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Press Release
Online registration available for Kansas Broadband SummitSummit to convene business, civic, policy leadersto discuss broadband Internet expansion in Kansas Online registration is now available for the Kansas Broadband Summit, which will take place Oct. 24-25 at the Wichita Marriot, at www.connectkansas.org/broadband_summit/.
The 2010 Kansas Broadband Summit will bring together industry, community organizations, government leaders and the public to explore Kansas’ broadband landscape. The goals of the summit include:- Informing stakeholders about the National Broadband Plan and the future of broadband nationally and across Kansas.
- Providing a venue for discussion of broadband’s implication on healthcare, education, economic development, government service and related areas.
- Providing a roadmap of how Kansas will foster statewide availability and adoption of quality broadband services.
The Kansas Broadband Summit is open to the public and welcomes a range of individuals, including:- State and local legislators, administrators and regulators
- Educational institutions, K-12 and higher learning
- Library and community anchor institution managers
- Hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers
- Economic development organizations and regional planning foundations
- Information technology councils and boards
- Nonprofit associations
- Public safety professionals and organizations
- Private-sector telecommunications, technology and service suppliers
Presented by the Kansas Department of Commerce, the Summit is part of the Connect Kansas initiative to increase broadband Internet availability and adoption in the state’s underserved and un-served areas. The initiative is funded by a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration through the Recovery Act, which has invested $7.2 billion to help states undertake broadband expansion efforts to ensure all citizens can access the economic and quality-of-life benefits of high-speed Internet.
“With the announcement last week that Kansas will be awarded a second grant from the NTIA, the summit takes on greater importance because the additional funding means that the initiatives we launched will be sustainable over several years and allow us to achieve tangible results,” said Stan Adams, Broadband Planning Manager for the Department of Commerce.
Launched in 2009, the NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development (SBDD) grant program implements the joint purposes of the Recovery Act and the Broadband Data Improvement Act, which envisioned a comprehensive program, led by state agencies or non-profit organizations working at their direction, to facilitate the integration of broadband technology into state and local economies.
To date, the State of Kansas has been awarded $6.4 million under the SBDD grant program to execute data collection, mapping and sustainability planning activities. For more information, visit www.connectkansas.org or contact Joe Monaco, Public Information Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com. Download the press release Kansas receives additional $4.4 million for Connect Kansas broadband initiativeRecovery Act funding enables Kansas Department of Commerceto expand broadband development efforts
TOPEKA ─ Nine months after receiving a $2 million federal grant for the state’s Connect Kansas broadband initiative, the State of Kansas today was awarded an additional $4.4 million to extend and expand the initiative. The funding ─ which comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ─ enables Kansas to: extend mapping and data collection efforts for an additional three years; create regional technology planning teams to develop localized broadband plans; support various broadband initiatives, strategies and planning activities statewide; and commit additional staff to the broadband initiative. “Today’s announcement is great news for Kansas as we continue our efforts to increase broadband availability and adoption across the state,” Governor Mark Parkinson said. “This additional funding allows us to expand high-speed Internet access, thus bringing economic opportunities and quality-of-life improvements for all Kansans.” Connect Kansas is a Kansas Department of Commerce initiative to increase broadband Internet availability and adoption in the state’s underserved areas. The initiative is funded primarily by the NTIA through the Recovery Act, which has invested $7.2 billion to help states undertake broadband expansion efforts to ensure all citizens can access the economic and quality-of-life benefits of high-speed Internet. Connect Kansas has two components: 1) mapping Kansas’ broadband capacity, as well as related planning; and 2) providing federal grants and loans to Kansas businesses and organizations undertaking broadband expansion projects. Today’s announcement concerns only the mapping and planning component. To date, nine Kansas companies and organizations have been awarded more than $147 million in Recovery Act grants and loans to expand broadband Internet infrastructure. Today’s announcement gives Kansas additional momentum heading into the state’s first-ever Kansas Broadband Summit, which will take place Oct. 24-25 at the Wichita Marriot. The Broadband Summit will bring together industry, community organizations, government leaders and the public to discuss Kansas’ broadband landscape. For more information, or to register to attend the Summit, visit www.connectkansas.org/summit. For more information, visit http://www.connectkansas.org/ or contact Joe Monaco, Public Information Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com. Connect Kansas Receives $4.4 Million for Broadband Expansion EffortsTopeka, KS – Formation of regional technology teams across Kansas, continuing unprecedented broadband mapping across the state, digital literacy training, and many more related initiatives have been funded with almost $4.4 million today by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
“Today’s announcement is great news for Kansas as we continue our efforts to increase broadband availability and adoption across the state,” Governor Mark Parkinson said in a press release. “This additional funding allows us to expand high-speed Internet access, thus bringing economic opportunities and quality-of-life improvements for all Kansans.”
The NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development (SBDD) program awarded Connect Kansas approximately $4.4 million in Recovery Act funds to expand the rural broadband initiative. Connect Kansas was formed in 2009 with approximately $1.9 million in funds from the NTIA to promote and expand broadband across the state over a 5-year period in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Commerce. Its efforts are producing the first comprehensive maps of broadband service across the state as well as planning activities with the goal to promote high-speed Internet, a vital resource for economic and quality of life improvement.
Data compiled by Connect Kansas reveal that approximately 28 percent of Kansas households do not subscribe to home broadband service. The additional funds announced today will promote efforts to drive up home broadband adoption particularly in vulnerable areas.
Specifically, the new round of funding will allow Connect Kansas to continue data gathering vital to planning; enhance its existing program office to ensure that statewide stakeholders are engaged and involved; support the Kansas Broadband Task Force; support various broadband initiatives in the state; conduct digital literacy and broadband adoption activities; and form 7 Regional Technology Planning Teams to provide train‐the-trainer activities at the local level to foster local community planning which will be aggregated to assist statewide efforts.
“Broadband is the driver of today’s modern economy,” explains Brian Mefford, CEO of Connect Kansas’ parent organization, Connected Nation. “This grant will help Connect Kansas expand the effort to ensure that all rural Kansans have easy access to affordable high-speed Internet. Through the formation of regional technology teams we will be working across all sectors – agriculture, tourism, education, healthcare, business, government – to address technology needs and challenges from the various perspectives of the community.”
The SBDD program is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which provided $7.2 billion to expand broadband access and use in the United States.
For more about Connect Kansas, see www.connectkansas.org. To access a summary of the grant project please visit http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/grantee/connected-nation-kansas.Download press release Parkinson names chair, vice-chair of Kansas Broadband Advisory Task ForceFrom Kansas Department of Commerce:
Brad Williams, Randall Allen to head advisory group,advance Connect Kansas broadband initiative TOPEKA ─ Governor Mark Parkinson has named Brad Williams and Randall Allen as chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the Kansas Broadband Advisory Task Force, a group of industry and policy leaders who will help develop the state’s long-term broadband strategy.
Williams, of Lawrence, is the chief information officer for the Kansas Board of Regents, which governs six state universities and supervises and coordinates 19 community colleges, five technical colleges, six technical schools and a municipal university. He is also the executive director of Kan-ed, where he facilitates technology solutions for higher education institutions, libraries, hospitals and K-12 schools. Allen, of Topeka, is the executive director of the Kansas Association of Counties.
“We’re excited that Brad Williams and Randall Allen have accepted our invitation to lead the Kansas Broadband Advisory Task Force,” said Stanley Adams, broadband planning manager for the Kansas Department of Commerce. “Brad and Randall bring outstanding experience, leadership, and a passion for improving the lives of Kansans by leveraging broadband technologies, and we look forward to working with them to advance the Connect Kansas initiative in Kansas.”
Williams and Allen will retain their appointments for one year. Subsequently, the chair and vice chair will be elected by the task force members.
Created in July by Executive Order 10-08, the Kansas Broadband Advisory Task Force will make recommendations for the development of a broadband strategy to support statewide availability and adoption of broadband services consistent with the 2010 National Broadband Plan. The task force will coordinate input from stakeholders in the public and private sectors in furtherance of economic growth in Kansas.
Connect Kansas is funded primarily by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which has invested $7.2 billion to help states expand broadband access to underserved communities. Launched in December 2009, Connect Kansas is 1) mapping the state’s existing high-speed Internet availability and creating a strategy for broadband infrastructure improvements; and 2) helping Kansas organizations apply for federal awards to undertake broadband expansion and adoption projects. The Kansas mapping tool, Broadband Stat, is near completion and will be launched later this year. In total, 10 Kansas companies have been awarded more than $185 million in Recovery Act grants and loans to expand broadband Internet infrastructure. For details, visit http://www.connectkansas.org/.
For more information, contact Joe Monaco, public information officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com.Read Parkinson names chair, vice-chair of Kansas Broadband Advisory Task Force Governor works to expand broadband access throughout KansasFrom Governor Mark Parkinson's Office:
Task force to support Connect Kansas broadband initiative
To provide faster and more reliable Internet services to rural Kansans, Governor Mark Parkinson has established the Kansas Broadband Advisory Task Force. The 24-member advisory group will help implement the state’s Connect Kansas broadband Internet initiative.
