Over $863 Million dollar first round of Broadband Applications in Florida shows how critical access to high speed broadband fiber optic networks are to our economy, safety, health, and security.

pdf of report available

As we await the federal release of the first round applicants and their “step one” scores for federal stimulus “Broadband grants,” we should be establishing a system to allow us and our compatriots, and certainly the public at large, an opportunity to assess “lessons learned” in this first round.  It is critically important for all policy-makers, and their staffs and general public, to make immediate decisions as to their participation in the second and third rounds of stimulus funding (all of which must be completed in the next year!)

As we did learn from the first round, those who had planned ahead and spent years in developing broadband plans for their community were better positioned to provide a competitive application.  Each community (and region, state, whatever) must have, at least, its initial actions completed before engaging in any meaningful application process.  This includes a CLEAR VISION and decision on who will be making application for the stimulus grant.  It is important to delineate clearly the area (community or region) to be covered as early as possible and to assess the assets (or lacks) in the area’s infrastructure.

Key decision-makers, including the general public, must be identified and involved in creating any action plan to bring “ubiquitous” broadband to the area.  A commitment for “open architecture and multi-sectoral use” of any stimulus-supported network should be gained before proceeding any further.   For the participants, a commitment to follow and comment on the current first round projects, the development of the state response to applications that survive the “step 1 review,” an assessment of the lessons learned on the first round of applications, and an active involvement in preparing for the second and third rounds is also desired.

The following spreadsheet contains the status of our current knowledge for Round 1 in Florida.  We have a number of blanks in our information about some applicants…and would like to have your support in filling out these blank areas.  We will update upon receipt of your information and will certainly update our list when the federal agencies release their information as to applicants and first round-step 1 assessments and scoring results.  Over the next several weeks, we would hope to have a complete report, including step 1 scoring results on those applications that survive the step 1 assessment and are forwarded to the Governor’s Office for state ranking/assessment.  Although the NTIA planned to release step 1 results by September 14, the 2,200 applications actually filed exceeded their expectations and may delay that date.

Simultaneously with the review of Round One applications, the federal agencies will assess, and will request comments on, the Round One NOFA prior to issuing the Round Two NOFA.  Hopefully, lessons learned from Round One not only by the federal agencies but also by our State and Local (Region/Community) participants will give us better guidance for Rounds Two and Three.  Remember, all awards must be made within the next year (by September 30, 2010) and time is always of the essence.

As we update our materials and reports and gain more knowledge on lessons learned, we will be glad to inform you.  We believe in an open process of sharing our information and look forward to the next competitive rounds.  We believe that this process will provide Floridians a better competitive opportunity to gain the maximum federal support.