NARUC Ratchets Up Call for State Involvement in Disbursement of Broadband Stimulus Funds

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners on Thursday ratcheted up their call for greater state involvement in disbursement and use of the $7.2 billion broadband stimulus funds with a letter to top Commerce and Agriculture Department officials. "NTIA has limited staff and must focus on the [digital television] transition during the most critical period for disbursements. RUS staff is fully occupied disbursing funds from previously authorized programs. Neither can possibly complete the tasks assigned under [fiscal stimulus legislation] without a very significant staff expansion," the commissioners wrote. They continued: "Even then, given the incredibly compressed timeframe, it will be almost impossible to review the anticipated thousands of applications most predict both will receive, much less rank the proposals according to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-specified criteria, disburse the funds, and monitor grant specific implementations." The commissioners said both Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) had in effect recognized the invaluable role of states. NARUC suggests: 1) NTIA and RUS adopt a "use or lose" minimum standard allocation for each state, 2) states would assure up to that allocation is disbursed in-state, and 3) NTIA and RUS make minimal funding available to allow short term hires to assist State experts in screening applications and in monitoring grant implementation.