“Access to broadband services is essential in supporting our communities and furthering economic development,” said Parkinson. “Whether you’re searching for a job, looking to enhance your education or accessing healthcare technologies, broadband is becoming the standard of Internet communications nationwide. I am pleased to form this task force that will help bring broadband access to all corners of Kansas and enhance economic opportunities for our state.”
The Kansas Broadband Advisory Task Force will develop recommendations to support statewide availability and adoption of broadband services consistent with the 2010 National Broadband Plan. The task force will coordinate input from key stakeholders in the public and private sectors to ensure Kansas has a competitive advantage through a robust and growing digital economy.
The administration has been committed to expanding broadband access across Kansas prior to the formation of the task force, which is the latest development for the Connect Kansas initiative. Connect Kansas is funded primarily by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which has invested $7.2 billion to help states expand broadband access to underserved communities. Thus far, the Recovery Act has awarded approximately $174 million in grants and loans to expand broadband Internet infrastructure in Kansas.
Connect Kansas is mapping the state’s existing high-speed Internet availability and creating a strategy for broadband infrastructure improvements. The broadband initiative is also helping Kansas organizations apply for federal awards to undertake broadband expansion and adoption projects. The Kansas mapping tool, Broadband Stat, is near completion and will be launched in next few weeks.
The governor will appoint the Kansas Broadband Advisory Task Force chairperson and vice chairperson for the first year. Subsequently, task force members will elect their own chairperson and vice chairperson.
Members of the task force are as follows: - Dan Yunk, a representative for agriculture and rural development;
- Randall Allen, a representative for Kansas counties;
- J.D. Lester, a representative for small cities;
- Jessica Frye, a representative for public safety;
- Steve Davis, a representative for rural telecommunications consortia;
- Two representatives for different broadband technology platforms: Jay Allbaugh and Cindy Swoboda;
- Two representatives for economic development: Gabe Schlickau and Stan Ahlerich;
- Brad Williams, a representative for education;
- Jennifer Findley, a representative for health care;
- Joe Hennes, a representative for government public interface;
- Joanne Budler, a representative for libraries and public access;
- Guy McDonald, a representative for regulatory affairs;
- David Rosenthal, a representative for digital accessibility; and
- Bill Roth, a representative for inter-agency technology integration.
Dan Yunk, Manhattan, is the chief executive officer for the Kansas Farm Bureau and a past superintendent of Manhattan-Ogden USD 383. Yunk received his bachelor’s and master’s in secondary education, as well as his doctorate in educational administration from Kansas State University.
Randall Allen, Topeka, is the executive director for the Kansas Association of Counties. As executive director, Allen helps to uphold the association’s mission of advancing public interest by providing representation, education and leadership to Kansas counties. Beyond his administrative duties, Allen works as an advocate and representative for the interests of counties located both within and outside the state.
J.D. Lester, Chanute, is the city manager for Chanute, Kansas. Lester formally worked as a city administrator for Hermann, Missouri and with a statewide Missouri organization representing member utilities for legislative and regulatory issues. He has also previously worked as the marketing and public relations director for a local utility company in Crawfordville, Indiana. Jessica Frye, Topeka, serves as the geographic information system (GIS) coordinator for the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office. Frye also serves on the North Central Region Homeland Security Support Team.
Steve Davis, Topeka, is the president of SC Telcom in Kansas. He also serves as the chair of the State Independent Telephone Association (SITA) which establishes partnerships between rural telephone companies and ensures quality telephone service throughout the State of Kansas.
Jay Allbaugh, Wichita, is the vice president of governmental affairs at Cox Communications, the third-largest cable entertainment and broadband services provider in the country.
Cindy Swoboda, Topeka, is the manager of regulatory relations at AT&T, the largest communications holding company by revenue in the United States and worldwide.
Gabe Schlickau, Wichita, is currently an economic development manager at Black Hills Energy. Schlickau serves on the board of directors of the Kansas Economic Development Alliance and was a past president of the Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance. He attained his bachelor’s in animal science and industry from Kansas State University.
Stan Ahlerich, Topeka, is the president of Kansas, Inc., a public-private partnership that conducts evaluation reviews and provides oversight of economic development programs to benchmark economic development efforts in the State of Kansas. Ahlerich is also a past president of the Kansas Farm Bureau.
Brad Williams, Topeka, helps facilitate statewide technology solutions for higher education institutions, hospitals, and K-12 schools as the executive director for Kan-ed. In addition, Williams is the chief information officer for the Kansas Board of Regents. He received his bachelor’s and master’s in psychology from Pittsburg State University.
