell County Virtual Learning and Communications Center
Program	BTOP
Proposed Project Area	NC
Project type	Public Computer Center
Grant request	$ 239,194
Status	Application Received
Description	In collaboration with Mitchell County Public Library and Mayland Community College, the Center will provide access to broadband programs and services that will address specific educational and communication needs of displaced workers, farmers, high school dropouts, residents wanting college courses, health care workers, EMS personnel, educators, government officials, and small business persons.

Applicant	French Broad Electric Membership Corporation
	Marshall, NC
Contact	Jeff Loven
	828-649-2051
	jeff.loven@frenchbroademc.com
Project title	French Broad Electric BPL Project
Program	BIP/BTOP
Proposed Project Area	NC
Project type	Last Mile Remote Area
Grant request*	$ 1,470,991
Status	Application Received
Description	French Broad Electric will utilize the existing power lines and fiber optic cable already in place to provide high speed internet service to the rural areas of Madison County that do not currently have any high speed service. Residents will be able to have an affordable, reliable service from their electricity provider.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)

Applicant	Sky Runner, Inc.
	Asheville, NC
Contact	Calvin Chrisman
	917-975-2235
	cal@skyrunner.net
Project title	Skyrunner Rutherford County, NC Phase 1
Program	BIP
Proposed Project Area	NC
Project type	Last Mile Non-Remote Area
Grant request	$ 86,027
Loan request	$ 89,548
Status	Application Received
Description	This project will provide broadband fixed-wireless Internet access to all residents of Rutherford County who have line-of-sight contact with Skyrunner's proposed network of transmitters.
Executive Summary	Executive Summary (pdf)

Update on Monday, October 12, 2009 by Ash

There's more here on the Mountain Area Information Network's request:

Meanwhile, Mountain Area Information Network, a nonprofit Internet provider is asking for $2.5 million to extend its wireless network in Asheville, N.C., and several remote mountain communities. And a sister nonprofit firm is looking for $38.8 million to install fiber lines that would connect that network to the Internet. The so-called “stimulus” money would help MAIN spread its wireless "cloud" to 11,000 additional homes in Asheville public housing projects and surrounding low-income neighborhoods, the AP reported.

Comments

[Kathi Petersen]

Hi, Ash - You may be interested in this article about broadband in WNC, from the latest edition of North Carolina magazine:
http://www.ncmagazine.com/stories/statewide-economic-development-guide

~Kathi

[Ash]

Thanks Kathi!