[RTC List] Headwaters broadband stimulus - update

[Larry Goldberg]

Broadband Forum & RTC members,

I am forwarding this summary report from Sean McLaughlin on the recent progress on the broadband stimulus Round 2 application process.  As some of you may know, the Headwaters Fund agreed last month to provide funding to support the efforts of a coalition of Northcoast organizations to develop a broadband application for round 2 ARRA funding.  As you all should also know, all three proposals from Round 1 were rejected, but the IP Network's Highway 36 project was approved for funding from CASF and is in the process of final approvals to begin implementation without ARRA funding. 

Sean's report: 

Here is a quick summary regarding status of the Headwaters broadband stimulus project which we anticipate contracting to provide services for the City of Eureka.

On Thursday 4 March, the Humboldt Broadband Work Group met at Eureka City Hall to discuss the Headwaters broadband stimulus project.  A brief update:

Since mid-January, Access Humboldt has been working diligently with local and national consultants to help develop and coordinate ARRA application(s) for a County-wide Community Anchor Network and for deployment of middle mile capacity along Hwy 96 and last mile deployments to serve residents and businesses for Hoopa Tribe and for Orleans/Panamnik community.

At this point, substantial work has already been completed by Access Humboldt, our consultants and partners to develop the most competitive and "fundable" applications.  The goal is to secure ARRA broadband stimulus funding for projects in Humboldt County.  Each project component includes appropriate technology solutions to meet community needs and interests, including fiber and wireless deployments.  The configuration of application(s) between RUS and NTIA has been somewhat challenging as feasibility (or lack thereof) changed our strategic approach.

We heard some concerns from partners along Hwy 96 that additional project resources be dedicated to support a new application by Redwood Telephone (for fiber connecting Garberville to Crescent City with a run up 299 to Willow Creek and out Hwy96 to Orleans) that was presented to the Work Group on March 4th for the first time.  While the new application is for a commercial venture, the ownership model includes participation by tribes in Humboldt, Del Norte and (possibly) Siskiyou Counties.  

Access Humboldt offered to ensure that no less than twenty thousand dollars of consultant's time funded by Headwaters would be dedicated to the Hwy 96 middle-mile and last mile application components with the condition that the beneficiaries of those deliverables provide matching value (for purposes of Headwaters) and support for the County-wide Community Anchor Network application to NTIA as well.

We are awaiting reply from Hoopa and Karuk Tribe partners along Hwy 96 and will continue working to meet the challenging ARRA requirements for timely and competitive applications.  The deadline is now March 26th.

Please feel free to contact me if you'd like more information.

- Sean

Sean McLaughlin
Executive Director
Access Humboldt
sean at accesshumboldt.net
http://accesshumboldt.net
http://digitalredwoods.net

"Local Voices Through Community Media"


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