Oversight of the Broadband Stimulus Programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

The National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) and Rural Utilities Services' (RUS) broadband stimulus grant and loan programs under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program will delay by at least a month announcements of winners of broadband stimulus grants.

Members of the Senate Commerce Committee raised concerns Tuesday about getting broadband stimulus funds out to remote areas and how these areas should be defined.

In testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee, the Government Accountability Office's Mark Goldstein provided preliminary information on the challenges Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) face in distributing broadband stimulus grants and loans; the steps taken to address challenges; and the remaining risks in 1) evaluating applications and awarding funds and 2) overseeing funded projects.