White House request for assistance

Vint Cerf at society@comsoc.org ^ | Wednesday, July 29, 2009 7:34 AM | Susan Crawford, National Economic Council

[SubMareener]

Received via e-mail: ------------- The following is being sent at the request of Vint Cerf on behalf of Susan Crawford, National Economic Council

We need your help in support of a broadband initiative that President Obama cares deeply about. Specifically, we are seeking subject matter experts who would review grant applications being filed with the federal government by applicants seeking financial support for broadband projects throughout the country.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appropriated $7.2 billion to the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the U.S., increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits. The Department of Commerce's program, the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, or BTOP, will distribute 4.7 billion dollars in grant funds directed at enhancing network connectivity as well as broadband education. These grants should provide lasting value to commerce, economic development, education, research, health care, and energy conservation.

The Department will be giving out funds in three categories. A large share of the funds will be dedicated to developing broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved communities. Two additional programs include grants for innovative projects that will drive the demand for broadband and grants for increasing public computing center capacity to provide access to those that can't afford a computer or broadband service at home.

This is where you come in. Commerce is expecting a large number of applications and is using experts to rate the various projects. Many of your employees may be uniquely situated to assist in this process. Of particular interest to the Department of Commerce are people with a background in broadband related activities, including engineering, business development, economics, research and development, and project management. The Department is also interested in staff that have significant experience in the analysis and oversight of infrastructure projects.

We could also use your help in spreading the word. It would be appreciated if you could reach out to your friends or business contacts that have had significant expertise and experience in any of these areas.

Participation by high quality expert reviewers will help ensure that these funds are well invested for our future. The Department is looking for a minimum time commitment of approximately 20 hours between mid August and mid September. You may apply directly to serve as a reviewer at btopreviewer@ntia.doc.gov. More information about being a reviewer is available at http://broadbandusa.gov

[SubMareener]

I think this was forwarded to me from the IEEE Computer Society. So the Commerce Department doesn't have the capacity to handle the load of grant applications. Good thing they aren't doing our health care!

[learner]

Where do you get to post the “this is stupid” comments

[SERKIT]

A large share of the funds will be dedicated to developing broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved communities.

It has been made fairly clear that 'neighborhoods' in Chicago have been so identified - and even categorized with twisted words - that they may be considered "rural".

[gwilhelm56]

Need OUR Help???

They doing a Great JOB of EFFING UP our COUNTRY all by Themselves!!