Kennedy Announces $1.5 Million for Broadband Mapping and Planning In Rhode Island -Recovery Act Funding to Lay Groundwork for Enhanced Internet Services-
BigNews.Biz - Dec 24,2009 - Washington, DC - Congressmen Patrick J. Kennedy announced today that the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded Rhode Island $1,542,660 to fund broadband mapping and planning activities under NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which Rhode Island ’s Congressional Delegation helped pass in February of this year, will increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning. The data will be displayed in NTIA’s national broadband map, a tool that will inform policymakers’ efforts and provide consumers with improved information on the broadband Internet services available to them.
The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) will receive approximately $1 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and almost $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a five-year period in Rhode Island , bringing the total grant award to approximately $1.5 million. RIEDC is the designated entity for the state of Rhode Island .
"I am pleased Rhode Island has received this broadband grant to help ensure that our state’s communities have access to the tools needed to build a strong economy and create jobs,” said Kennedy, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “I am pleased the Governor and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation are working together to access Recovery Act funds to create jobs and support the development of the state’s knowledge economy."
"Congress rightly recognized that increasing broadband access and adoption in communities being left behind in the 21st Century economy depends on better data collection and broadband planning. Our goal is to carry out this initiative on schedule and at the lowest cost necessary to do the job right," said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling.
NTIA received applications representing all 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia to participate in the program, meaning that all governments that were eligible to apply for grants did so, whether directly or through a designated entity. Twenty-one grants have previously been announced under this program.
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