Broadband Stimulus Package

All, there are many different places you can go to keep up with the stimulus package, but I'll post some things on this blog regularly.

Here is the "most clear news" of the day: from one of the feeds I'm watching.

Applicants can apply to both the USDA and NTIA separately for different parts of the same project, but can't get paid twice for the same parts.
USDA grants require 75% of the area served by an approved project to be a "rural" area without sufficient broadband. The NTIA, will address both "unserved" and "underserved" areas, though the government hasn't yet defined those terms and is seeking public comment on the process.
All broadband stimulus grants and loans must be awarded by September 2010, and the projects funded must be "substantially complete" within two years.
NTIA will award the grants in three phases, mostly to balance the need to get funding quickly to projects that are ready to go and to allow more grant-writing time for those who need it.

During its April 8 meeting, the FCC will initiate a public comment process for developing a national broadband strategy by May 22.