Feds announce second round of broadband stimulus funding

By now, the city’s Division of Technology must think the federal government is playing games.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the U.S. Rural Utilities Service announced Friday a second round of federal broadband stimulus funding, PCWorld reports. The agencies, which have split the funding into two pots, will dole out $4.8 billion for broadband projects, to be awarded by September.
It’s never a bad time to try to get a piece of $4.8 billion, but the NTIA announced last week that Pennsylvania received funding for broadband research, data that could have helped local applicants strengthen their pitches, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Administration spokesperson Luc Miron told Technically Philly last week.

Add too, that applicants are still awaiting awards to be given out for the first round. The City of Philadelphia requested $35 million in federal broadband funding, through the Division of Technology and the Free Library of Philadelphia, as we reported in September. Several other Philadelphia organizations also applied.
Technically Philly is scheduled to meet with the city’s Chief Technology Officer Allan Frank on Thursday.
The NTIA will dole out $2.6 billion for broadband projects that connect anchor institutions, and the RUS, $2.1 billion for last-mile projects. Applications for funding are due March 15, giving the city more than the 45 days they had to prepare first-round applications.