Broadband Update with Richard Lowenberg

From the Broadband USA website:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) appropriated $7.2 billion and directed the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) 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 result is the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

BIP will make loans and grants for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas. BTOP will provide grants to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects.

Richard Lowenberg has been a leader in efforts to expand broadband access in New Mexico and a key figure in identifying our state's capabilities and needs.  His "1st Mile" organization (http://www.1st-mile.com/) and its mailing list are perhaps the best single source for information and discussion of issues related to improving broadband access in our state.