The BIP/BTOP funding which is becoming available is made up of a combination of Grants and Loans. The types of infrastructures that are relevant and are possibly being reviewed are those that will either be upgraded, newlly built, overbuilt, or extended via terrestrial telco, cable, wireless, satellite, and hybrid combinations of operations. The primary intent is to create and maintain jobs while getting broadband infrastruture out to the unserved and underseved populous of the US and its territories and that are at least 50 miles from an urban or city area.
If you read the application and its guidelines you'll take notice that a commitment of project completion needs to occur by the end of year three and that at least 2/3 of the project and the funds need to be completed and drawn down. There exists sections within the appliation that require the applicant to discuss the ratio of inhouse and contract labor to be used; how many jobs it will create, and how many will be retained once the project(s) have been completed. Now when you see the term "Broadband" cable guys immediately think of cable tv. Where this is a fairly accurate general assumption, the intent of the stimulus funding is supposed to make available high-speed internet access. Phone and Video are just additional revenue streams that will be offered by those who already provide video and some who provide phone. There must be at least a dozen different types of design architectures out there that will suport "Broadband" at a minimum of .768/256Mbps for end users and 100/100 symetrical middle mile/backhaul projects. You've got VDSL, ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+ plus more and then the array of old cable tv architectures like HFC, fiber PTP, FTTH/P and the likes. Lots of copper, coax, and fiber I would trust.
Re: U.S. gov't to release $4 bln soon for broadban
Member #: 14229
Registered: 1996-2001
Posted:
221
Name:
David M. Rosner
Name:
David M. Rosner
Company:
DR Telecom Consulting & Solar Energy Solutions
Occupation:
Telecom consultant & Solar EnergySolutions
Location:
Based out of CT
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