City, County Join to Apply for Broadband Technology Grant
April 4th, 2010 by Editor, posted in Evansville Office of The Mayor.(EVANSVILLE, IN)- The Board of Public Works will be asked today to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Evansville and the County Commission which will allow them to apply together for a National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grant.
The proposed broadband network would have more capability for multiple users, instead of one network for one application. This would augment the wireless initiative originally announced by the City which would have been a single network for a single function. The network would enhance City and County services and public safety; provide access for people who don’t have the internet and better access for people who have wireless internet. It would also allow for increased government efficiencies. In addition, the proposed network would have the capability and capacity to allow local government to work with outside entities such as institutions of higher education and hospitals.
“In this wired age, anyone who wants or needs the internet should have affordable broadband access. This grant will allow us to provide that access while serving public safety and government needs,” said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. “I am pleased that we are joining with the County to make this application. It makes sense that a broadband network should be accessible not only in Evansville but to the broader population in the County as well.”
Through the MOU, the City and County have also agreed to establish the Greater Evansville Broadband Alliance (GEBA). GEBA will manage a City-County broadband network and be responsible for receiving and disbursing all funds received through the NTIA grant. The County Commission approved the MOU on March 16th.
Funds for the NTIA grant are being made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The federal government is placing an emphasis on building broadband infrastructure to make high speed broadband more accessible and affordable to more people across the country.
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$2.6 billion remains of the $7 billion allocated for NTIA grants; the City and County are jointly applying for a little more than $5.2 million. If awarded to the City and County, the grant will cover 70% of the cost of the local project. The remaining costs and expenses will be shared by the City and County.
The grant paperwork is being assembled and is due by March 26th. Awards will be made by September 30, 2010.
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