Jennifer Findley, Topeka, is the director of education at the Kansas Hospital Association. She is also a liaison to the Kansas Healthcare Education Council and the Kansas Association of Medical Staff Services. Additionally, Findley is a member of the Kan-ed User Advisory Council and the Kansas Digital Learning Advisory Board. She attained her bachelor’s in political science and speech communication from Wichita State University and earned a training and development certificate from the College of Business Administration at Southwest Missouri State University.
Joe Hennes, Topeka, currently serves as chief information technology officer (CITO) for the Executive Branch of Kansas state government. In 2009, Hennes was named as director of the Division of Information Systems and Communications. He is also a member of the Kansas Partnership for Accessible Technology.
Joanne Budler, Topeka, has been the Kansas State Librarian since January 2010. Previously, Budler was the Ohio State Librarian. She holds a master’s in library science and a master’s of fine arts in Writers’ Workshop, both from the University of Iowa.
Guy McDonald, Topeka, works as a senior telecommunications analyst for the Kansas Corporation Commission.
David Rosenthal, Topeka, currently serves as president of the Kansas Telecommunications Industry Association (KTIA), an organization aimed to represent and advocate for the interests of telecommunication companies and the public they serve. Prior to his employment with KTIA, Rosenthal worked for Southwestern Bell for 17 years.
Bill Roth, Topeka, is the chief information technology architect for the State of Kansas and the secretary to the Information Technology Executive Council. Roth also serves as a member of the Kansas Partnership for Accessible Technologies where he helps to address web and information technology accessibility issues and provides related policy, standards, guidelines and procedural recommendations.
Also appointed to the Kansas Broadband Advisory Task Force are Secretary of Agriculture Josh Svaty and Secretary of Commerce Bill Thornton as ex-officio, non-voting members. Four members of the legislature will be appointed ex-officio, non-voting members as well, one appointed by the Speaker of the House, one appointed by the President of the Senate, one appointed by the Minority Leader of the House, and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
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Governor Parkinson created the Kansas Broadband Advisory Task Force through Executive Order 10-08. To view the full executive order, please visit: http://governor.ks.gov/issues-a-initiatives/executive-orders.
For more information on Connect Kansas, please visit http://www.connectkansas.org/. Three Kansas companies awarded nearly $18.9 millionSouth Central Telephone Association, Madison Telephone, J.B.N. Telephone Companyto increase broadband access in central, south-central, northeast Kansas South Central Telephone Association, Inc. (Medicine Lodge), Madison Telephone, LLC (Madison), and J.B.N. Telephone Company, Inc. (Holton), have been awarded a combined $18,889,200 in federal Recovery Act funds for broadband Internet infrastructure projects in rural Kansas, officials announced today. South Central Telephone Association was awarded an $871,200 grant for the Lake City & Sun City Rural Fiber-to-the-House (FTTH) Project, which will provide FTTH broadband service to all unserved establishments in the exchanges of Lake and Sun City. South Central Telephone Association will match the award with $3,550,800 in private investment. Madison Telephone was awarded a $3,519,750 loan and $3,519,750 grant for the Madison-Lamont Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) Project, will provide FTTP last-mile broadband service to the telephone exchanges of Madison and Lamont. Madison Telephone will match the award with $763,634 in private investment. J.B.N. Telephone Company has been awarded a $5,489,250 loan and $5,489,250 grant for the West Cluster Plus Barnes Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) Project, which will provide FTTP broadband service throughout seven western exchanges and the Barnes exchange. J.B.N. Telephone Company will match the award with $3,697,619 in private investment. The three awards come from the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service as part of the Recovery Act. The Recovery Act is also funding the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), which is administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications Information Administration. The Recovery Act has designated nearly $7.2 billion through BIP and BTOP for states to increase rural high-speed Internet access. BIP and BTOP awards are being announced on a rolling basis by the federal government. Today’s announcement brings the total number of Kansas companies to receive federal funding to four, with the four awardees combining for nearly $120 million in grants and loans. In addition, Colorado-based Level 3 EON and Oklahoma-based Totah Communications earlier this month were awarded a combined $9,510,865 in funds for projects in south-central and southeast Kansas, bringing the total value of awards to Kansas projects to more than $129.6 million. (See below.) The awards mark the latest successes for the Connect Kansas initiative, which was unveiled last year by the Kansas Department of Commerce to map the state’s existing high-speed Internet availability, create a strategy for broadband infrastructure improvements and help Kansas organizations apply for federal awards. For details on the Connect Kansas initiative, visit www.ConnectKansas.org.
