FAQs: ARRA/BTOP

1. What is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was signed into law on February 17, 2009. It establishes $7.2 billion in funding for broadband infrastructure, public computing centers and sustainable broadband adoption programs as part of the overall $787 billion Recovery package.

2. Who oversees the broadband portion of the ARRA?

Two federal agencies are designated to distribute the funds: the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the US Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service (RUS).

NTIA is distributing funds under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP); RUS is distributing funds under the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP).

3. What is the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)?

The Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) is under the auspices of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). ARRA legislation designates $4.7 billion to be dispersed.

• BTOP Fact Sheet highlighting Round 2 revisions
• NTIA Recovery Act

4. What is the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP)?

The Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) is under the auspices of the US Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service (RUS) and is also referred as program of RUS Rural Development. ARRA legislation designates $2.5 billion to be dispersed.

• USDA Rural Development Telecommunications web site

5. When was Round 1 BTOP funding?

The final awards for Round 1 funding were announced on April 26, 2010. Overall, BTOP Round 1 involved 82 grants for $1.2 billion in federal funding. Beneficiaries include rural areas, urban areas, tribal areas, low-income areas, the public safety community, the educational community, small businesses, minority businesses and those with disabilities.

• NTIA news release on final Round 1 awards

6. What is Broadband USA?

The Broadband USA web portal was created in an effort to streamline the application process for the first round of ARRA broadband funding. It is shared by both the NTIA's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP). www.broadbandusa.gov

7. What is Round 2 Funding?

On January 15, 2010, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and US Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service (RUS) released the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the second and final round of ARRA Broadband Funding. This round makes $4.8 billion available to community organizations, municipalities and private entities that submit broadband proposals targeting urban, rural and non-rural areas. Awards will be announced by September 2010.

There are NOFAs for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), respectively.

• BTOP NOFA Fact Sheet, Round 2

FAQs: Impact on Ohio

1. How does this improve broadband access in Ohio?

The OMMC collaborators will be expanding the middle mile access for the local and statewide networks, resulting in a broader range of affordable broadband services to their clients. This will in turn provide enhanced and extended broadband Internet, video and voice services to businesses and households in unserved and underserved areas of the state. Collectively, the Ohio Middle Mile Consortium grant proposals would add 3,634 miles of broadband services to rural and underserved communities throughout the state.

2. Who will benefit from improved broadband services?

OMMC-related projects will reach the following community anchor institutions:

• 83 private and public universities and colleges
• 34 community colleges
• 2,356 K-12 and career training centers
• 1,300+ health care facilities
• 2,200 state and local government offices
• 1,500 public safety operations
• 429 libraries
• 207 industrial parks

3. Will the expansion include my county?

OMMC-related projects will reach the following community anchor institutions:

• CAOMMC: 34 southeastern counties of Ohio
• GigEPAC‐OMMC: 28 western counties of Ohio
• TNEO‐OMMC: 20 northeastern counties of Ohio

Of the remaining six counties, two are covered by the Round One BTOP award to Consolidated Electric, and the four large urban counties are interconnection counties. The OMMC proposals will increase the middle mile connection points (Points of Presence, or "PoPs") from the current 14 to 68 counties. Each partner's application provides details on their respective service areas.

4. How many jobs will the proposals create?

In keeping with the objective of the stimulus package to revitalize communities, the OMMC projects will stimulate the demand for broadband, spur economic growth, and create jobs. OMMC collaborators project the proposals will generate 529 direct jobs, 464 indirect jobs and 559 induced jobs.

FAQs: Logistics

1. Who can access the fiber?

All of the OMMC proposals use an open access model. Any provider will be able to access the fiber at reasonable rates and terms.

2. What services will the OMMC partners provide to each other?

OARnet will provide 10 Gbps wave service, as capital indefeasible rights-to-use (IRUs), to its OMMC partners, while the partners will provide OARnet with dark fiber IRUs. This will allow OMMC to extend its geographic reach to economically distressed, and unserved and underserved areas of the state. This will increase the much-needed capacity to provide advanced applications and services at an affordable cost.

3. What is the planned network type and technology?

The OMMC today is comprised of more than 4,300 miles of optical fiber using state-of-the-art switches, routers and ethernet switches, providing Ohio with an advanced, statewide telecommunications network dedicated to research, education and economic competitiveness. The grants, collectively, will add more than 3,600 fiber miles.

The OMMC will support an advanced packet-based architecture using Internet protocol (IP) to create one of the most flexible, scalable and cost-effective infrastructures in the country. The new infrastructure will be equipped for both middle mile and statewide capacity to support new initiatives with a focus on serving the economically disadvantaged, bringing broadband to unserved and underserved areas in Ohio.

4. How long will the projects take to build?

As required by the terms of the grant, the projects must complete 2/3 of the planned build within two years, and be completely finished by the end of three years.

FAQs: OMMC

1. What is the OMMC and why did it form?

The Ohio Middle Mile Consortium (OMMC) is a public-private partnership between Com Net, Inc., Horizon Telcom, OARnet and OneCommunity. The four organizations formed the consortium to create a comprehensive statewide plan for federal stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), better known as the federal stimulus package.

• OMMC Overview  -   pdf

2. Who are the OMMC partners?

• Com Net, Inc.
• Horizon Telcom
• OARnet
• OneCommunity

3. When did the OMMC apply for funding?

The OMMC, as an entity, did not apply for funding. Members Com Net, Horizon and OneCommunity each applied for grant monies, listing OARnet as a sub-recipient.

On March 26, 2010, they submitted the applications to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) to develop a Comprehensive Community Infrastructure (CCI). CCI funding was created as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA.)

4. Why was a consortium necessary?

With respect to infrastructure projects, NTIA's top priority is to fund "comprehensive communities" projects, focusing on middle mile broadband projects and the connection of key community anchor institutions as a way of maximizing the benefits of BTOP funds. By forming the OMMC, its members created an avenue to collaborate and create regional plans that, when combined, presented a unified, efficient, statewide approach for Ohio without overlap or duplication.

5. What are the three projects of OMMC?

GigEPAC Ohio Middle Mile Consortium, led by Com Net, Inc. in western Ohio.
Connecting Appalachian Ohio Middle Mile Consortium, led by Horizon Telcom in southeastern Ohio.
Transforming NE Ohio from Rust Belt to Tech Powerhouse-An Ohio Middle Mile Consortium Project, led by OneCommunity in northeastern Ohio.

6. How did the OMMC organizations come together?

OMMC partners Com Net, Inc., Horizon Telcom and OneCommunity, with OARnet, formed a public-private partnership to create a comprehensive statewide plan to expand broadband infrastructure to the underserved and unserved areas of the state. This plan will focus on community anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals and local governments to ensure the development of an affordable and sustainable broadband program.

7. How is the OMMC governed?

OARnet provides the strategic and administrative support for Ohio Middle Mile Consortium projects. The OMMC Project Model, illustrated below, establishes an executive committee with representation from each of the four member organizations, as well as technical, government relations, communications and finance committees. This structure will foster cooperation, growth and sustainability and will further enhance broadband services within Ohio.

OMMC Project Model