Missouri Governor on ARRA funding for broadband

Nixon issues request for partners in competition to win Recovery Act funding for expanding access to high-speed internet; deadline for notice of interest is July 13

July 7, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Citing the pressing need for Missouri citizens and businesses to access information and compete in markets around the globe, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today announced the state's efforts to recruit businesses and organizations as cooperative partners in a competition for funding that would begin to deliver broadband internet access throughout Missouri.

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The request for partners is the first step in a process by which the state will compete for hundreds of millions in federal grant funding for broadband expansion made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Organizations or businesses interested in partnering with the state on the competitive broadband grant application must submit a notice of interest by 2 p.m. on July 13.

"To deal with difficult conditions like high unemployment, Missouri must transform its economy by adapting to the global marketplace and embracing high-growth industries. To be truly competitive in the 21st Century we must upgrade our technology infrastructure with the goal of giving every Missourian access to the information superhighway," said Gov. Nixon. "Because this is an opportunity of great importance for education, for agriculture and for industry, I believe Missouri must put its best foot forward in what will be a fierce competition for federal broadband grants. So the state will work together with private industry and use the strengths of each to pursue an achievable vision for universal access."

The request for partners announced by Gov. Nixon will be used to identify the public or private entities that are well-positioned to collaborate with the state in applying for Recovery Act funds that will finance a statewide project called MoBroadbandNow. That project envisions a fiber-optic broadband backbone that will connect every cluster of 50 or more dwellings, as well as key community anchor institutions like schools and hospitals, with high-speed broadband internet access. Pursuing this vision through a series of public-private partnerships will help guarantee that the market barriers which have previously stalled delivery of broadband access to many portions of rural Missouri will no longer impede progress.

"My administration will compete for every dollar that is available to enhance Missouri's infrastructure. Competitive grants for expanding rural broadband are a perfect example of funding I'll fight for. If we can land these grants, they would allow us not only to connect Missourians from all parts of the state to broadband, but also to create hundreds of immediate new jobs in the public and private sectors on a statewide infrastructure project," Gov. Nixon said.

The state plans a multi-step process in identifying and selecting potential partners for the broadband application. An initial screening will be used to ensure that interested partners meet the federal eligibility requirements. Those which meet the requirements will then be asked to provide further information, such as information regarding technical expertise and experience, as well as network design and business plans. Further screening will examine partners' ability to meet certain specific terms and conditions of the application process and the prospective project. The state then plans to identify in its MoBroadbandNow application each of its prospective partner or groups of partners and the portion of the overall project for which they will be responsible.

Bringing the MoBroadbandNow project to reality will take a sustained commitment by the state and its people. The substantial funding available under the Recovery Act, however, will provide an essential springboard for launching MoBroadbandNow. Substantial and independently sustainable portions of the project will be completed within two years of the grant award, and position Missouri to complete statewide implementation within five years.

Source: Missouri Governor