Summary of BTOP and BIP awards for projects in Kansas
Rural Telephone Company
$101,201,649
BIP
January 27
Level 3 EON*
$998,400
BTOP
March 10
Totah Communications*
$8,512,465
BIP
March 10
South Central Telephone
$871,200
BIP
March 23
Madison Telephone
$7,039,500
BIP
March 23
J.B.N. Telephone Company
$10,978,500
BIP
March 23
TOTAL: $129,601,714
Asterisk (*) denotes non-Kansas companies.
Read more about the $18.9 million in awardsLevel 3 EON, Totah Communications awarded more than $9.5 million to expand broadband Internet in KansasColorado-based Level 3 EON and Oklahoma-based Totah Communications have been awarded a combined $9,510,865 in federal Recovery Act funds for broadband Internet infrastructure improvements in south-central and southeast Kansas.
Level 3 EON was awarded $998,400 in federal funding for its proposed Expanding Broadband Access Across Kansas project, which will build four new access points on Level 3’s existing broadband network to enable last-mile providers to offer affordable high-speed services to underserved areas near Wichita and along the Kansas-Missouri border. The project could enhance broadband capabilities for as many as 50,000 households, 3,600 businesses and 150 community anchor institutions, including schools, government agencies and healthcare providers.
Totah Communications was awarded $8,512,465 in federal grants and loans for its proposed Totah Broadband Expansion Project, which will upgrade existing copper-fed DSL nodes to fiber-fed DSL nodes and install additional fiber-fed DSL nodes throughout northeastern Oklahoma and southeast Kansas. The project would mean 60 jobs saved and/or created and improved Internet access to 800 new customers.
The Level 3 EON award comes from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), which is administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications Information Administration as part of the Recovery Act. BTOP provides grants to various organizations ─ such as providers, nonprofits, government entities, educational institutions, libraries and hospitals ─ to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects to expand the economy, create jobs and improve citizens’ access to education and healthcare services.
The Totah Communications award comes from the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service as part of the Recovery Act. BIP makes loans and grants primarily to Internet service providers for rural broadband infrastructure projects.
“We’re excited that Level 3 EON and Totah Communications have been awarded this Recovery Act funding to expand high-speed Internet in Kansas,” said Kansas Secretary of Commerce Bill Thornton. “Through projects like this, we’ll continue to foster economic growth and sustainability in our rural communities while also increasing the overall quality-of-life for our rural citizens.”
The awards mark the latest successes for the Connect Kansas initiative, which was unveiled last year by the Kansas Department of Commerce to map the state’s existing Internet capabilities, create a strategy for broadband infrastructure improvements and help Kansas organizations apply for federal Recovery Act funding. Connect Kansas is funded by the Recovery Act, which has designated more than $7.2 billion for states to increase rural high-speed Internet access through the BTOP and BIP programs. Earlier this year, Kansas-based Rural Telephone Service Co. was awarded more than $101 million through the BIP program.
For details on the Connect Kansas initiative or to learn how organizations can apply for federal funds, visit www.ConnectKansas.org.
Company Profiles
Level 3 EON is a subsidiary of Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT), a Broomfield, Colo.-based Internet backbone carrier. Level 3 is a leading international provider of fiber-based communications services. Enterprise, content, wholesale and government customers rely on Level 3 to deliver services with an industry-leading combination of scalability and value over an end-to-end fiber network. Level 3 offers a portfolio of metro and long-haul services, including transport, data, Internet, content delivery and voice. The company also operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world with 54,000 intercity and 27,000 metro route miles spanning more than 190 markets in 22 countries. For more information, contact Kimberly Greene at Kimberly.Greene@Level3.com
Totah Communications is a local communications provider in southeastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma offering telephone services, including long-distance, and high-speed Internet. Totah has approximately 3,000 voice service subscribers and more than 1,100 DSL subscribers in rural Oklahoma and Kansas. All of Totah’s service area is rural, sparsely populated with a population density of less than two people per square mile. For more information, contact Keith Watson at kewatson@totelcsi.com.
