Federal Government Encourages Public Ownership for Broadband
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/federal-government-encourages-public-ownership-broadband/The stimulus bill prioritizes public entities and nonprofits for grants to build broadband networks.
When Congress passed the stimulus package (ARRA), it included $7.2billion to build broadband networks to those who are unserved orunderserved (both terms that must still be defined). In defined whatentities are eligible for grants, the statute expresses a preferencefor publicly owned networks. States and political subdivisions arelisted first and nonprofit organizations second. Listed third areother entities, including incumbent providers, which are only eligibleif they are found to be in the public good.
