NTIA Administrator Strickling Delivers Remarks at the Brookings Institution on Broadband Technology Opportunities Program

Governance Studies at Brookings provided an update on the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) three years after Vice President Joe Biden announced the first round of BTOP awards at a factory in Dawsonville (GA). The event featured keynote remarks by NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling.

He highlighted the program’s key achievements over the past three years, including having: deployed or upgraded 78,000 miles of broadband infrastructure; connected 11,200 community anchor institutions—such as schools, libraries and hospitals—to broadband networks; installed more than 38,600 computer workstations in 2,600 public computer centers in 1,500 communities; and generated more than 510,000 new broadband subscribers. “Our promise to communities across the country that would benefit from BTOP funding – was this: The Obama Administration’s investment in broadband would create jobs, stimulate economic development, spur private-sector investment, and open up new opportunities in employment, entrepreneurship, education and healthcare. Most important, it would improve lives. Three years later, I can confidently say we are delivering on those pledges,” said Administrator Strickling.