How to Apply for BTOP Broadband Funding

Today, the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative (OTI) released application guides to aid communities, institutions, non-profits, and other entities interested in applying for funding from the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program for Public Computer Centers or Sustainable Broadband Adoption programs.

OTI breaks down the application process, highlighting key details and provides suggestions for tackling the application process. In addition to providing application requirements and document skills sets, both provide recommended team skills and responsibilities and a sample timeline. The guides provide a valuable baseline for understanding the NOFA and application process to allow any interested party who understands their local community's broadband and computing needs to begin the process of applying for funding.

"This NOFA prioritizes funding for underserved and vulnerable populations but requires a considerable amount of detail and documentation in order to apply," explained James Losey, a program associate with the Open Technology Initiative. "We want to ensure that no qualified community group or institution is prevented from applying due to a lack of adequate guidance with the application process. The guides provide a roadmap to jumpstart the application process."

Tomorrow, OTI will also release two similar guides for broadband infrastructure project funding from the RUS and BTOP program.

Both the Public Computer Center and the Sustainable Broadband Adoption guides are available for download from the Open Technology Initiative website at http://www.newamerica.net/programs/oti or at the following pages:

Public Computer Center Application Guide
http://www.newamerica.net/publications/policy/public_computer_centers_program_application_guide

Sustainable Broadband Adoption
http://www.newamerica.net/publications/policy/sustainable_broadband_adoption_application_guide

For press inquiries, contact Kate Brown at (202) 596-3365 or brown@newamerica.net.

About the New America Foundation
The New America Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy institute that invests in new thinkers and new ideas to address the next generation of challenges facing the United States. 

Learn More About: James Losey
Related Programs: Open Technology Initiative , White Spaces, Wireless Future Program
Topics: Telecom & Technology