For details about Connect Kansas and broadband efforts in Kansas, contact Joe Monaco, Public Information Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com. View BTOP funding press release
Updated maps, datasets available to assist Round 2 applicantsKansas Internet service providers, organizations encouraged to apply for Recovery Act funds
Updated county-level broadband coverage maps and Census block-level datasets are now available at http://www.connectkansas.org/ to assist Kansas service providers and organizations applying for Round 2 federal broadband infrastructure funds.The updated maps and datasets include new information from additional Kansas service providers and better represent nearly every region of Kansas. The maps are printer-friendly and include broadband coverage, cities and towns, county boundaries and detailed road information. The original maps and datasets were posted Feb. 16, the same day that the Round 2 application window opened. The second round closes March 15. A complete statewide interactive map for public consumption and utilization will be unveiled later this month. Background:
Internet service providers and other organizations in Kansas are encouraged to apply for the second round of federal Recovery Act funding for rural broadband Internet projects. Funding is available through two federal programs:Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)
BIP makes loans and grants to Internet service providers for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service. There is $2.2 billion in BIP funding available.Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)
BTOP provides grants to organizations such as non-profits, government entities, schools, libraries, hospitals and providers to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration. There is $2.6 billion in BTOP funding available.The first round of federal funding ran from July through August 2009, and awards are currently being announced on a rolling basis. From that first round, Kansas provider Rural Telephone Service Co. in January was awarded more than $101 million in grants and loans through BIP for Internet infrastructure projects in rural Kansas. The Kansas Department of Commerce expects additional first-round Kansas applicants to receive awards in the coming months.In addition to providing grants and loans to service providers and organizations, the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration has issued awards to states for broadband mapping and planning. In November 2009, Kansas was awarded $2 million to support Connect Kansas, the state’s mapping and planning initiative.For more information, visit http://www.connectkansas.org/ or contact Joe Monaco, Public Information Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com.Download press release here. Second round of grants, loans for rural broadband Internet projects opens todayKansas Internet service providers, organizations encouraged to apply for Recovery Act funding
Internet service providers and other organizations throughout Kansas are encouraged to apply for the second round of federal funding for rural broadband Internet projects beginning today through March 15. The Recovery Act funding is available through two federal programs: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)BIP makes loans and grants to Internet service providers for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service. There is $2.2 billion in BIP funding available. Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)BTOP provides grants to organizations such as non-profits, government entities, schools, libraries, hospitals and providers to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration. There is $2.6 billion in BTOP funding available. Applicants can visit http://www.connectkansas.org/ for application information. To assist applicants, the Kansas Department of Commerce will host a Connect Kansas Applicant Webinar on Friday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. at http://www.connectkansas.org/. (Space is limited, so applicants are encouraged to reserve their space immediately.) The Department has also posted Census block-level data and county-level broadband coverage maps at http://www.connectkansas.org/ that include the majority of service areas in the state. A complete statewide map for public consumption and utilization will be unveiled in March. The first round of federal funding ran from July through August 2009, and awards are currently being announced on a rolling basis. From that first round, Kansas provider Rural Telephone Service Co. last month was awarded more than $101 million in grants and loans through BIP for Internet infrastructure projects in rural Kansas. The Kansas Department of Commerce expects additional first-round Kansas applicants to receive awards in the coming months. In addition to providing grants and loans to service providers and organizations, the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration has issued awards to states for broadband mapping and planning. In November 2009, Kansas was awarded $2 million to support Connect Kansas, the state’s mapping and planning initiative. For more information, visit www.ConnectKansas.org or contact Joe Monaco, Public Information Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com. Download news release here.Lt. Governor Findley, Kansas Secretary of Commerce Thornton host Connect Kansas rural broadband initiative news conference
TOPEKA ─Lt. Governor Troy Findley and Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary Bill Thornton hosted a news conference today to unveil Kansas’ $2 million federal grant for the Connect Kansas rural broadband initiative.
Lt. Governor Findley and Commerce Secretary Thornton provided details of the grant, which will fund broadband mapping and planning through the Connect Kansas initiative. The grant was announced Nov. 30 by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Informatio n Administration.
The award will help Kansas collect data and develop a detailed map of the state’s existing broadband infrastructure. The map will be a crucial tool for businesses, consumers and policymakers involved in the Connect Kansas initiative to increase high-speed Internet access in rural Kansas.
“This is an exciting day for the state, especially for rural Kansas communities that don’t yet have access to high-speed Internet,” Lt. Governor Findley said. “This grant enables us to advance the Connect Kansas initiative and increase the availability of broadband Internet in rural communities. For rural Kansans, this means economic growth through e-commerce, enhanced services through e-government and improvements to overall quality of life.”
Connect Kansas is a Kansas Department of Commerce initiative to increase high-speed Internet access in the state’s underserved rural areas. The initiative has two components: 1) mapping Kansas’ broadband capacity, as well as related planning; and 2) providing federal grants and loans to organizations involved in expanding broadband to rural areas. Today’s announcement concerns only the mapping and planning component.
