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Stimulus money marked for bringing broadband Internet to rural communities [Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Cheyenne](Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, WY) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 16--CHEYENNE -- Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $7.2 billion has been made available for improving broadband Internet access across the country. "The real purpose of the broadband stimulus money is to provide unserved and underserved areas (with broadband access)," Art Schmidt, telecommunications supervisor with the Wyoming Public Service Commission, said. About 20 percent of Wyoming residents do not have access to broadband, he said. The amount of federal funding that Wyoming will receive depends on how much the state applies for and is approved to get. However, Wyoming cities and companies can only apply for part of the $2.5 billion that is being handled by the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service, said Elly Pickett, press secretary for U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. Private companies and municipalities can apply for the competitive grants and may be awarded money after their proposals are reviewed by the federal and state governments. Projects likely will include everything that comes with bringing broadband Internet access to communities that only had dial-up access before, Schmidt said. That could include things like electronics and cabling. The process involves several phases, and the first deadline for applications is Aug. 20. The first distribution of money will be in November. Chris Robisch, the director of interconnection and public policy for Contact Communication, a Wyoming-based carrier, said his company is still analyzing how or if it will apply for grant money. "We don't want to use money just to use money," he said. "We don't believe that would be an American or patriotic approach to the situation." One project his company believes is needed in the state is a complete fiber ring to transport communications between cities. "We have not determined at this point if it makes sense for us to apply for funding to address a gap in the fiber ring," he said. Plus, the grant money may only pay for 80 percent of a project, meaning any proposal also has to fit into the company's business plan. Even if they don't end up applying for money, the program is a good one, he said. Broadband Internet frees up telephone access that previously may have been used for dial-up and is important to communication, improves education opportunities, as well as health and welfare, he said. These are quality-of-life issues. "It's not just about gaming and shopping," he said. To see more of Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wyomingnews.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Cheyenne Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |