$1.8 Billion in Broadband Stimulus Awards Announced (updated)

Vice President Biden today announced 94 Recovery Act investments in broadband projects that will create jobs and expand economic opportunities within 37 states.

These investments in high-speed Internet infrastructure will help bridge the technological divide in communities that are being left in the 20th century economy and support improvements in education, healthcare, and public safety. Today's announcement, an investment totaling $1.8 billion, is part of a nearly $7 billion Recovery Act initiative. The announcement includes 66 grants awarded by the Commerce Department for projects to deploy broadband infrastructure and connect community anchor institutions to broadband, create and upgrade public computer centers, and encourage the sustainable adoption of broadband service. It also includes 28 awards from USDA for broadband infrastructure and satellite projects that will provide rural residents in 16 states and Native American tribal areas access to improved service.

Government investment is needed to pick up the slack in rural areas where Internet service providers fail to adequately build out their networks. "We're seeing that without this -- high-speed Internet investments by the federal government -- so many of the for-profit Internet service providers don't" see it as economical to build out in such areas, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. "So this is really very much about job creation and helping businesses across America become stronger and be more competitive."

Noteworthy among the funded projects are five new networks for public safety services, such as a $38.7 million project in Albuquerque and Santa Fe (NM) that will enable streaming of patient data from paramedics to hospitals and other types of data transmission. Satellite services are also being funded for the first time in four projects, including a $7.5 million award to Spacenet, Inc., to provide broadband service to rural customers in Alaska and Hawaii.

Update:

Here's more on the awards...

• List of awards
• California broadband projects pick up $205 million in federal funding
• Ohio gets $118 million in federal stimulus money to expand broadband access
• OneCommunity Awarded $44.8 Million to Expand Broadband Infrastructure in 20 Counties