Kansas matched the grant with $185,000 from the Information Network of Kansas and $15,000 from Kansas Farm Bureau. The state has contracted with Connected Nation, a nationally recognized non-profit specializing in broadband issues and technology, to help with mapping and planning.
Kansas is one of 21 states since October to receive Recovery Act funding through the NTIA for mapping initiatives. NTIA expects to continue announcing awards on a rolling basis throughout the fall. Data from the states’ individual maps will ultimately be displayed in NTIA’s national broadband map.
Kansas businesses, organizations, Internet service providers and citizens are asked to contribute to the mapping process by visiting http://www.connectkansas.org/ and providing information about broadband access in their areas.
“We are pleased to be working with the Department of Commerce and the Governor’s Office to help create a comprehensive broadband map in the state of Kansas,” said Brian R. Mefford, Connected Nation’s chief executive officer.
“We applaud NTIA for working diligently to create a national broadband map and are honored to have been selected to help Kansas in its efforts to close the digital divide in the state.”
For details, visit www.KansasCommerce.com/ConnectKansas or contact Joe Monaco, Public Information Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com.
Kansas awarded $2 million from National Telecommunications and Information Administration for broadband mapping initiative
Recovery Act funding to lay groundwork for increased high-speed Internet in rural Kansas; Lt. Governor Findley, Commerce Secretary Thornton to host news conference Dec. 7 in Topeka
Kansas has been awarded a $2 million matching grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to fund broadband mapping and planning through the Connect Kansas initiative.
The award will help Kansas collect data and develop a detailed map of the state’s existing broadband infrastructure. The map will be a crucial tool for businesses, consumers and policymakers involved in the Connect Kansas initiative to increase high-speed Internet access in rural Kansas.
“High-speed Internet is crucial to our economy, our ability to serve citizens and our overall quality of life,” Governor Mark Parkinson said. “We look forward to utilizing these Recovery Act funds to advance the Connect Kansas initiative and better serve our rural communities.”
Connect Kansas is a Kansas Department of Commerce initiative to increase high-speed Internet access in the state’s underserved rural areas. The initiative is funded primarily by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and has two components: 1) mapping Kansas’ broadband capacity, as well as related planning; and 2) providing federal grants and loans to qualified organizations involved in expanding broadband to rural areas. Today’s announcement concerns only the mapping and planning component.
The mapping component is made possible by a $185,000 contribution from the Information Network of Kansas and $15,000 from Kansas Farm Bureau. The state has contracted with Connected Nation, a national leader in broadband issues and technology, to help with mapping and planning.
“Rural Kansas remains a crucial to our state’s economy and heritage,” said Carole Jordan, Rural Development Division Director for the Kansas Department of Commerce. “We’re excited to move forward with the Connect Kansas initiative and increase broadband access in rural Kansas, which will benefit our state economy, create new Kansas jobs and help us fulfill the mission of the federal Recovery Act.”
Kansas businesses, organizations, Internet service providers and citizens are asked to contribute to the mapping process by visiting www.connectkansas.org and providing information about broadband access in their areas.
“Now that we’ve received federal funding for the mapping process, it’s crucial that Kansas businesses, organizations and everyday citizens provide us data about Internet connectivity in their regions,” Jordan said. “By doing so, they’ll help us create a more complete map, which will allow us to achieve better results throughout rural Kansas.”
Kansas is one of 21 states since October to receive Recovery Act funding through the NTIA for state-level mapping initiatives. NTIA expects to continue announcing awards on a rolling basis throughout the fall. Data from the states’ individual maps will ultimately be displayed in NTIA’s national broadband map.
“We are pleased to be working with the Department of Commerce and the Governor’s Office to help create a comprehensive broadband map in the state of Kansas,” said Brian R. Mefford, Connected Nation’s chief executive officer. “We applaud NTIA for working diligently to create a national broadband map and are honored to have been selected to help Kansas in its efforts to close the digital divide in the state.”
NEWS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR DEC. 7 IN TOPEKA
The Kansas Department of Commerce will celebrate today’s announcement with a news conference hosted by Lt. Governor Troy Findley and Kansas Commerce Secretary Bill Thornton on Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. in the auditorium of Memorial Hall in Topeka. All media, Internet service providers, organizations and citizens are invited to attend.
Download press release here.
Kansas Department of Commerce recommends 22 broadband projects for federal Recovery Act funding
The Kansas Department of Commerce has recommended 22 state broadband projects for Recovery Act funding through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), officials announced today.
