Comments on: Where Will $4.7B in Broadband Bucks Go? You Decide! http://gigaom.com/2009/07/09/where-will-4-7b-in-broadband-bucks-go-you-decide/ Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:21:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: SmallCapWorld http://gigaom.com/2009/07/09/where-will-4-7b-in-broadband-bucks-go-you-decide/#comment-216824 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:59:49 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=57992#comment-216824 [...] America. If you want to help determine which projects are stimulus worthy, then get involved. http://gigaom.com/2009/07/09/where-will-4-7b-in-broadband-bucks-go-you-decide/ Before the first round of money starts to flow in November, certain details need to be sorted out [...]

]]> By: Leonard Grace http://gigaom.com/2009/07/09/where-will-4-7b-in-broadband-bucks-go-you-decide/#comment-216823 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:04:14 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=57992#comment-216823 I’m not an engineer by any stretch of the imagination, but it would seem to me the Telecommunication and Information Administration has demonstrated a lack of foresight in asking only for “volunteer grant reviewers” to analyze and grant application’s on where your broadband stimulus dollars should be allocated. The criteria stipulates that individuals must have expertise, education, construction, and/or operations experience in broadband, a loose job skill set at best.

Yes, this scenario does eliminate the conflicts of interest which could occur if only businesses with a vested interest were to make those recommendations. However, the amount and complexity of spending this much cash should be represented by all parties involved. If the Federal Government wants a sincere effort to accomplish it’s goals with broadband coverage for America, then it needs to use common sense when deciding the recipients of grant applications. Let industry professionals, at the least, advise volunteers on the pitfalls and assumptions when evaluating grant proposals. If this is not done properly, it could be a disaster.

]]> By: Alan Weinkrantz http://gigaom.com/2009/07/09/where-will-4-7b-in-broadband-bucks-go-you-decide/#comment-216822 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:21:14 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=57992#comment-216822 Hmmm…. how about accelerating the build out of home networks on the new industry standard: G.hn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.hn

Actually, G.hn could be the global economic stimulus package:
http://www.everywire.com/2009/07/ghn-the-global-stimulus-package.html

]]> By: Stacey Higginbotham http://gigaom.com/2009/07/09/where-will-4-7b-in-broadband-bucks-go-you-decide/#comment-216821 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:42:31 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=57992#comment-216821 Bill, I’m referring specifically to the volunteers’ role rather than the overall approval process.

]]> By: Bill Dollar http://gigaom.com/2009/07/09/where-will-4-7b-in-broadband-bucks-go-you-decide/#comment-216820 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:22:28 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=57992#comment-216820 “Are they matching application items against a checklist, scoring items against a set list, or will they be make their own value judgments?”

There is a set scoring criteria. Go read the NOFA again, this is discussed.

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