Governor Mark Parkinson submitted the recommended projects to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is implementing BTOP as part of the Recovery Act. BTOP is a $4.9 billion federal grant program designed to increase high-speed Internet access in rural areas and stimulate state economies.
NTIA is expected to announce funded BTOP projects by the end of the year.
“We’re excited to recommend these 22 applications to the NTIA, and we’re optimistic that many of them will be awarded funding,” said Carole Jordan, Rural Development Division Director for the Kansas Department of Commerce. “All of them show great potential for increasing broadband access to rural Kansas, which will benefit our state economy, create new Kansas jobs and help us fulfill the mission of the federal Recovery Act.”
BTOP will provide grants to organizations such as non-profits, government entities, educational institutions, libraries and hospitals to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects.
Per BTOP requirements, the Kansas Department of Commerce was required to screen applicants and then submit a list of recommended projects to the NTIA. Applicants were evaluated on how well they matched state priorities, including service to unserved rural populations and projects that focused on telemedicine, distance learning, economic development and/or e-government.
The Department received 85 applications, which were reviewed by an eight-member interagency committee. The lack of a state recommendation does not preclude an applicant from being funded by NTIA.
A second round of BTOP funding will open in late 2009 or early 2010. Kansas will follow a similar rating process.
BTOP is one of two federal programs enacted in July to increase high-speed Internet in rural areas. The other program is the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), which provides loans and grants primarily to Internet service providers for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas.
To help administer and promote BTOP and BIP, the Kansas Department of Commerce in July launched the Connect Kansas Initiative. For details, visit KansasCommerce.com.
For more information, contact Joe Monaco, Public Information Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com.
Connected Nation Develops Maps of Rural and Remote Areas to Help States Maximize Broadband StimulusWashington, DC - Connected Nation, today, using ArcGIS technology in partnership with ESRI, will release statewide maps of rural and remote areas in sevent states to support applications for broadband infastructure funds now available through the American recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Connected Nation will also release Census Block-level broadband data, both in downloadable form and through an interactive online mapping tool, for the state of Minnesota.
Link to Press Release Kansas Department of Commerce launches Connect Kansas broadband initiative
TOPEKA ─ The Kansas Department of Commerce today launched Connect Kansas, a new initiative designed to increase broadband Internet access throughout rural Kansas.
The initiative, which seeks to be funded primarily by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, comprises two key components: mapping Kansas’ current broadband capacity; and providing federal grants and loans to qualified organizations involved in expanding broadband to rural areas.
The initial mapping is funded by a major grant from the Information Network of Kansas and assistance from Kansas Farm Bureau. The grants and loans come from the U.S. departments of Commerce and Agriculture as part of the 2009 stimulus plan. The Kansas Department of Commerce, in conjunction with a team of cooperating state agencies, is leading the Connect Kansas initiative.
Mapping
The first component of Connect Kansas is the mapping of the state's current broadband capacity. Internet service providers, businesses and citizens are asked to visit http://www.connectkansas.org/ to contribute data to the mapping process. Kansans can also visit the site to test their connection speed and learn about broadband in their area. Updated maps will be available on the site as data are submitted. The site and its maps are being maintained by Connected Nation, a national nonprofit that specializes in broadband and related technologies.
Federal Grants and Loans
Kansas organizations and Internet service providers are invited to apply for federal funding intended to improve broadband Internet access in rural areas. The funding is available through two federal programs:
- Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service, BIP will make loans and grants primarily to Internet service providers for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas.
- Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration, BTOP will provide grants to various organizations ─ such non-profits, educational institutions, libraries and hospitals ─ to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects.
The federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has committed more than $7 billion for states to increase broadband capacity in underserved areas. The Obama Administration and members of Congress have repeatedly referenced improved broadband access as an important part of the overall federal stimulus effort.
“We’re excited to launch the Connect Kansas initiative, and we look forward to bringing high-speed Internet to all regions of our state,” said Secretary of Commerce David D. Kerr. “This initiative will allow us to better serve rural Kansas and help with national economic recovery efforts by creating jobs and encouraging investment in new infrastructure. I encourage all Kansas businesses and service providers to contribute to the mapping process by visiting http://www.connectkansas.org/ and to explore the development of new technologies in their region.”
In preparation for today’s launch, the Kansas Department of Commerce in recent months has arranged meetings with the telecommunications industry and hosted regional forums to discuss broadband resources. The Department is also managing a contract with Connected Nation for the development and maintenance of http://www.connectkansas.org/.
For more information, contact Joe Monaco, Public Information Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.org.
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